Meet Kristina: Family Focus

1.       What brought you to Leeds and Grenville/Canada? 

I was born and raised here in Leeds and Grenville, and am now raising my own family here.

2.       Have you felt included in Leeds and Grenville? If so, where/how? If not, why? I do. I’ve always lived here, so it’s hard not to feel included.

3.       What do you think this area could do to be better for newcomers? I think more family activities  would be good for newcomers, as well the community as a whole. It’s a great way to form connections, get settled into the community, and help kids learn more about different people.

4.       Was there anything that surprised you about this area? I’ve found that there aren’t a lot of child-oriented programs and businesses, which makes things hard for families. Kids making friends is a great way to get new families integrated into the community.

5.       What do you think people or organizations can do to make others feel more included? I think focusing on integrating entire family units is the best way. Kids are quick at making friends, which will in turn form connections between families, and help new families become part of the community. But to do that, there need to be more opportunities from events, specific activities, or other places that kids can interact to make it happen.

6.       Have you worked with immigrants? How was that experience? Yes, in my previous job I worked with a fair number. I found it to be a great experience. It’s interesting to see how other people live, and get a glimpse at different cultures.