Tri-Cities LIP Connects: April 2022
 
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Promoting welcoming communities where immigrants can fully participate and are included in their community

This newsletter connects newcomers and service providers to community resources, events and initiatives that support their inclusion and participation in the Tri-Cities.
Please share with your teams and networks.

 

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS   COMMUNITY INFORMATION
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National Virtual Canadian Immigrant Fair

From Canadian Immigrant| Canada‘s ultimate career fair and speakers‘ series for skilled immigrants, newcomers, temporary workers, international students and other new Canadians comes in a virtual format on Friday April 8th from 9:00am to 1:00pm PST. The Virtual Canadian Immigrant Fairs offers a dynamic environment for newcomers who need support with looking for jobs, going back to school and settling into their new home. The aim of the event is connecting newcomers with employers, recruiters, immigrant service providers, educational institutes, government services and more to help newcomers on their journey to success in Canada. Don‘t miss the speaker sessions with experts covering topics from entrepreneurship, small business, soft skills and so much more! 

 

 

 

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Photo by Trey Musk/Pexel

Webinar: Displaced Ukrainians to BC - What we Know

April 4th, 3:00pm to 4:30pm PST| Online Event| You are invited to attend this webinar hosted by the BC Refugee Hub, which aims to provide attendees with high level information on how Ukrainians will be settled in British Columbia, their supports and developing post-arrival planning processes. This webinar is open to all settlement service provider organizations, community organizations, stakeholders, academic institutions and members of the community who would like to learn more. Speakers include:  Carling Helander - Executive Director, Immigration Policy and Integration - Province of British Columbia; Chris Friesen - Chair, Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance (CISSA-ACSEI); Elvira Mruchkovska - Coordinator, Ukrainian Displaced Assistance Program – Ukrainian Canadian Congress; Katie Crocker - CEO, Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA); Bahar Taheri - Project Consultant, BC Refugee Hub. 

 

 

 

Canada Expands Settlement Support for Ukrainians Coming to Canada

Settlement Program Services will soon be extended until March 31, 2023, for temporary residents in Canada eligible under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET). The services range from language training to job bank. Additionally the Canadian government is collaborating with the Red Cross to provide arrival services at selected airports throughout Canada as early as April 2022.

Canadian Government Launches Job Bank "Jobs for Ukraine"

To help connect Ukrainian newcomers with available jobs, the government of Canada launched Job Bank‘s ’Jobs for Ukraine‘ webpage, including a fact sheet in Ukrainian, on March 17, 2022.

 

 

 

Government Benefits for Older Adults

April 5th, 2:00pm to 3:00pm| Fraser Valley Regional Library| During this online event, Seniors First BC will present an informative overview of numerous federal and provincial government benefits for seniors – including Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Fair Pharmacare, BC Senior Supplement, Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER).

Cookbook Club

April 14th, 2:00pm to 3:00pm| Fraser Valley Regional Library | Do you love trying new recipes and sharing your cooking experiences, meal ideas, or culinary tips with others? Each month explores a different culinary theme, with the April session diving into a discussion of Indian cuisine. Please come prepared to share your favourite recipes, cookbooks, magazines, or websites with the group!

 

 

 

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Inclusion: The Journey to Community

Presented by Port Moody Station Museum, Community Ventures Society, Inclusion BC, and BC Self Advocacy Foundation, this exhibition is open until June 27th, 2022. The exhibition tells the story of the institutionalization of people with intellectual disabilities in B.C. which began more than 100 years ago with the creation of Woodlands institution in New Westminster. It ended on October 21, 1996, when Woodlands‘ last two residents moved to their new homes in the community. With their departure, B.C. became the first province in Canada to close all of its large institutions for people with intellectual disabilities. Come learn about history through a series of newspaper clippings, interactive elements, and be enlightened by stories from individuals who are now living and thriving in community. The era of abuse and neglect of people with disabilities who lived in institutions is largely unknown or misunderstood by most people in our province. Too often, it is only through the recollection of former residents, their families, and the community organizations that supported their journey to community that this story is told and kept live. 

SETTLEMENT

 

 

 

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A Deep Dive into “The Art of Neighboring”

April 13th, 10:00am to 11:00 am PST (1:00pm Eastern Time)| Tamarak Institute| One lesson learned from the past two years is that knowing your neighbours has been so important to communities as they make it through the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that Canadians are looking to the future and rethinking how we can make communities essential, we need to focus on neighbouring, or what it means to be a good neighbour? How can we develop deeper relationships with those who live nearby, and understand that there are different levels of relationships? Get access to the recording of the live webinar presented by speakers Dave Runyon and Deanna Butz in which they will talk about the importance of focusing your work on building neighbour relationships and what that means for building neighbourhoods.

 

 

 

English Practice Group

April 6th, 2:00pm to 3:00pm. Port Moody Public Library | Are you an intermediate level English learner looking for ways to keep your community connection while improving your English? Practice your English speaking and listening skills, develop friendships, and learn more about community resources from the comfort of your home.

Conversation Circles

April 13th, 2:00pm to 3:00pm| Fraser Valley Regional Library | Are you an English learner looking to make new friends and have meaningful conversations with others? Practice your English in a friendly, informal environment. Join others in an online event reading and discussing articles from the West Coast Reader.

 

 

 

Multicultural Asian Women Peer Support Group

April 5th, 11:00am to 1:00pm| ISSofBC | Join this group if you are a newcomer woman interested in learning about Canadian culture, making new friends, sharing your experiences and gathering information on services and resources. Join through the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3IK1eta. For more information contact Slavica Stevanovic at
slavica.stevanovic@issbc.org

Farsi Women Peer Support Group 


April 7th, 11:00am to 1:00pm| ISSofBC | ISSofBC invites all women who speak native Farsi/ Persian language to join and learn about Canadian Culture, make new friends, share experiences and more. Please register at:  https://bit.ly/3GXJFVO. For more information contact: Slavica Stevanovic at
slavica.stevanovic@issbc.org.

