An online event this weekend will provide a peek into the life of the province’s migrant workers.

“Will You Be My Neighbour” will feature a conversation with local pastor Samuel Jess and migrant worker Felix Munoz about overcoming the isolation some workers feel from the communities where they live and work.

Munoz is one of hundreds of migrant workers from Mexico who make the South Shore their home for up to eight months of the year as farm labour.

Jess is the pastor at Barss Corner Baptist and Emmanuel Church of Parkdale and Maplewood.

The two became friends after Jess invited Munoz to join his family for dinner.

Jess says it’s that personal connection that makes migrant workers feel welcomed.

“They’ve said it’s so nice that you care. Thank you for caring for Mexicans here. And caring about their families, caring to know them, caring to stay in touch with them, that’s probably a pretty big need,” said Jess.

Pastor Samuel Jess. Photo contributed by Samuel Jess

He says a first year university course in Spanish and a trip to South America in his younger days has helped him speak with Felix and the other workers.

“Getting over that language barrier, it takes time and it takes misunderstandings and it takes, it just takes a lot of patience,” said Jess. “Felix has a lot of patience and people in our churches have a lot of patience.”

The event is being presented by the group, “No One Is Illegal – Halifax”.

Stacey Gomez, a member of the Halifax chapter says the organization has offices across Canada and around the world to help migrant workers navigate life and regulations in a foreign country.

“We field questions from migrant workers about the vaccine, for example, about worker rights and other issues around access to services, for example,” said Gomez.

She says this is the first in a series of events they’re planning where residents can engage and learn more about the migrant population that is part of their community.

“We wanted to organize it around the theme of being a good neighbour because I think that really resonates with people, especially in the COVID-19 context where we’ve had to rely on our neighbours a lot,” said Gomez.

The event will be presented Saturday night beginning at 7:00pm on YouTube and FaceBook Live.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

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