FCIS and the Okotoks RCMP teamed up Thursday, October 20th to connect with and welcome newcomers to the community.

Okotoks RCMP showed the new Okotokians their equipment, let the kids try out the car sirens and ended the night with education on Canadian RCMP services.

Okotoks RCMP Sgt. Suhk Randawa says he knows first hand how third world countries law enforcement operates so it's important to show people that have immigrated that Canadian police are here to help.

"The experience they are going to gain here with Canadian police services is going to be entirely different to what they are used to back home. So I believe it's a really great thing for our community and our RCMP to bridge that gap and reach out to these newcomers and welcome them here while educating them about the policing services we have and offer here in Canada."

FCIS hosts a number of events throughout the year to help families that have immigrated to the Foothills adjust to their new communities.

Nancy Rosdin, coordinator for FCIS, says this event was one of the best turnouts the group has seen.

"Thursdays event was hugely successful, 30 people we had here which is a huge amount for us and those are all newcomers to Canada. We had families, kids and parents here to hear the RCMP and it was amazing. And the information is so invaluable to them as they settle into Canada."

A question period allowed the new families to learn about the RCMP services as well as safety tips for events such as Halloween that some aren't accustomed to yet.

FCIS hopes to have another meeting in the spring to provide advice on what parents could do while they're at work while their children are on their summer holidays.

For more information about FCIS click here.

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