The Pembina Valley remains a popular choice for newcomers.

According to a new report by the Pembina Valley Local Immigration Partnership (PVLIP), the region had the fastest growing population over the past decade at 20 percent, contributing almost a quarter of Manitoba's overall population growth.

The City of Winkler alone attracts more than half of all newcomers destined for the Pembina Valley (53 percent) followed by Morden (20 percent) and Altona (eight percent).

And the number of newcomers is increasing. In 2016, more than 2,800 newcomers chose the Pembina Valley, a nine percent increase from 2015.

With the influx of new residents, PVLIP was created to provide a more collaborative approach to inclusion and integration.

Pembina Valley Local Immigration Partnership Coordinator Elaine Burton-Saindon. The local initiative, PVLIP, aims at reducing barriers facing newcomers.

Coordinator Elaine Burton-Saindon recently provided PVLIP's 2019 Strategy to local municipal councils, the product of numerous meetings with local stakeholders. The strategy aims to develop processes for evaluating welcoming communities and foster communication between stakeholders already engaged in supporting newcomers throughout the region.

The final component is supporting newcomers' mental health and well-being.

To retain new families, Burton-Saindon explains it's key to have resources in place, "to ensure they feel they belong, their voices are heard and that if they choose to contribute in some way they feel welcome and included."

The top five source countries include the Philippines, Germany, Russia, the United  Kingdom, and India.