An Abundance of Employment Opportunities at ICA!

We have lots of new job opportunities at ICA, posted on our employment page, including Childminders, Settlement Workers, Secretary Receptionist, Host Mentoring Services Facilitator and Coordinator of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services.

Come and join us in creating a vibrant, diverse and welcoming community!

Calling all hands-on volunteers: Set up crew needed!

Ask your students, friends, family if they’d enjoy signing up as a set up volunteer: these are the folks that get to see the magic behind the scenes, preparing, moving, and setting up all the lantern installations. And of course… they will be invited to our fabulous volunteer appreciation party afterwards!

There are also many other ways to volunteer at Luminara, everyone can be a part of the creation! Please check our volunteer page on the Luminara website.

Please contact: Satya Varon
388-4728 ext 105
volunteer@luminaravictoria.com

Become a Friend of Luminara!

Luminara is a free event that depends on the generous support of sponsors and donors. Find out how you can become a Friend of Luminara for as little as $125. For more information, contact Ursula Capik at 250.388.4728 ext. or ucapik@icavictoria.org.

Luminara Volunteer Wins CFAX 1070 Community Award!

Our treasured Luminara volunteer Robyn Chatwin-Davies has been awarded the CFAX Community Awards Youth Leader of the Year!

Robyn has been a core volunteer for Luminara for a number of years, and is very active in the community as a volunteer in the arts, environment, health and international causes. She excels in her academic studies at Esquimalt high, has musical and visual arts talent and speaks fluent French.

Congratulations Robyn, your Luminara friends are proud of you!

Robyn in costume at Luminara 2007 (golden!)

Youth Diversity Leadership Program: Safe Harbour Youth Ambassador (SHYA)

“Active, friendly, high pace, knowledgeable, inspiring, purpose” (SHYA participant)

ICA is excited to be able to offer more leadership training in anti-racism and diversity for youth (14-20 yrs). Learn how to lead anti-racism and diversity games and trainings. Once trained, you will go in groups of 3-4 teens supported by a mentor into the community and provide workshops for children and teens.

We will explore together:
• our differences
• how to stand up for diversity
• how to respond effectively to racism, discrimination and bullying
• how to seek a Safe Harbour or safe adult when needed

Youth of all ethnicities, religions, genders, social groups, sexual orientations, abilities and size are encouraged to apply as we’d like to build a diverse team of Youth Ambassadors. Please pass this information on to anyone you think may be interested, particularly to youth who have experienced exclusion themselves and/or who want to become diversity leaders.

The Youth Ambassadors will be trained over 4 sessions:

1) Mon, July 7, 5-8:30pm
2) Tue, July 8, 5-8:30pm
3) Tue, July 15, 5-8:30pm
4) Mon, July 21, 5-8:30pm

Comments from participants at the first Youth Ambassador training – “What I liked most…”

“the inclusiveness, and how everyone was involved.”

“It makes you think about what people say and shows you ways to stick up.”

“I like how you guys understand our problems :-)”

“These have been wonderful seminars and they have given me the public speaking skills I was looking for. Confidence boosting!”

“Great atmosphere, Activities that encouraged risk taking in a comfortable way.”

Invite our trained Youth Ambassador team to come to your summer camp, school or community organization in August and September. Youth Ambassadors - supported by an adult mentor - will facilitate an interactive diversity workshop for children/teens (9-15 yrs). The workshop consists of three one-hour modules:
a) Dare to be different
b) Stand up for inclusion
c) Find a Safe Harbour

Safe Harbour Youth Ambassador (SHYA) is the youth component of the BC-wide Safe Harbour program, which is coordinated by the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA). The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria is the SHYA community organizer in Victoria. The current ICA Youth Ambassador program is funded by BC Anti-Racism and Multicultural program (BCAMP).

