The Jasper newcomer story is coming soon to a theatre near you.
More specifically, six short films are set to be screened for a premiere at the Multi-Purpose Hall on the evening of June 11.
The Municipality of Jasper will be hosting the special event that features the unique and interesting stories about six newcomers, their journeys to Canada and the lives they created in Jasper.
The importance of telling these stories can’t be underestimated to understanding the very social fabric of this mountain town.
“We have a pretty large population of newcomers in Jasper, and I think newcomers, it seems, are really integral to the economy here and into the sustainability of our community,” said Lisa Riddell, the municipality’s Community Development manager.
This is part of a public awareness project was funded by a grant from Alberta Immigration and Multiculturalism. Riddell explained that the idea to apply for the grant was informed by the Jasper Local Immigration Partnership and the Newcomer Network, both groups are actively engaged with the municipality to help improve conditions in town for newcomers to successfully settle here.
Jasper newcomers Fatima, Mahbod, Yumi, Miguel, Brett and Alona were chosen from a call to the Newcomer Network. These are newcomers that are already involved in offering their input with the municipality. Featuring them is considered a gesture of appreciation for all that input, Riddell said.
Getting filmmaker Mike Lang on board was a real boon to doing a proper job in three to five minutes each. Riddell said his experience lent a lot of strength to the series.
“He’s got a background in the influence of digital stories towards things like better health outcomes or social change. It’s really interesting work. That was a really great fit for the project.”
Lang said that the project itself purposefully became more directed by the subjects than you might think.
“That’s what is, I think, really important when you’re doing projects like this,” he said. “We’re trying to learn from the newcomers to Jasper: what encouraged them, what supported them, challenged them, what was difficult, what went well … that’s important information for everyone who lives in the town to be able to welcome in new people and be able to support them in a meaningful way.”
This digital storytelling style supported and enabled the six people to craft the films about their own lives. Filmmaker Lang stepped back while the six wrote their own scripts, chose their own images, and even did their own editing. These are authentically their stories told by them in their own ways.
The result offered some powerful lessons to the experienced documentarian.
“The one big thing that stood out to me (that cuts across all the stories) is the power of one person to fundamentally change a newcomer’s experience to Canada,” Lang said.
“That made the difference for everything. We sometimes we fall back on these big government agencies and support organizations, and we forget that we can have a bigger impact on someone’s life by just encouraging and supporting them and helping them along the way.”
In his experience, he said, that individual willingness to directly step in and help others is often the best part about Jasper.
The event starts at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Riddell said that the stars of the show will be there along with Lang. The format will include Lang interviewing each subject for what he hopes comes across as “super low key but also really fun and meaningful.” The audience will have a question-and-answer opportunity as well.
The overarching project includes local research on newcomer contributions to the workforce as well as an employer toolkit that the municipality will be putting together to support employers in their work with newcomers.
Those three things, Riddell said, aim to increase everyone’s awareness of newcomers’ needs and their ability and readiness to support newcomers. This fits well with council’s strategic priorities.
“What we’re really finding – and it’s coming through in the film as well – is that when a newcomer to Canada living in Jasper connects with a non-newcomer, and that non-newcomer really takes them under their wing, it really impacts their experience settling here,” she said.
“It’s been a really amazing project to work on. I think the evening is going to be very special and a celebration of this community’s diversity and the incredible contributions that newcomers make in this community.”
The Multi-Purpose Hall is located at the Jasper Activity Centre. All ages are welcome for this free event. People are encouraged to RSVP in advance by calling Sarah Ray at 780-852-2100 or sending an email to [email protected]. Refreshments will be provided.
By Scott Hayes, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
