The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) offers a variety of fee-for-service educational workshops and training seminars covering a range of topics related to multiculturalism, diversity awareness, immigration and human rights in the workplace and community.

Workshops

Standard First Aid Course

Get your CPR-C and First Aid credentials at the same time

Learn how to treat wounds, broken bones, spinal immobilization, heat stroke, and more

• Manual and certificate included
• 2-day commitment
• Cost is $100 (regular $135)
• Includes $10 non-refundable registration fee
• No cancellations/refunds after March 1st
• For level 4 ESL learners and higher
• No childcare available
• Bring your own lunch

Current Standard First Aid and CPR-C certificates are required for jobs such as daycare workers, health care assistants, recreation coordinators, etc.

Advance payment & registration is required at ICA reception

Register early as spaces are limited!

MON. MARCH 26 & TUES. MARCH 27, 2012
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Burnside Gorge Community Association, 3130 Jutland Rd

http://www.icavictoria.org/sites/default/fs/Standard First Aid Course.pdf" target="_blank">click here for poster

For further information, please contact:
Karolien Swaak,
Mentoring Services Facilitator
250-388-4728 ext. 122 or kswaak@icavictoria.org

Food, Faith and Community: Interfaith Bridging Project

The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA), Victoria Multifaith Society (VMS) and the South Island Dispute Resolution Centre(SIDRC) invite local faith group members to cook, experience, share and celebrate the cultural foods associated with Victoria's different faith communities. ICA, VMS and SIDRC, in partnership with local faith groups, are hosting a series of no-cost interfaith cooking classes. Each class will be followed by a shared community meal and interfaith open house celebration. The interfaith cooking classes started in January 2012. Each event is hosted by the local Sikh, Hindu, Muslim and Jewish faith communities. For more information, please click here to view poster.

Who can participate?

• Cooking class enrollment is restricted to 20 people.
• Cooking classes are open to members of local faith groups, such as Baha'i', Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Unitarian, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, First Nation's Spirituality, among others.
• The shared community meal and interfaith celebration that follows the cooking class is open to cooking class students, their family members, and members of the wider public. Space is limited, so priority will be given to faith group participants.

Is there a cost for taking the cooking class or shared meal celebration?

• There is no cost for the cooking class or the shared meal celebration
• Ingredients and instruction are provided
• Enrollment for cooking class is limited to 20 people

What is involved with taking the cooking class?

• Classes last approximately 2 hours and will involve the preparation of 2 or 3 cultural dishes, such as dahl, roti, butter curry chicken, samosas, and potato latkes.
• Participants will also learn about the cultural history of the food being prepared and learn about the history and beliefs of the host faith group.
• A recipe booklet will be produced as part of the project that may involve photos of participants and the food they have prepared.

What is the shared meal and interfaith celebration about?

• Following each cooking class, participants will come together with other faith and community group members to share the food they have created
• An interfaith celebration will be part of the shared meal, with the host faith group sharing their history and culture.
• A community dialogue activity designed to increase interfaith understanding will also be part of the event.

The first two events were hosted by the Sikh Temple on Sunday, January 15th and the Hindu Temple on Sunday, February 12. Coming soon: Muslim Cooking Class and Open House on Sunday March 4, registration open now, and Jewish Cooking Class and Open House on Sunday March 25, registration open after March 5.

Register Here

For more information, please contact Steven Lorenzo Baileys at sbaileys@icavictoria.org or 250-388-4728 ext. 116

This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.
 

Resume Preparation and Interview Skills

Thursday, February 16  / 10am - 12pm or 6 - 8pm

Learn how resumes are screened and receive tips on how to prepare for interviews from a local employer. This two-hour workshop will cover: the process that recruiters and hiring managers use to screen resumes, and tips on how to prepare for interviews and meetings with managers. The facilitator, Karen Thompson, has over 15 years experience recruiting in clinical research and executive search, and now works for the provincial government. She delivers an engaging, practical and interesting workshop.

For further information, please contact Deb Hamblin, Employment Manager, at 250-388-4728 ext. 134 or dhamblin@icavictoria.org.
 

Job Search Strategies for Skilled Immigrants

January 24 – March 13, 2012 / Tuesdays, 4 – 6pm

A free 8-week program for skilled newcomer professionals who are interested in job search. You can expect to learn about:

• Resume development
• References
• Cover letters
• Interview tips
• Social media
• Networking

Participants should have at least level 4/5 English.

To view poster, please click here.
For additional information, please click here.

For further information, please contact Deb Hamblin, Employment Manager, at 250-388-4728 ext. 134 or dhamblin@icavictoria.org.
 

Employment and the Health Professions

January 18 – April 18, 2012 / Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm

A free 12-week program for newcomers interested in the health professions. You can expect to learn about:

• Labour market information
• Education programs
• Experiences of local health professionals
• Job search strategies

Participants should have at least level 4/5 English. Classes will not be held during Spring Break.

To view poster, please click here.
For additional information, please click here.

For further information, please contact Karolien Swaak, Mentoring Facilitator, at 250-388-4728 ext. 122 or kswaak@icavictoria.org.

Newcomer Youth LEAP 2: Leadership, Employment, Access to Education and Career Planning, Part 2

January 9 - March 12, 2012 / Mondays, 4 - 5.30pm

A 10-week program covering life skills, volunteering, and community engagement for newcomer teenagers and young adults, 15-25.