Check out the Youth Ambassador website at http://youthambassador.ca for lots more information including a youth portal and pictures and the ICA youth webpage at www.icavictoria.org/youth.htm. If you’re interested or have any questions, please contact Anna Escher at youth@icavictoria.org or ph. 388-4728 ext. 112.

ICA would like to congratulate Derek Swallow and Mavis DeGirolamo for the volunteer awards they received from the community during National Volunteer Week in April.

Derek (centre)

Derek Swallow was recognized by the BC Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts for the time and expertise he has offered as an ESL Teacher’s Assistant at ICA over the last 7 years. In this role, he has volunteered each week providing ongoing support to an ESL teacher in a beginner level class, and assisting adult immigrant and refugee newcomers in areas such as reading, writing, pronunciation and conversation skills. In addition to this role, Derek initiated and maintains a “pronunciation station” for ESL adult learners at ICA so that students can practice their English skills beyond the classroom setting. Thank you, Derek!

Mavis (right)

Mavis DeGirolamo was selected by Volunteer Victoria to receive the CFAX Citation Rose Award for the tremendous kindness, enthusiasm and dedication she has offered to immigrant and refugee newcomers. One of her main roles at ICA is as a volunteer ESL teacher, a position she has undertaken two mornings per week for more than 10 years. Mavis is always exceptionally organized and spends extra time developing new themes for her classes, including a detailed curriculum on the First Nations people, as well as the History of Victoria. In addition to this volunteer role, Mavis teaches citizenship classes twice per month, volunteers at our summer festivals each year, helps to facilitate an Immigrant Seniors Group on Saturday mornings, and in the past, has even served 4 terms as ICA Board President. Mavis is an incredible person who is devoted to global concerns and lives to do her part to promote cross-cultural awareness, sensitivity, appreciation and respect for individuals of all cultures in Victoria. Thank you, Mavis!

ICA’s Multicultural Program would like to welcome Cindy Liu as our newest practicum student. Cindy Liu is currently a third year student at UVic where she is completing her studies in the School of Child and Youth program. Cindy began at ICA in May and will be working with our Multicultural and Public Education Program until early August 2008. During her time at ICA, Cindy will be working alongside our Youth Coordinator Anna Escher on the Youth Ambassador Project and the Youth Buddy program. She will also be assisting with the Safe Harbour training program. Welcome Cindy!

On May 8th ICA celebrated the launch of the Seeds of Wisdom Multicultural Seniors Website- an ICA designed website made possible by funding from the government of Canada. The Seeds of Wisdom website showcases the stories and journeys of 8 Canadian multicultural immigrant seniors. The public celebration and launch was held at the James Bay New Horizons Seniors Centre. More than 100 seniors, their family members and members of the public were in attendance for the special celebration and launch. The Victoria Chinese Seniors Association provided entertainment and the delicious food.

The website was then unveiled on a giant screen to the approval of those in attendance who included representatives from the Victoria Silverthreads, Parent Support Services, James Bay Community Project, James Bay New Horizons, Carole James’ Constituency Office, University of Victoria’s Professor Wanda Hurren. The afternoon concluded with a special introduction and thank you to each of the eight seniors who participated in the website project and contributed so much of their time and life stories to make this website a reality. Thanks to seniors Lien (Vietnam), Pat (Malaysia), Roshan (India), Ikbale (Albania), Nebiat (Eritrea), Eric (England), Ming-De and Zhen-Yu (China)

Steve Baileys introduces seniors at Seeds of Wisdom website launch

Generous funding from Heritage Canada-Canadian Culture Online made this project possible and provided ICA with the opportunity to showcase the lives, stories and contributions of Canada’s multicultural seniors who come from a range of countries and backgrounds. The website features their personal histories, information about their country of origin, photographs of their lives and artwork. The website also contains a resource page with links to organizations, agencies and general information of interest to immigrant and non-immigrant multicultural seniors. The website will be available for full viewing on the internet beginning June 16th at:
www.seedsofwisdom.ca/welcome.html

Senior Ikbale receiving photograph and thank you at website launch

If you would like to learn more about the Seeds of Wisdom website please contact Steven Baileys at ICA at 388-4728 ext. 116 or email: sbaileys@icavictoria.org.

