Antigonish Regional Development Authority, where ideas take root

Coming to Antigonish

Newcomer Navigator

ARDA, the Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency, and the Guysborough County Regional Development Authority consider the retention and successful settlement of newcomers in the region a priority and have been taking a regional approach to newcomer settlement activities for several years.

Our Newcomer Navigator, Kerry Urquhart, provides support to new newcomers as they make their transition to life in rural Nova Scotia. She provides a starting point for anyone newly settling into to the quad county region of Inverness, Richmond, Antigonish and Guysborough.

Kerry’s position is part of the Rural Newcomer Navigation Initiative a province-wide initiative administered through the RDA network. The objective of the program is to provide a range of services to newcomers and immigrants. The Newcomer Navigator works with newcomers on a case to case basis to help them make informed decisions and understand life in rural Nova Scotia as well as support to establish strong social and economic networks.  Additionally the Newcomer Navigator provides referrals to local service providers that will help with employment needs and equip them with the language and skills that are essential to being successful.

Kerry also works with community groups, employers, and organizations in trying to make our communities more welcoming for newcomers.

To find out more about services for newcomers in Nova Scotia, how to get connected in the community for employment language training, community integration or just navigating your new community, please contact Kerry at 902-631-3464 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

For more information on coming to our region, visit our Newcomer Friendly website and join the Newcomer Friendly Facebook page.

The Nova Scotia Office of Immigration, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and other federal and provincial agencies are all partners in the Rural Newcomer Navigation Initiative

Relocation and Settlement Guide

A Relocation and Settlement Guide has been designed with Newcomers in mind but is also a valuable resource for people moving here from other parts of Canada and even former residents.

The guide was developed in response to requests from newcomers and organizations for more information on the process of immigration and settlement. The primary focus of the guide is to assist newcomers with settling in the area, but it also includes information on resources available in other parts of Nova Scotia, neighboring municipalities, and Canada.

The guide is available to download here or can be picked from any of the three RDA offices.

Province of Nova Scotia’s Nominee Program - Community Identified Stream

ARDA is also a mandated community organization involved in the identification of new immigrants through the Province of Nova Scotia’s Nominee Program - Community Identified Stream.

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) can provide a quicker immigration process for qualified skilled workers and experienced entrepreneurs who wish to settle permanently in Nova Scotia and become permanent residents of Canada. The program is administered by the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the federal department responsible for immigration. There are several streams available under the NSNP; most involve direct application to the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration, except the Community Identified Stream which begins with the involvement of a community mandated organization such as ARDA.

The Community Identified Stream of the NSNP is aimed at individuals who are employable, have strong established connections to a Nova Scotia community, and can contribute to the labour market and economy of that specific community. ARDA has the ability to identify persons who wish to immigrate to Nova Scotia and settle in Antigonish. An applicant must be able to demonstrate support from and significant connection to the local community, in which case a “Letter of Identification” will be submitted by ARDA to the Province of Nova Scotia.