• leadership and public speaking
• learn volunteer hours
• field trips and community events
• networking and socializing
• career & education exploration
• life skills
• arts-based workshops, including film, video, photography, music, fine arts, and culinary arts

To view poster, click here.

For more information or to register, please contact Letitia Annamalai, Youth Services Facilitator, at 250-388-4728 ext. 123 or lannamalai@icavictoria.org.
 

Wednesday Seniors’ Group

October 26 to March 14, 2012

Join us! A new session of our weekly Seniors' Group will run from October 26 to March 14 on Wednesday mornings, 9:30 - 11:30am. The ICA Immigrant Seniors’ Group serves newcomer immigrant and refugee seniors who are looking to make new friends, practice their English, have fun and learn about issues important to immigrant seniors. Open to all immigrant seniors 55+ and any level of language ability. For more information, please contact Preet Johal, Seniors' Program Facilitator, at 250-388-4728 ext. 125 or pjohal@icavictoria.org.

Culturally Welcoming Diversity Workshops

October 2011 - May 2012

Thanks to funding from WelcomeBC, ICA will be offering a series of diversity workshops and online learning modules at no cost to local agencies and businesses starting this fall.

Victoria’s increasing diversity brings new challenges to local businesses and organizations. Differing values, beliefs and communication styles, for example, influence the way people interact, solve problems, and achieve goals. These interactive one-day workshops will provide diversity training using the successful Creating Culturally Welcoming Communities and Business curriculum. Following each one-day workshop, a two-week online learning module will encourage participants to create an action plan to support diversity in their workplace.

Workshops will begin in October 2011 and continue until May 2012. A limited number of workshop spaces are available, so please register early. Preference will be given to members of the Community Partnership Network (CPN). To become a CPN member, please visit www.communitypartnershipnetwork.ca and click on the “Become a CPN Member” button.

For more information, please contact Steven Lorenzo Baileys at sbaileys@icavictoria.org.
 

Classes

Parenting Classes

time and day tba / March 29 - May 3, 2012
Are you a parent of a TWEEN (ages 7 - 12?) Come to my Tween and Me, a free parenting program, and learn how to build lasting connections with your child. Includes 6 weeks of information and sharing in a safe and supportive place. For more information or to register, please contact Ruth Miranda, ICA Settlement Worker, at 250 388 4728 ext. 109 or rmiranda@icavictoria.org. 

Prenatal Classes for Immigrant Expectant Mothers

Fridays, 9.30 - 11.30am / March 16 - April 13, 2012
Classes giving information for expecting and new immigrant mothers about what to expect during pregnancy, labour, and after birth. Topics covered include how a woman’s body changes during pregnancy, proper maternal diet, exercises, fetal development, and what to expect during labour. Interpreters are provided for the sessions and a tour of a hospital will also be included. Free, by registration only. For more information or to register, please contact Lien Tran, ICA Settlement Worker, at 250-388-4728 ext. 110 or ltran@icavictoria.org. To view poster, click here.

Baby Talk Classes

Fridays, 10.00 - 11.30am
The next Baby Talk classes for immigrant parents and their babies one year and under will run soon, every Friday morning for five weeks. Topics include: feeding your baby, dental care, car seat safety, immunizations and parenting information and much more. For more information or to register, please contact Lien Tran, ICA Settlement Worker, at 250-388-4728 ext. 110 or ltran@icavictoria.org.

Ready to Rent Classes

Mondays, 9.30 - 11.30am / January 30 - March 5, 2012
A free 6-week program for immigrant newcomers who are interested in learning about rental housing in Victoria. You can expect to learn about: tenant rights and responsibilities; individual housing needs and wants' housing budgets; Credit, banking and finance; completing a rental application; communication skills; and, tenancy agreements. For more information or to register, please contact Fanny He, ICA Settlement Worker, at 250 388 4728 ext. 132 or fannyhe@icavictoria.org. To view poster, click here.

Foodsafe Classes

Friday, February 17, 2012 / 9 - 4pmLooking for work? Many places require Foodsafe training, such as hotels, restaurants and some volunteer jobs. This class is for youth clients with a minimum level 3 English and is offered at a lower rate of $30 per person (regular $60). The price includes a $10 registration fee, not refunded if cancelled. Please bring your own lunch and snacks. Space is limited - priority given to youth, though adults can register after February 6. For more information or to register, please contact William Goldiet, ICA Settlement Worker at 250 388 4728 ext. 108 or wgoldiet@icavictoria.org or ICA Reception at ext. 0. To view poster, click here.

Citizenship Classes

ICA Citizenship classes are designed to help applicants prepare for the Citizenship Test. The sessions cover such topics as the Rights and Responsibilities of Canadians, Canadian history and geography, government, politics, economy, and society. Translation services may be available upon request for those who will be instructed to attend a hearing. Fee $15 / person or $25 / family, pre-registration required. Please contact ICA Recetpion to register at 250 388 4728 ext. 0.

Seniors’ ESL Classes

Most of the seniors who joined us for this program last year came for an alternative to ELSA classes, either having used up their ELSA hours or being unable to commit to classes every day. This is not, however, anything like a regular ELSA class! Half the program in this class is English instruction, and the other half is activities and speakers. Open to all immigrant seniors 55+, ELSA levels 1 to 3.

Schedule:
Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 12:30 to 2:30pm OR Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 to 2:30pm

For more information, please contact ICA’s Seniors’ Services Facilitator, Preet Johal, at 250-388-4728 ext 125 or pjohal@icavictoria.org