BARRY’S BAY – Ensuring the Township of Madawaska Valley is welcoming is a priority, it was recently declared.
The township has officially hired a new Welcome Package Co-ordinator, Tracy Sarazin, as well as announced a welcome package is in the midst of development now.
On June 18, the community advisory committee and the newly hired co-ordinator and newly hired Curator for the South of 60 Arts Centre, Danielle Paul, met for their first meeting. The committee and newly hired curators will be guiding the development of the package.
The welcome package is being developed on the premise of South of 60 Arts Centre to act as a practical resource guide to help new residents settling into the Valley. The package will include services, a business directory, social and cultural history, maps, statistics, information on businesses and overall, an array of useful resources.
The final product will be available in both print and online formats, and is expected to be complete by the end of November, 2013.
Currently, the committee members are in the beginning stages of the project. At the June 18 gathering, members met for the first time and began brainstorming potential ideas and services.
Over the course of the last few weeks, Sarazin has also been researching other municipalities’ welcome packages and services offered.
“We want to make the area as welcoming as possible and a more friendly environment,” Sarazin told the Gazette.
The welcome package is to do just that.
“Its purpose is to help,” Sarazin continued. “We want to make the necessary and useful information; most new residents need but may not be aware how to obtain, easily accessible.”
Whether it’s television, cable or phone services, businesses, programs or services or transportation information a new resident may be looking for or interested in researching, the creators of the welcome package, are hoping to ensure their new project will help to address eclectically the many needs and questions a new resident may have.
Story continues in the June 26, 2013 issue of The Valley Gazette.