Newcomers Welcome to Fredericton - March 9, 2010

“Newcomers, Welcome to Fredericton” - March 9, 2010

“Hi, my name is Susan. I’m new here.” Have you ever been that person a party, meeting or event? The person who doesn’t know anyone, who’s new to the job, the company, the crowd or maybe even the city? If so, you know it can be a nerve-wracking, intimidating experience.

Lucky for me, I’m only new to this job, and to some degree the Chamber’s community of members. Having been raised in Fredericton, I get to wear the “local” badge.

In the past four weeks I’ve been extremely impressed by the warmth and welcome shown to me by Fredericton’s business community. Through the initial events and meetings I’ve attended, I’ve felt well received by a tightly knit group of supportive professionals who really want to see each other succeed. How good is that?

I shared as much with a colleague recently who then challenged me to consider whether this well-integrated network could pose a real challenge to new businesses starting up in town, particularly if that business person isn’t a Frederictonian. For all the value that our local networks bring, could they also be impeding the growth of our economy?

A few days later, similar sentiments were shared by someone who was once new to Fredericton, having moved here from “away”. His observation was that Saint John was a more naturally friendly city, and it was more difficult to build networks and relationships in Fredericton. He wondered if the transient nature of some of Fredericton’s largest organizations (universities, military, government) contributed to making our city feel less welcoming.

While I don’t know if that is the case, the perception is certainly troubling. Finally over lunch last week, it was suggested to me that some companies in New Brunswick have discouraged initiatives to attract more new business to our province, in part because those companies didn’t want to expand and share their network of connections. Troubling indeed.

It seems to be a conundrum. Effective networks make supply chains run more smoothly and help relationships flourish. Networks help establish trust, create partnerships and spur collaboration. But when those same networks discourage newcomers, they do the larger business community a disservice.

By now I’m sure everyone has heard the bell tolling the demographic disaster facing Canada and particularly New Brunswick. As we fail to replace our existing population, any growth in our economy becomes dependant on our ability to attract and welcome new people to our province and to support them in their efforts to start businesses, build relationships and join networks.

Our business associations and groups are now realizing that by actively supporting new enterprises, be they big or small, run by neighbours or newcomers, our collective pie grows. And with it, each of our pieces can grow too.

So how do we do it? How can we maintain the value of a network where familiarity with your contacts breeds trust, while embracing newcomers and providing them with opportunities to connect, exchange and successfully establish their enterprises?

I’d like all newcomers to Fredericton to share my experience in starting something new; to have help offered from many hands and resources available at each turn has given me great confidence to set ambitious goals and to work more effectively for the betterment of our business community.

I’m encouraged by the work being done by organizations like the Multicultural Association of Fredericton, the YMCA, Enterprise Fredericton, the City of Fredericton as well as initiatives by local citizens to help our city open its doors and minds to the new New Brunswickers who in turn will help our economy achieve prosperity.

Let‘s continue to make “Welcome to Fredericton” a pervasive sentiment heard, and more importantly felt, among our networks and from all our businesspeople and residents. Let’s make Fredericton the best place to come, set up a business and a life.

And then pass the pie, please!

To Read the Daily Gleaner Article