Stronger Together in Oakville

How local volunteers are connecting newcomers and long-time residents through learning, nature, and shared community pride. 

By Kai Liu 

I’m an immigrant, but I’ve been living in Canada for over 25 years. Although Oakville is a mature community, it continues to attract more newcomers and individuals relocating to one of the most livable cities in Canada. 

We want to connect people, share information, and help one another. That’s the purpose of our organization. 

We are kind of grassroots. Our board members are all volunteers with limited resources, and we are young — about three years old. So, we decided to start with small steps, do it little by little, get feedback, and see what people want. We work hard to make the community more connected, share information, and help each other. 

One of the things I feel very proud of is when we connected with a local school bus company. Before the new school year started, they were really in a rush to get more school bus drivers. We mobilized many new immigrants, especially from the Chinese community. For many people, this was their first job application in Canada. 

We visited the school bus company, and everyone took the on-site test drive under the supervision of a senior school bus driver. Afterwards, almost a dozen people finally became school bus drivers after training and passing the tests. For many people, this was their first job in Canada. The feedback we got from people was tremendous. They connected with students, parents, and teachers daily. It was a great example of making connections with people and the local community. 

We also share information about the school system with the newcomers. With the help of an HDSB trustee, we provide them with guidance via a series of webinars so they know who to contact and what to expect. 

Personally, I like natural things. I volunteered at events where people learn how to identify various trees in their own yards, gain knowledge about nature, native trees, and invasive species. It is extremely important to protect biodiversity in our community. 

What I’d like to see next is to keep doing what has been successful and also explore more opportunities. Now we have only three board members, and we are considering expanding the board with more people who are enthusiastic about community and have time and experience. 

Ultimately, this is the community we live in. We want to make it better, safer, and healthier. If everyone can work toward the same direction and make their own contribution, things will be much easier. 

Story curated by Phillip McAllister 

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This post is part of a larger CDH Member Story Project. The intent is to share the depth of our non-profit sector, name how community can support and imagine together what is possible through the non-profit sector to ensure Halton is a health, inclusive and resilient place to live. 

Are you a CDH member and want to let your story to the project. You can get started HERE.