New downtown business in Sudbury supports newcomers

Sudbury entrepreneur Samuel Emeribe launched SettleInn and DriveU to help newcomers transition to city life. Lyndsay Aelick reports.

A new business in Sudbury aims to smooth the transition for newcomers by providing a one-stop shop for both transportation and accommodation.

Samuel Emeribe came to Canada in 2022 to pursue his studies in business management and IT development at Cambrian College. After he arrived, people were contacting him looking for help settling into the city.

“I was … getting calls from people who were reaching out to me and (saying) they needed a place to stay,” Emeribe said.

That’s where he got the inspiration to start SettleInn, a business that offers tailored packages designed to smooth the transition for people moving to the city.

They provide support for transportation, housing and general settling-in guidance. The idea spawned DriveU, a rideshare app that not only helps newcomers get to where they need to go, but also provides employment for some newcomers.

The app even allows women to order female drivers to ensure they feel comfortable.

Emeribe said some women aren’t “comfortable dealing with male drivers.”

Complements driving app

“Women can actually order women drivers. And we also have situations where students keep calling people to come and help them carry their loads. They are moving from a residence to an apartment. So we have a moving van they can now order.”

SettleInn is one of several businesses that will open in downtown Sudbury over the coming months. Jeff MacIntyre, executive director of Downtown Sudbury, said there are currently 400 businesses in the area and they would like to see that number reach 600.

“SettleInn (is) doing a lot to make it more comfortable for newcomers moving to Sudbury, learn more about the city as a whole, not just downtown, but, feel really welcome when they get here,” MacIntyre said.

“As downtowners, it’s really important to us ... Downtown was built on immigrants and newcomers opening up businesses and pushing, you know, Sudbury forward with new experiences and new ideas. So having a business like that downtown is amazing.”

SettleInn is located at 124 Cedar St. and is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. They also offer a cubicle workspace for rent.

Emeribe said while they just launched in Sudbury, he can see them expanding in the future.

“It’s already making waves,” he said.

“I know we’re hoping to find ourselves in Toronto in three months from now ... It’s something … we all know that Canada needs.”

As far as he knows, they are the first business to offer ride share and accommodation services together.