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

Employment Workshops

ICA is offering a series of employment workshops in May and June, 2013:

Week 1

Tuesday May 21 - Tailoring Resumes Effectively (1:30pm- 4:30pm)

Thursday May 23 - Taking the Fear Out of Interviews & Practice (9:30am-12:30pm)\

Friday May 24 - Symbols in the Workplace (9:30am-12:30pm)

Week 2

Tuesday May 28 - Cover Letters: Convince Employers to Read Your Resume (1:30pm-4:30pm)

Thursday May 30 - Soft Skills Required in the Canadian Workplace (9:30am-12:30pm)

Week 3

Tuesday June 4 - The Power of Networking (1:30pm-4:30pm)

Thursday June 6 - Labour Market Information & Your Job Search (9:30am-12:30pm)

Advanced registration is required.
Participants should have at least level 4/5 English

To register, please contact a case manager: (250) 388-4728
Elie Kozma    ekozma@icavictoria.org ext 139   
Laura Guarin lguarin@icavictoria.org  ext 141

Employment and the Health Profession Program

Wednesdays, starting April 24, 2013 / 10am -12pm
Are you a newcomer interested in the Health Profession?
Join us for this FREE 9 week program!

You will learn:

•     valuable information about career options,
•     about employers in the field,
•     about education programs,
•     about job search strategies,
•     and credential evaluation and recognition.

Participants should have at least a 4 or 5 level of English.

For further information, please contact:
Mirko Kovacev, Mentoring Services Facilitator
250-388-4728 ext. 122 or mkovacev@icavictoria.org

Email 101 Workshops

Wednesdays, 9:30am - 10:30am / ongoing
Do you have an email account to help you with your job search? If not, sign up for Email 101 to set up an email account and learn basic computer skills. Workshops are ongoing as needed in the Employment Resource Centre.

For more information, contact Ash Moosavi, Administrative Assistant at 250-388-4728 ext 140 or amoosavi@icavictoria.org.

Food Safe Training

Thursday May 16 / 8:45am – 4:30pm

Looking for Work?
Many workplaces require FOODSAFE training:
hotels ~ restaurants ~ child & senior care ~ volunteering

FREE for ICA Clients.
Advanced registration and $20 deposit is required.
(Deposit refunded to clients who finish the course.)

Participants should have a minimum of intermediate English.
No daycare provided.

To register or for information, please contact:
Preet Johal, Seniors’ Facilitator 250-388-4728 ext. 125 or pjohal@icavictoria.org

Nutrition and Canadian Food

Tuesday, May 28 / 9:30am – 11:30am

A workshop about nutrition and Canadian food

Topics that will be covered in this workshop:

• Understanding the Canadian Food Guide
• Shopping for Healthy Food
• Reading Labels
• Healthy Snacks for the Family

Level 3 English and higher is needed.

There is limited space so register early!
Sitka Room, 930 Balmoral Road (at Quadra)

To register or for information, please contact:
Preet Johal, Seniors’ Facilitator 250-388-4728 ext. 125 or pjohal@icavictoria.org
Pre-Natal Classes

Men's Group

Tuesdays, May 7 - June 25, 2013 / 6-8pm

• A place to belong. A place to exchange ideas.
• A place to find support. A place to laugh.
• A place to build friendships.

(Registration required — see below.)

For further information, please contact:
William Goldiet, Settlement Worker
250-388-4728 ext. 108 or wgoldiet@icavictoria.org

Women's Group

Healthy Living and Wellness!

Mondays, April 22 - June 17, 2013 / 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Make new friends, participate in health and wellness activities, practice conversational English,
learn new skills, and laugh together!

• No cost to participate
• Level 3 English or higher required
• Limited Daycare available

Space is limited – please register early!
For further information and to register, please contact:
Preet Johal Seniors’ Services Facilitator
250-388-4728 ext. 125 or Pjohal@icavictoria.org

Youth Community Kitchen

Mondays, April 15 - June 24 / 4-6pm
932 Balmoral Road (at Quadra) in Kitchen 101 of the First Met Church

An interactive cooking program for newcomer youth ages 13 and older.

• Explore the world through food and cultural sharing
• Learn to cook healthier versions of your favourite foods
• Understand the importance of cooking and buying local ingredients
• Earn your FOOD SAFE certificate
• Share a meal with us as we build community through food!

