Yorkregion.com - Editorials - Rolling out a welcome mat
Rolling out a welcome mat
Editorials
Mar 27, 2008 06:41 AM
Main Street, at the western entrance to Stouffville, resembles a roadway through a Third World country. It’s bumpy and unmarked and sure to rattle your vehicle.
Residents complain about noise, mud, dirt and construction traffic in their community.
Trees are cut, some illegally, rankling residents. It’s understandable.
Welcome to a boom town.
Hundreds of homes have been built here during the last three years.
A new high school opened last year. Two new public elementary schools are under construction.
A shopping centre on Hwy. 48 is partially built. Another is soon to be constructed on Main Street next to Tim Hortons.
An auto mall with up to eight dealerships will be built during the next two years on Hwy. 48 north of Main.
The physical side of growth can be accounted for. We know there will be hiccups, just as there were in other growing communities right here in York Region.
Minimizing the effect on residents new and old, is key.
The social side of growth is another issue.
Are we doing enough to integrate newcomers into Whitchurch-Stouffville, many of whom are relatively new to Canada?
Do they know enough about this community? Maybe not.
A rough poll of residents who moved here approximately two years ago found they didn’t know about established Stouffville entities such as the Music Mania variety show and the Stouffville Spirit. Jr. A Hockey Club.
Are they made to feel welcome?
We have a Welcome Wagon and a Newcomers Club. The municipality has hosted information fairs aimed at educating new residents about the organizations and facilities of their new home town.
More is planned, and needed.
The smart organizations are holding their own sessions for new residents.
They are open to new residents and new ideas.
Because, the surest way to shrink an organization is to remain stagnant, especially in a growing and changing town.
Welcome, newcomers. Please embrace this community, hopefully with the assistance of your neighbours.