Calgary Jobs, Information and Training

Here at CIES we always do our best to stay plugged into the Calgary community. so you can be too. From Day one CIES has always believed that strong community partnerships are the best way to have both a meaningful and sustainable impact on the life of immigrants here in Calgary.  We are affiliated with a number of key organizations throughout the city and this expansive network allows us to stay informed on your behalf. Below is a list of upcoming opportunities for a wide range of skills sets and experience levels to improve your skills, network and submit resumes for employment.Click on the provided posters for more details.


JOB FAIRS

• Community Futures Treaty 7 is hosting a Career Fair for First Nations and First Nations individuals with disabilities.  Attend on May 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Coast Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre.  

INFORMATION SESSIONS and WORKSHOPS

• Fitness Industry Career Café - Come to the Central Branch of The Calgary Public Library on May 13 from noon to 1 p.m. to learn about careers in the fitness industry. 

SKILL BUILDING

• The Residential and Commercial Installers program, offered by McBride Career Group, starts June 6. 

 

Calgary Refugees Give Back

If all the people currently in Canada, they may know best what it's like to run for their lives. And so, when residents desperate to flee the fire devouring their city began clogging up the highway out of Fort McMurray,  Syrian refugees who now call Calgary home could not only relate but immediately stepped up to help.

These newcomers are grateful for the generosity of Canadians, of Calgarians, they want to help in any way they can and in doing so, they're humanity is shining through. They’re only been in Canada for a few months, and have little money or possessions, but dozens of Syrian families have donated $5 to $20 to the drive, and in one case a five-year-old Syrian boy donated two of his toys and some storybooks to help those in need.

They have joined thousands of Canadians across the country in doing whatever they can to help a city devastated by the worst forest fire in Alberta's history and what is on track to become the biggest insurance event Canada has ever seen.

You too can help by donating to the Red Cross. Either text the word REDCROSS to 30333 (a confirmation text will appear before any money is accepted), or go here to help.
The thoughts of all of us here at CIES  are with the residents of Northern Alberta and all of those risking their lives to help

Major Minor Music Project To Have Two Shows in May

The month of May will see two shows put on by the Major Minor Music Project, May 14th and May 28th.  The line up for May's first date has already been set and can be seen below.

Fuelled by CIES volunteers, the events have fused with experiential learning opportunities and a volunteer-driven structure that engages young people and new Canadians in the arts. Major Minor also fosters inter-generational communication and gives constituents the skills necessary to pursue their creative and professional passions.  See you on the 14th!

Soup Sisters and The CIES REDI Program

The CIES Refugee Drop and Integration (REDI) program is now in full swing and this past week received a donation from Soup Sisters here in Calgary. A delicious lunch was enjoyed by clients and CIES was privileged to have had the opportunity to work with the organization.

In January and February over 500 soup makers, 100 volunteers and 1300 Calgary students participated in Soup Sisters soup-a-thon events yielding 5000 servings of fresh soup for Syrian newcomer families. A large portion of containers have been delivered through the community by a variety of outreach agencies and there are still many more available.   If you have access to small freezer space, perhaps you would be able to grab a small inventory at a time for distribution.

Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers was founded in 2009 by Calgarian Sharon Hapton who had a very simple belief in the power of soup as a nurturing and nourishing gesture that could make a tangible difference. Hapton believed that two of societies most prevalent issues, domestic abuse and youth homelessness would benefit from the care and warmth that comes in a bowl of soup. A powerful message that says 'we care' is now being delivered to over 30 residential shelters across the country through home-made delicious soup made with the finest ingredients.

Thousands of community people are coming together across the country to produce over 10,000 servings of fresh and delicious soups for women, children and youth each month. Since March of 2009, over half a million servings of soup have been delivered to shelters from East to West, and there is a growing network of over 30,000 Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers participants across the country.

CIES would like to thank Soup Sisters for connecting our REDI Program with their amazing soup and for all the work they do in the community. For more information about Soup Sisters simply visit their website. To Learn more about the REDI Program (in both Arabic and English) simply click the video below.

CIES Launches Instagram Account

CIES Communications could no longer resist the temptation. In the end, a CIES Instagram account was inevitable.

In April of 2012, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger (aged 28 and 26) sold their startup, Instagram, to Facebook. Facebook purchased the photo filter app 18 months after its launch for $1 billion: $300 million in cash, the rest in Facebook stock.

Instagram has since become full blown social media, with expanded video, group, and chat options and their latest adaptation,  taking a page from its parent Facebook, displaying posts by personal user relevance rather than in chronological order. Instagram users have shared over 30 billion photos to date, and now share an average of 70 million photos per day. Its no surprise that the app will bring in $600 million in mobile ad revenues worldwide this year, and $2.81 billion by 2017. And lastly, Instagram is considered the most important social network by more North American teens (at 34 percent) than any other network, including Facebook - becoming the go to social media of this generation,

In other words, resistance was futile. Follow us @ YYCCIES and see you on the grid!

CIES Community Investors XVI - Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation

The 16th non-profit highlighted in the CIES Community Investors Series is the Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation. We had yet to highlight a humane society in our series and thought it was high time to recognize the work of a non-profit here in Calgary that does its best to take care of and find home for those who cannot speak for themselves and often serve as our most loyal companions.

The Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation is a not-for-profit animal rescue based in Calgary. They are run independently and made up entirely of a dedicated group of volunteers. They work very hard to save dogs and cats in life-threatening situations and give them a second chance at life. They then focus on placing these amazing animals in the right family and creating what they refer to as a "pawsitive match".

Pawsitive Match saves dogs and cats facing life-threatening circumstances in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The animals in their program come from shelters that have no choice but to euthanize due to over-crowding or because they are shutting down, as well as stray animals that have no home. They also help save animals on local reserves and on a case by case basis, they may assist with owner surrenders. In many cases they are the only hope these cats and dogs have, as many shelters come to them when they are out of options and They do not discriminate by age, size, breed, or location.

It all began with the efforts of two individuals with big hearts. Together they were successful in saving over 50 dogs from Mexico and placing them in loving, permanent homes. Their efforts didn't end there, however. They also worked together to recruit local Mexican volunteers for help in implementing a spay and neuter program, and for help in promoting responsible pet ownership. Other volunteers climbed on board and as of late spring of 2007, the group expanded into a new organization: "Pawsitive Match Rescue".

In the fall of 2011, Pawsitive Match evolved once more by incorporating as Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation. A Board of Directors was put in place to oversee the new not-for-profit corporation as it continued to grow. In May 2012 the Canada Revenue Agency granted Registered Charity status to Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation.

CIES would like to salute the Pawsitive Match Rescue Foundation for caring for those whose lives are completely dependent on those that will help care for them.  To help them show the world we are a caring nation committed to helping animals  lost, hungry, sick, abandoned, and have no one to love or speak for them visit their website. 

 "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated". 

                                                                    -Ghandi  

CIES @ The Major Minor Music Project's 3rd Show

Over the weekend CIES attended the Minor Music Project's 3rd gig at the artBOX in Forest Lawn. The brainchild of CIES' own Graham Mackenzie and fuelled by CIES volunteers, the events have fused with experiential learning opportunities and a volunteer-driven structure that engages young people and new Canadians in the arts. Major Minor also fosters inter-generational communication and gives constituents the skills necessary to pursue their creative and professional passions. CIES would love to send out a huge thank you to all those artist who so graciously donated their time and creativity and we are already looking forward to the next show. For more photos of the event CLICK HERE.