Submitted by Steven Lorenzo Baileys, Community Development Coordinator

Do you have a story to tell? Do you know where newcomers find out about local organizations and the services they offer? How can your organization share its story of inclusion and connect with newcomers?

All of these questions can be answered using the CRD Community Green Map for Newcomers – an easy access online tool that brings newcomers and service organizations together to share, engage, and learn about one another.

Created during the development of the Greater Victoria Local Immigration Partnership (GVLIP) in March 2016, this online mapping tool showcases stories and identifies services in Greater Victoria beneficial to newcomer settlement and integration needs. Developed by the UVic Collaborative Mapping Network, the map utilizes technology to bring together the wisdom of communities, the research of academics, and the passion of educators and students. This past spring, members of the Community Partnership Network (CPN), with the support of ICA, teamed up with the UVic Community Mapping Collaboratory and students to continue development of this online tool.

Students from the UVic Social Sciences Community Engaged Learning course populated the map with new stories generated from CPN service providers and newcomers in Greater Victoria. The students met with, toured and learned about the Masjid Al-Iman Mosque, the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, ICA, and the Royal British Columbia Museum. Stories were developed that showcased each organization’s history, the newcomer services they provide, and initiatives developed to promote inclusion. The stories were then posted online. Check out the new stories on the CRD Community Green Map Stories: http://crdcommunitygreenmap.ca/story

The CRD Community Green Map is a tool that is accessible to all community members. Both individuals and organizations are encouraged to enter stories, videos, and images that communicate their experiences as newcomers or service providers in Greater Victoria.

Sharing stories on the map provides organizations the opportunity for CPN members to deepen connections with newcomers and facilitate broader community engagement.

For more information about the CRD Community Map or if you want to learn how you or your organization can be featured on the map, please contact:

Rhianna Nagel (UVic Community Engaged Learning Coordinator): sosccel@uvic.ca

Steven Baileys (ICA Community Development Coordinator): sbaileys@icavictoria.org