As part of ICA’s ongoing campaign to raise funds for the United Way, the ESL students in the English as a Second Language level 4/5 classes of Paula Leahy and Frances Foster organized a bake and food sale at ICA for the months of April and May. As part of our commitment to learn more about the role, value and importance of volunteerism in our community, the ESL students and their teachers organized these monthly food sales to raise funds for the United Way. The students created their own posters, visited the other ESL classes to promote the event, and prepared and sold tasty baked goods and yummy food dishes from their home countries to fellow students and ICA staff. Thanks to the enthusiastic efforts of the students and staff, another nearly $300 was raised to support programs at the United Way. The students had fun while learning how to organize an event and had lots of practice with their English skills!

Students selling cupcake to ELSA Head Teacher Todd Kitzler - who loves chocolate cupcakes!

Teacher Paula Leahy and her level 4 & 5 ESL Class giving a thumbs-up to a day's work well done!

Parent Support Services Invites All Grandparents Raising Grandchildren On Their Own To the “Getting Focused, Together” Sessions

Monday, June 16th, 2008 – 9:30am to 11:30am
Hosted by: Victoria Native Friendship Centre
231 Regina Avenue, Victoria

see flyer

OR

Monday, June 16th, 2008 – 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Hosted by: West Shore Child Youth & Family Services
345 Wale Road, Victoria
Refreshments and child minding will be provided.
RSVP to Parent Support Services 250 384 8042

see flyer

Discussion Forum

This invitation is to those who work in relation to Grandparents needing
advocacy, information, resources, and/or assistance while raising their grandchildren. Discussion will focus on specific legal issues and
complexities Grandparents are facing

Monday, June 23rd, 2008 – 9:15 am to 12:00 pm
University of Victoria Campus - Fraser Building
Law Faculty Student Lounge (Refreshments Provided)
UVIC Campus Map Directions & Pay Parking Locations

see flyer

Hello Friends,
With the Truth and Reconciliation Commission now under way for the next five years and National Aboriginal Day just around the corner, there is a lot happening across the country. We're working to keep you informed of the many events and announcements taking place leading up to and following National Aboriginal Day.

If you're holding an event or know of one taking place, let us know and we'll post the information on CBC Aboriginal to inform others. This site was built for you with the intent of being a meeting ground for Aboriginals across Canada. Thanks to your support we're off to an incredible start. Watch for the launch of our new and improved website on National Aboriginal Day, June 21, 2008.

Don't forget to visit CBC Aboriginal for regularly updated news & current events.

Sincerely and Humbly,
Jason Krowe

Saanich Summer School of the Arts welcomes everyone. Workshops, led by professional artists and writers, are for adults and older teens wishing to learn new techniques and focus on creative process. This year we are offering Chinese Brush Painting, Drawing and Watercolours in Saanich Parks, Drawing with Pen and Ink, Garden Sculpture and a Textile workshop. For more information please see our website.

10th Annual benefit for Kapasseni, Mozambique

7:30pm. Tickets $20/$15, at Munro's, James Bay Coffee & Books, and Ivy's Books.

995-8731 www.gettinhigherchoir.ca

To subscribe to our free online newsletter, please email tapestry@icavictoria.org. You will receive a monthly email with a link to this page, as well as occasional updates between issues.

We welcome contributions of articles, announcements and pictures about events and programming that directly support our mandate of creating a welcoming community for newcomers of all cultures through arts, education and social services. If your organization is working to be more inclusive and respectful of diversity, we are very happy to let others know about it!

Submissions may be edited for length. Please email to tapestry@icavictoria.org

Thank you for your support and interest.

Articles submitted by persons or groups other than ICA are the views of the writers, and are not necessarily reflective of ICA positions.