Thunder Bay – LIVING – Thunder Bay has a growing number of International students. Students attending Lakehead University and Confederation college from across the globe are studying here in our city.
The holiday season, especially this year with the COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown in Ontario has presented some severe challenges for international students. Being far from home is hard enough.
2020 however with the pandemic and the provincial lockdown, means greater challenges.
However, working with a determined team of volunteers, the decision was made to go forward with the dinner. However with COVID-19 there are a lot of needed changes.
Seriously enforced social distancing, teams at The Hub’s Pick-Up Window who are all from the same household, masks, face shields and gloves for all the team along with advice from the Thunder Bay District Health Unit helped ensure the dinner could move forward this year.
The result? A delicious meal with turkey, all the trimmings, cabbage rolls, pirogies, salad, and desert. A show of caring, love and support for students.
This is another step forward to helping International Students in the city.
Lori Paras announced that from thisre is a new not-for-profit organization formed to assist International students in our city. AssistTbay.ca will be working to make sure that International students in our community have a place to get the support they need.
“You are not a cash cow to us, you are an important part of our city, and our goal is to recognize and support you in our city,” states Paras.
An emotional Paras thanking the volunteers said that seeing how so many people came together to help shows how things can be in our city.
The event was sponsored by The Hub Bazaar, Wild Thyme, Fort William Business District, Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU), Enactus – Lakehead, and NetNewsledger.com
