Portage's Newcomers Welcome Centre has a big hole to fill in the coming weeks.

Settlement Services Coordinator Don Boddy has officially resigned from his position to take on a new role with the Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO).

"MANSO provides support and direction to all the settlement and language offices for newcomers in the province of Manitoba," says Boddy, who is now MANSO's Regional Coordinator. "I'll be supporting all of the settlement offices outside of Winnipeg, and that includes Portage. Also, I'm very connected personally to the community here (in Portage), and to the clients and staff of the Welcome Centre. I'll be helping out as requested, and bugging them when it's not requested, and of course staying involved in the newcomer community here in Portage."

Boddy says he wasn't willing to leave the settlement and immigration field because of the personal growth he's experienced from working with newcomers.

"Their courage, kindness, and dedication to establishing a life in Canada are things I don't want to give up. It's a real important part of my life and huge gifts that I'm so grateful for. Three years ago I knew nothing about immigration except for I liked the idea of it, and I like meeting people from around the world. Working with newcomers has allowed me to understand the Provincial and Federal immigration system, it helps me understand issues for clients, and also the issues for rural settlement offices. I also want to say I've never been part of a sector that has been so helpful, when you ask a question people respond from around the province, and it's really amazing to be a part of that."

He says there are two things he'd like to get started on right away in his new position. One is creating a virtual office for newcomers in the province of Manitoba. The other is to be able to tell a story about what settlement looks like in rural Manitoba and work together to tell that story clear to funders, communities, and the public.

As for the Portage Newcomers' Welcome Centre.

"I am absolutely replaceable," laughs Boddy. "Over the last couple of weeks, there have been a lot of tears from clients and myself. We don't know what the future brings right now, and change is always difficult but I have total confidence that the Welcome Centre will be a strong advocate and strong support for newcomers."