An annual event promoting local non-profit organizations, their services and the need for volunteers is coming back this year — but to a different venue and at a different time.
The 28th annual Welcome To Timmins Night will be held on Aug. 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
About 40 exhibitors will take up three blocks of Third Avenue on Wednesday night.
“It’s very exciting. We’re looking forward to it,” said Shashanka Rangi, Timmins Local Immigration Partnership (TLIP) co-ordinator.
Kirkland Lake Gold has donated $3,000 for the event. A cheque presentation with the organizing committee members and a representative from Kirkland Lake Gold was held downtown today.
“A lot of our employees live in Timmins and it’s important to us that we’re supporting the town where our people live and work,” said Stephanie LaBelle, Kirkland Lake Gold’s community relations manager. “This is a great event for newcomers to get to know about the services, the clubs and organizations in Timmins. We’re proud to be a part of it.”
The event will be free and open to everyone. Attendees will have a chance to win travel vouchers that are worth a total of $2,500. The first prize is worth $1,200, the second $800 and the third one is $500.
Every event attendee will receive a passport and, as they visit each booth, they will get a stamp. Those who have visited more than 10 booths can enter a draw. The winners will be announced at the end of the event.
The organizing committee includes TLIP, Timmins and District Multicultural Centre, Timmins Economic Development Corp. (TEDC), Downtown Timmins BIA, The Venture Centre, The Cochrane District Social Planning Council, Tourism Timmins and Timmins Chamber of Commerce.
For the past 27 years, Welcome To Timmins Night was a one-night, two-hour-long event held in September at McIntyre Curling Club with over 120 community organizations participating and up to 600 people attending.
Last year, the event was held virtually due to the pandemic.
This year’s event was moved outdoors and a month earlier due to the unpredictability of the weather and to allow for more social distancing.
“If you’re looking for a pool schedule, if you want to know about Heart and Stroke, if you want to put your kids in Girl Guides – there are a lot of things in the community that are hard to find phone numbers for – this is where you’ll be able to see the people firsthand and see what they have to offer,” said Noella Rinaldo, director of community economic development at the TEDC. “All those non-profit booths will be here and they’ll be able to tell you a bit more about the community and what’s available.”
There’s limited space for a few more vendors. Registration must be completed by Aug. 6. For more information, email [email protected].
