GALLERY: Local newcomers form connections at beach day

Although the weather conditions were chillier than they would have liked, the African Caribbean Canadian Association of Northern Ontario (ACCANO) managed to bring together dozens of students, newcomers, and families at Ojibway Park in Garden River for a lively beach day.

As the non-profit group has done since its inception, ACCANO helped organize Saturday’s beach and barbecue festivities to provide new residents, primarily those of Black, African, and Caribbean descent, with the opportunity to form new connections in a fun and social setting.

Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, ACCANO president Dave Mornix moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 2002. He says his challenging transition to the community sparked his interest in taking a leadership role with the association 11 years ago.

“For the first three years of my life in the Sault, it was a living hell because I didn’t have those events or connections,” he told SooToday. “When people come to the Sault for the first time, they can really struggle with connection, which can lead to isolation and depression.”

“We’re here to bridge that gap and bring everyone together.”

ACCANO partnered with the Local Immigration Partnership, Sault College, Algoma University and its Students’ Union, as well as the Sault Community Career Centre to make Saturday’s event possible.

“They’ve been long-time supporters for us,” Mornix says. “We work with them to host this every year because there are always new and different people coming to the community. We’re also not just focusing on the students or the Black community – we invite all our friends.”

“It’s exciting to watch it grow every year.”