'Wired for connection': Regina church hosts Thanksgiving for newcomers
Long-time residents of Regina and those who are new to the city and the country gathered together for a Thanksgiving celebration.
Celebration Church teamed up with the Friends of Newcomers group in Regina to put the event together.
Pastor Nico Deschner explained that the idea was quite meaningful for him.
"I personally actually am from Germany, so “I know what it feels like to be an immigrant, come into the country and have nothing,” he explained.
“All of our family [is] still back in Germany. So, I remember when we first came, we had people who invited us to actually experience our first Canadian Thanksgiving, and it really impacted us as a family."
Having now been in Canada for over 20 years, Deschner decided to pay it forward, and include his congregation in the process.
Many hands went into making the Thanksgiving dinner, and people were able to get to know one another while enjoying some food and live music.
"I think it's so important for newcomers to have a place to go on Thanksgiving. Even if maybe they don't celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving,” Deschner said.
“I think, we are all wired for connection and so I think people often can be get lonely."
Deschner is hopeful that there will be plenty more events like this year’s Thanksgiving celebration in the future – so he can keep using his platform to create a sense of community for those who may be far from loved ones, especially around the holidays.
"I think it's really important that as we receive, good things that we pay forward to others and that we give away to others,” he added.
“That's something which we have experience both as a church and me personally, that as I have received love from others and from God, I want to be able to give that to others."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. teen with Canada's first human case of avian flu in critical condition, Dr. Bonnie Henry says
The teenager who is sick with the first-ever human case of avian influenza acquired in Canada is in hospital in critical condition, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead new ‘Department of Government Efficiency’ in Trump administration
President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency” in his second administration.
Here's why thieves may be stealing butter in Canada
The case of the missing butter remains a mystery, but some have ideas on what's behind the unusual crimes.
Former B.C. premier John Horgan dies at 65
Former B.C. premier John Horgan, a popular leader renowned for his affable personality and dedicated public service, has died
Alleged serial killer previously pled guilty to 2018 attack on Waterloo, Ont. bus
The woman accused of killing three people in three days in three Ontario cities also previously admitted to attacking strangers on buses in the Region of Waterloo.
Air Canada to add new routes to U.S., Europe and North Africa in summer 2025
Getting to destinations in the U.S., Europe and North Africa is about to get easier, as Air Canada announced it will be increasing flights to a number of new destinations this summer.
Body found in Montreal park identified as cryptocurrency influencer
The body of a man that was found in a park in the Ahunstic-Cartierville borough last month has been identified as cryptocurrency influencer Kevin Mirshahi.
History in Halifax is slowly being wiped off the map: study
Saint Mary's University archeologist Jonathan Fowler is sounding an alarm with a new study. According to Fowler, the centuries-old architecture that adds to Halifax’s heritage and historic vibe is slowly being wiped away as the city grows.
2-year-old gorilla 'Eyare' dies unexpectedly at Calgary Zoo
A young gorilla at the Calgary Zoo has died. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo announced a member of its western lowland gorilla troop passed away unexpectedly, in a news release Tuesday.