For further information, please contact:
Letitia Annamalai, Youth Services Facilitator
250-388-4728 ext. 123 or lannamalai@icavictoria.org

Youth Homework Club

Wednesdays, Jan 9 – June 19, 2013 / 4pm – 5:30pm
For immigrant and Refugee youth for support with English language learning: conversational and written, homework assignments, and tests and exams. Please contact us to register as a student or volunteer as a tutor. Allow time to be matched one-on-one with a tutor.

Contact Letitia Annamalai, Youth Services Facilitator, at 250-388-4728 ext 123 or lannamalai@icavictoria.org.

Welcome Playgroup

Fridays / 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Come to play, learn, meet new people and make friends!
This FREE drop-in playgroup offers a welcoming environment that will help immigrant families with children (0-5 years of age) to make friends and laugh together.
Registration is required.

Location: Family Centre at James Bay Community Project, 547 Michigan St. Victoria

Hosted by the James Bay Community Project - www.jbcp.bc.ca
In collaboration with the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria

For more information, please contact Bo Min Kang, Settlement Worker, at 250-388-4728 ext. 135 or bkang@icavictoria.org

Parenting Teens

Wednesdays, May 15 - June 19, 2013 / 3:30-5:30pm
Come to My Tween and Me, a free parenting program, to learn how to build lasting connections with your child. Includes 6 weeks of information and sharing in a safe and supportive place.

An intermediate level of English is needed.

For more information, please contact Balbir Thiara, Settlement Worker
250-388-4728 ext. 109 or bthiara@icavictoria.org

Seniors' Group

Wednesdays, April 3 to June 19, 2013 / 10am to 12pm
Join our Seniors’ Group and get connected with others through activities and field trips.
Come for 12 fun-filled multicultural sessions and make new friends!
Registration is FREE!
Open to immigrants and refugees only.
Advance registration and basic English is required.

For more information, contact Preet Johal, Seniors Facilitator, at 250-388-4728 ext 125 or email pjohal@icavictoria.org

Pre-Natal Classes

Mondays, May 6 - June 10 / 9:30am –11:00am

Topics include:

• How a woman’s body changes during pregnancy
• Fetal development
• Nutrition, diet, and lifestyle
• Looking ahead to labour and birth
• Breastfeeding and baby care
• Five classes, once a week, FREE
• Hospital tour

Interpreters available (please ask Lien)

For more information or to register, please contact Lien Tran, ICA Settlement Worker, at 250-388-4728 ext. 110 or ltran@icavictoria.org

Baby Talk Classes

Fridays April 26 - May 24 / 10:00am –11:30am

For parents and their babies one year and under.

Topics include: feeding your baby, dental care, car seat safety, immunization, and parenting. Five classes with a focus on development, health, and safety.

For more information or to register, please contact Lien Tran, ICA Settlement Worker, at 250-388-4728 ext. 110 or ltran@icavictoria.org

Citizenship Classes

Classes ongoing

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. Classes are free, pre-registration is required to ensure that there is space.

Please contact ICA Reception to register at 250-388-4728 ext. 0.

Focus on Fitness Group

Weekdays May 8 - June 21 / Varying Times -  available at registration

GET FIT FOR THE SUMMER!
Join us for this FREE 7 week program and
discover Saanich Recreation Centres

Enjoy different activities including:

• facility tour and pool introduction
• how to use the weight room
• learn how to skate
• participate in a Zumba class and a Tai Chi class
• and more!

+ 2 FREE passes available at the end of the program!

Open to immigrants and refugees – Basic English required

MUST register to participate

For more information, contact Fanny He, Settlement Worker, at 250-388-4728 ext 132 or email fannyhe@icavictoria.org.

Seniors' Fitness Group

Classes TBA
Stay active and healthy this season! Come and join our Fitness for Seniors. Activities will include zumba, yoga, aerobics, dance, swimming, and many more. Come for 8 fun-filled multicultural sessions and make new friends! Registration is FREE! Open to immigrants and refugees only. Advance registration is required.

For more information, contact Preet Johal, Seniors Facilitator, at 250-388-4728 ext 125 or email pjohal@icavictoria.org.

Women's Fitness Group

Classes TBA
Stay active and healthy this season! Come and join our Fitness for Women. Activities will include zumba, yoga, aerobics, dance, swimming, and many more. Come for 8 fun-filled multicultural sessions and make new friends! Registration is FREE. Open to immigrants and refugees only. Advance registration is required.

For more information, contact Preet Johal, Seniors Facilitator, at 250-388-4728 ext 125 or email pjohal@icavictoria.org. 

Culturally Welcoming Diversity Workshops

October 2012 - May 2013
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.