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Bathurst, June 16, 2025 - Artist and speaker Corneille was in Bathurst on Thursday, June 12, as part of an event organized by Imagine Chaleur. The aim of the event was to celebrate and highlight the contribution of newcomers working in the Chaleur region's healthcare sector. Held at Danny's Hotel & Suites, the summit brought together a host of professionals, many of whom were delighted to meet a childhood idol.

Cornelius Nyungura, aka Corneille, addressed the audience with ease and humility. From the moment he took the stage, the internationally-renowned artist and humanitarian shared a unique perspective on identity, perseverance and belonging.

He then spoke about the details of his personal journey as an immigrant, illustrating the importance of inclusion with concrete and touching examples:

"We're all someone's stranger. I experienced this in Rwanda, because of a genocide that led me to live for some time in a refugee camp, but also in Montreal, during the ice storm. That time, I wasn't a refugee, but a volunteer. Although it's obviously not the same thing at all, seeing these families who had lost their pride and their assets while lying in an emergency shelter made me realize that no one is immune to this reality.

Corneille shared the stage with Dr. France Desrosiers, CEO of Vitalité Health Network, who spoke of the importance of immigration in the health sector. She thanked the immigrant staff, pointing out that many services would have closed without their presence.

Human resources specialist Rufina Ajalie then entertained the crowd with a variety of interactive activities highlighting the central role of immigration in today's society.

To round off the initiative, two panel discussions, including the region's mayors and a First Nations representative, explored how integration and immigration can contribute to the growth of our communities. The event was a great success, with enthusiastic participation, as noted by Shirley de Silva, Director of Imagine Chaleur:

"We are very proud of the positive response to this initiative. Through this event, our aim was to highlight the essential contribution of newcomers to the healthcare sector, while opening a dialogue on the conditions necessary for their full integration and professional fulfillment in the region. It was also about promoting inclusive growth by focusing on human potential as a lever for development."