Happy Holidays! Check Out Our New Website!

Happy Holidays! 

The new CIES website and blog is up and running! Be sure to check us out (and bookmark) and see our updated services at www.immigrant-education.ca

Included with this new launch are features like live-chat (another way to reach us), Google translate for 60+ redesigned and easier to read pages (available in 38 languages), online registration for programs, and at long last fully-responsive mobile access for the site on Android/iOS devices. 

We also have a newly refurbished Job Postings section for individuals looking to start a new career with us at CIES. To ensure that all our correspondence is collected in one easy-to-find place, all future blog posts will be on our updated immigrant-education site (rather than here on blogspot.com). Feel free to change your links to: https://www.immigrant-education.ca/news/blog/

We'll see you there!

The Passing Of Our Colleague, David Wright

It is with deep sadness that we share the news that David Wright, Coordinator for CIES' Employment Skills Training program, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2016.

Over the past 4 ½ years with CIES, David Wright has brought to our Society a burning passion for helping others, a warm heart and a friendly face to CIES’ students and staff. His contributions to the EST program and the community were far-reaching, and his presence in the classroom and local employment fairs will sorely be missed. We have not only lost a colleague but a friend as well.

Details surrounding the celebration of David’s life and funeral arrangements will be posted at CIES' northeast and southeast locations when information becomes available. 

David leaves behind his wife and three daughters. If you feel inclined to help and would like to help support the family during this time, please contact Shevaughn (SE) or Gillian (NE) who will be collecting donations for the Wright family until Friday, December 3rd, 2016.

SE Location: 403-235-3666

NE Location: 403-291-0002

UPDATE: November 25, 2016 - David Wright's funeral has been scheduled for the following:

Date: November 28, 2016

Time: 10:30am

Location: McInnis & Holloway Crowfoot location

Address: 82 Crowfoot Circle N.W., Calgary, Alberta T3G 2T3

“Those we hold close to our hearts never leave us.

They live on in the kindness they have shared and the love they brought into our lives.”

CIES' Yard/Bake Sale for the United Way

On Thursday, November 17 at our northeast Welcome Centre, and Tuesday, November 22 at our southeast location, CIES had the pleasure of hosting a joint yard sale and bake sale run by students to raise money for the United Way Campaign. 

Students had the opportunity to rent their own table where they sold handcrafted goods or baking, with 100% of the table rental supporting the United Way which assisted over 177,000 people in 2015. A great opportunity for students to meet one another and practice their employment and English skills, this fundraiser also allowed many to show off their hidden talents for arts, crafts, cooking, and clothing design.

The extra proceeds made from sales at these tables were left to the students' discretion, but we're pleased to announce that several classes pledged their profits to the United Way's campaign and the mission to improve lives and build communities here in Calgary.

Here are some of the photos from the event. To see the complete album, check us out on Facebook.

New Dates for Empowering Syrian Refugees (ESR)

We're proud to announce a series of new dates for our Empowering Syrian Refugees (ESR) program coming up later this month, this time located at our CIES Southeast Location.

The Empowering Syrian Refugee program is a City of Calgary-funded initiative designed to equip Syrian Refugee clients of CIES with the knowledge needed to smoothly transition into a productive and fulfilling life in Calgary.  Through this program, newly arrived refugees will obtain the ability to find ways to cope with challenges and barriers associated with relocating to a new culture. Two life skills workshops constituting the first component of the ESR program are offered during the last week of every month in the following areas:

“RESOURCE INFORMATION AND DECISION MAKING FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES IN CALGARY”

When:

Workshop 1: November 28th @ 9am - ‘Navigating Resources’
Workshop 2: November 30th @ 9am – ‘Decision Making’

Workshop 1: December 19th @ 9am - ‘Navigating Resources’
Workshop 2: December 20th @ 9am – ‘Decision Making’

Where:

CIES Southeast Location

1723 - 40th Street S.E., Calgary, AB. T2A 7Y3

Phone: 403-235-3666

We hope to see you there! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Cesar Suva at 403-235-3666 and we'd be more than happy to help.

CIES' New Employment Training Program -- It's EASSY

CIES is proud to be partnering with Service Canada for our Economic and Social Integration of Syrian and Other Immigrant Youth (EASSY) Program.

EASSY provides clients with 8-weeks Group Based Employability Skills (GBES) and 30 hours on-the-job paid Work Experience (WE) for 12 weeks to develop their skills and Canadian experience. EASSY assists youth in overcoming multiple barriers to employment, and to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to make a successful transition to the labour market or return to school. Over this time we will also provide mentoring support, offer one-on-one employment counselling, accompaniment and referral services.

To be eligible for EASSY, clients must:

• Commit to 8-weeks of GBES and 12-weeks of Work Experience
• Be between 15 - 30 years old
• Not be collecting Employment Insurance (EI) or financial assistance
• Be actively looking for an employment or willing to go back to school to enhance their career​

CIES would like to extend our thanks to Service Canada for their generosity and for more information, give us a call at 403-291-0002.

CIES Fundraising for the United Way Campaign

As part of the United Way Campaign, CIES will be organizing a pair of Yard Sales/Bake Sales that will be running on Thursday, November 17 (Northeast Location) and Tuesday, November 22 (Southeast Location). Each class/individual can rent a table for $5 and all proceeds of the table rental go to our partners at the United Way. Profits earned beyond the rental of the table go directly to class/individual running the table and students can sell their old clothes (in good condition), food and snacks, and arts & crafts to other students and members of the community who feel like stopping by!

These events will be held in the Assembly Room (NE 10am-12pm) and B-10 (Southeast 12:30pm-2:30pm). Here is a list of some the the classes participating:

Northeast Location (November 17th)

NE Lit 1, 2, 3-4 and NE CLB 1-2 A, 1-2 B – from 10:00 am to 10:30 am

NE CLB 2/3 PTam, NE CLB 3A and NE CLB 3B – from 10:30 am to 11:00 am

NE CLB 4A and 4B, NE CLB 4/5PT am – from 11:00 am to 11:30 am

NE CLB 5, NE CLB 6, and NE CLB 7/8 –  from 11:30 am – to 12:00 pm.

Southeast Location (November 22nd)2 ABC classes, SE CLB 2FT, SE CLB 1/2PTam – from 12:30 pm to 13:00 pm

SE CLB 1FT, SE CLB1/2FT, SE CLB5/6PTam – from 13:00 pm to 13:30 pm

SE CLB 6/7FT, SE CLB 4/5 FT – from 13:30 pm to 14:00 pm

SE CLB 3FT, SE CLB 3/4 PTam, Literacy FT – from 14:00pm to 14:30 pm

We welcome everyone to come check out what our students have to offer!

Happy Halloween from CIES

Halloween is a very special to many staff and students at CIES. Today, several of the classes had spooktacular activities or holiday-themed events, and the Care for Newcomer Children team took their costumed kids upstairs for some in-house trick or treating, escorting them from classroom to classroom to collect candy.

Even though Halloween ends at the stroke of midnight tonight, there are still several activities in Calgary to check out if you're still eager to feel a shiver up your spine. The Deane House (located at Fort Calgary) is one of Calgary's most notorious haunted buildings, and The Prince House (located at Heritage Park) has been the spot of ghost sightings for years.

For a list of other strange or scary places, be sure to check out Global News' Virtual Ghost Tour for 10 frightening haunts.

Whatever you choose to do tonight, we wish you a safe and Happy Halloween from all of us here at CIES!