Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation Set to Launch #ICameAsARefugee Campaign

Every day war, execution, and natural disasters force thousands of people to flee their homes. In order to escape, they leave everything behind – all except their hopes and dreams for a better future.

#ICameAsARefugee is a campaign that sheds positive light on refugees and celebrates their contribution to our society. It is a response to anti-refugee feelings. This campaign highlights six different refugees that came to Canada, and tells their stories through their own words.

On June 20th, the Canadian Cultural Mosaic Foundation poster campaign will be launched in downtown Calgary for the first time on World Refugee Day. After the event, the posters will be put across Calgary on various train station platforms, community bulletin boards, and institutions. The posters highlighting each refugee, as well as exclusive video interviews will all be made available to the public on June 20th through our website .

Join in the conversation by sharing the campaign using #ICameAsARefugee to start the movement in ending hate towards asylum seekers and helping to create an understanding and empowerment for refugees. Asylum seekers are also encouraged to share their own stories through the hashtag, or anyone can share the stories of people they know who came as refugees.

Advertising is not cheap. As a 100% non-funded volunteer-led organisation, CCMF  will be raising money to support the poster campaign across Canada. The more money we can raise, the more impact we can have. Everything we raise will go towards buying advertising space so the posters can be put up all over the country. More details to come June 20th!

Calgary Jobs, Information and Training

CIES always does 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 organisations 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.

INFORMATION SESSIONS

• Join Immigrant Services Calgary for an Information Session. on how to advance your language, education, and career goals.

SKILL BUILDING

• Clear Communication for Business for Internationally Educated Professionals in any occupation in any industry.
• Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association (CIWA) is offering free Employment Training program in food service for immigrant women with low language skills.  Free
• Links to Success – Skills Enhancement & Internship for Young Immigrant Mothers Program offered by CIWA
• Carpentry Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program offered by Momentum is accepting applications 

CIES Family Tree: Louisa Agapiou

Summer time means good weather, the outdoors, and sunshine. Here at CIES summer also often means practicum students and that said CIES would like to welcome Louisa to our extended family tree. Louisa Agapio recently turned 19 and is entering her second year at the University of Alberta. Currently majoring in Political Science, she hopes to soon be accepted to the Criminology program at the U of A in Edmonton.

Though she resides in Edmonton for the majority of the year, Louisa was born and raised in Calgary and attended Sir Winston Churchill High School,  graduating just last year. During her time in high school, she was a part of the rugby team, the wrestling team, the cross-country team, and the Yearbook Team, amongst others. This summer, she is staying in Calgary with herfamily and was recently accepted as part of the CIES team as a summer student. She will be working with Melissa, our Volunteer and Drop-in ESL Manager, to implement the new curriculum for the Drop-In E.S.L. program.

The daughter of parents who immigrated to Canada, Louisa is a first-generation Canadian and feels working here at CIES is relevant to her prior life experiences. She also has also volunteered in the past teaching ESL and helping low-level literacy children improve their reading skills.

All of us here at CIES welcome her aboard and look forward to working with Louisa throughout the summer! 

Pho Down is Coming Soon

The Pho Down now has a set date and venue and is coming soon. Pho Down is an afternoon of amazing food and beautiful cultural demonstrations, featuring some of Calgary's most talented Vietnamese artists and performers. The event will also feature the first ever International Avenue Spring Roll eating competition.  And of course a LOT of Pho. Entrance to the event, all its activities and of course a big bowl of Pho is a donation of your choice, with all proceeds going the Alex Food Centre. Simply click below to reserve your tickets now.

The Pho Down will take place July 16th on International Avenue at the Albert Park Radisson Community Centre 1310 28 St SE. Performances will start at 11:00 am, followed by the Spring Roll eating competition, then Pho will be offered at 8 Vietnamese restaurants on International Avenue for a donation of your choice.

For more information on the Calgary Cultural Event simply CLICK HERE to visit their website.

CIES Summer Festival August 30th - Around The World in a Day

The CIES 6th Annual Summer Festival is Coming Soon. The theme for last year's festival was Celebrating Diversity and with so many customs and traditions, so much culture and so much diversity all in one place this year the festival theme will be Around The World in a Day. 

CIES would like to thank International Ave's BRZ and the artBOX for once again graciously providing us with an absolutely great venue, and all of us here are busy planning out what should be an amazing day. The day long event will include music, song, dance, food and art from around the world and all is open to the public.  If you or if you know of any individuals or groups that are interested in contributing to the festival please contact shevaughnsmith@immigrant-education.ca as we would love to hear from you... updates coming soon!

Volunteer With CIES

A great way to learn about different cultures and help others is to volunteer with an organisation like CIES. We are currently looking for volunteer teachers for our Drop in ESL program in our SE location.

The benefits of volunteering work both ways and often it is the volunteer who gets more out of donating his or her time and effort. Volunteering means establishing great connections, building your career, and supplies a sense of purpose. Additionally  Psychology Today even claims that those who  regularly volunteer live longer and healthier lives.

The position would involve teaching English to adult immigrants at a pre-basic, basic or intermediate level. We currently need volunteers for both our 1:30 - 4:00 pm and 6:00 - 8:30 pm time slots, as little as once a week. No lesson planning is needed as all the materials will be prepared and supplied to you, and all assessment will be marked by your coordinator. We are happy to train those with no experience and supply training workshops to volunteers several times a year.

Contact Melissa at melissamckinnon@immigrant-education.ca or give us a call at 403-235-3666 if you're interested in joining the CIES team.

June is National Aboriginal Awareness Month

June is Aboriginal Awareness Month and every June Canadians are invited to celebrate the contributions of Indigenous people, along with their long and storied history in Canada, by taking part in events and festivities.

Settlement agencies, often the first point of contact for newcomers to Canada, have a responsibility to communicate the history of our country and Aboriginal Awareness Month offers an opportunity to kick-start support for efforts aimed at ending cycles of systemic stereotyping and discrimination faced by Aboriginal people through culturally appropriate education on indigenous issues, along with meaningful partnerships that seek the creation of alliances to build awareness within the immigrant community and beyond.

Declared in 2009, National Aboriginal Awareness Month is a time to acknowledge the role Indigenous peoples played in the development of Canada, to honour Indigenous heritage and to celebrate Indigenous cultures. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the strength of present day First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities, and their hopes for the future.

Events invite us to learn more about Indigenous history, perspectives and culture, and help us build stronger relationships rooted in mutual respect and understanding. It means that during June, Aboriginal history is brought to the forefront in Canada. It is a month for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to reflect upon the past and look towards the future.  For Canada, this is the foundation for lasting reconciliation.

A timeline of how this important month in Canada's yearly calendar came into being can be seen below as well as a schedule of events in Calgary that will run from June 10th to June 24th.

• 1982: The National Indian Brotherhood (now known as the Assembly of First Nations) called for a creation of a National Aboriginal Solidarity Day on June 21.
• 1990: The Quebec legislature recognized June 21 as a day to celebrate Aboriginal culture
• 1995: The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended a day be designated as National First Peoples Day. The Sacred Assembly, a national conference of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people chaired by the late Elijah Harper, called for a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.
• 1996: Governor General Romeo LeBlanc proclaimed that National Aboriginal Day would be celebrated June 21 each year. "On June 21st, this year and every year, Canada will honour the native peoples who first brought humanity to this great land," said Leblanc. "And may the first peoples of our past always be full and proud partners in our future."
• 2008: Prime Minister Harper offered the full apology on behalf of Canadians for the Indian Residential Schools system.
• 2009: By unanimous motion in Canada’s House of Commons, the month of June was declared National Aboriginal History Month.