Multicultural Women Support Group

April 9th, 10:00am to 12:00pm| ISSofBC | Join this group if you are a new immigrant woman with good English, willing to meet new friends and learn more about Canadian society. Please register at:  https://bit.ly/3t3b0Ah. For more information contact: Slavica Stevanovic at slavica.stevanovic@issbc.org.

 

 

 

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Virtual English as an Additional Language Book Club

April 11th, 1:00pm to 2:00pm| Coquitlam Public Library | Are you interested in joining a book club dedicated to English language learners? Join Coquitlam Public Library's monthly book club and discover the joys of getting together to talk about books. New members are always welcome. The books that will be read and discussed are selected by Library staff. For more details or if you want to attend, please email Ann at ajohannes@coqlibrary.ca. The Library will share an invitation to the Zoom meeting via email 24 hours in advance of the session.

 

 

 

Applying for Citizenship (Adults)

April 7th, 10:30am to 12:00pm| ISSofBC | Contents of this workshop include: Eligibility requirements, required documents/history and form filling, how to prepare for the test/interview and ceremony, and important documents while living in Canada. For registration email Isabel Lee at isabel.lee@issbc.org.

Applying for Citizenship (Minors)

April 14th, 10:30am to 12:00pm| ISSofBC | Contents of this workshop include: Subsection 5(1) vs. 5(2), how to prepare for Birth Certificate & other documents, the interview/ceremony, and important documents while living in Canada. For registration email Isabel Lee at isabel.lee@issbc.org

 

 

 

Bi-weekly Women’s Mutual Support Group

April 4th, 10:00am to 11:00am| MOSAIC | The Bi-weekly Women’s Mutual Support Group is designed to support the unique needs of self-identified women who are with lived experience of violence/ abuse. This group provides a safe space to share stories and gain support. Email mmak@mosaicbc.org to register or fill the form by clicking here.

Online English Conversation Circle for PR Women

April 4th, 11:00am to 12:00pm| MOSAIC | Practice your English every day, and meet new friends online!   English Level: low to intermediate. Status Level: Permanent Resident women only. When: 11 am to 12 pm, Monday to Friday.  To register: email Eon Joung Lee at ejlee@mosaicbc.org.  

 

 

 

Citizenship Preparation Workshop

April 11th-14th, 2022 from 11:00am – 12:30pm| MOSAIC | Are you studying to become a Canadian Citizen? You’re not alone! Join MOSAIC's in-depth workshop to improve your knowledge of Canadian history, government, regions, and more. The themes of the sessions are as follows: Session 1 — Canada’s History – Part 1, Session 2 — Canada’s History – Part 2, Session 3 — Canada’s Government System, and Session 4 — Canadian Symbols & Regions. The registration deadline for this event is April 8th and space is limited and will be granted on a first come first served basis. To register, contact Judy at jlee@mosaicbc.org.

 

 

 

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Canoo - Free Mobile App to Explore Canada

Canoo is a free mobile app that helps new Canadians celebrate their settlement in Canada by providing free virtual and in-person admission to over 1400 museums, science centres, art galleries, parks, and historic sites across Canada. This Spring Canoo will be available to over 2 million Permanent Residents, plus new citizens via Canoo's app. Formerly known as the Cultural Access Pass, Canoo offers free admission for every new citizen/permanent resident and up to four children every time they visit a venue displayed on Canoo for one year, as well as access to exclusive digital content and events. Canoo is about experiencing and celebrating the amazing people, places, and things that make this our Canada. Your Canadian story is our Canadian story.


 

 

 

LABOUR MARKET

 

 

 

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Web Conference for Internationally Educated Banking and Financial Professionals

Canadian Immigrant presents this free one-stop web industry-specific virtual web conference series connecting newcomers with information and inspiration as they settle into their new home. On April 27th at 1:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)/10:00am (Pacific Standard Time), Canadian Immigrant will be hosting this 90-minute event discussing career opportunities and development, education and career growth and progression. Broken into three parts, this web conference for Internationally Educated Finance and Banking Professionals will feature inspiring speakers who are experts in their fields, speaking from across Canada with the goal of supporting internationally educated professionals to succeed on their chosen path. 

 

 

 

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Learn Microsoft Excel

April 7th, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm| Port Moody Public Library | Spreadsheets are useful not only in the office, but also in our everyday life. In this beginners' workshop, participants will learn how to use Microsoft Excel, one of the most popular spreadsheet programs. Basic computer skills are required. This is a two-week program (two Thursdays) so you will need to be able to attend both sessions. The first week will cover the basics of Excel, while the second week will dive further. 

 

 

 

Interview Skills - Career For Young Adult Series

April 14th, 3:30pm to 5:00pm| Join Coquitlam Public Library and WorkBC Centre for a series of workshops to support young adults to build skills, identify job goals and explore careers. These workshops are focused on topics of special interest to youth however everyone is welcome to attend. Come and learn how to prepare for an interview, including virtual interviews. Review common interview questions and how to follow up after an interview. Gain the skills to stand out and ace the interview.

Webmaking with HTML & CSS

April 20th, 12:30pm to 3:00pm| Coquitlam Public Library | Interested in web development and applications but don't know where to start? Join the Library and Canada Learning Code for a hands-on experience to acquire essential skills in HTML and CSS! In this workshop, learners will learn HTML & CSS basics by hacking pre-existing text, links, images, and videos on various templates, and then use their skills to create their very own webpage from scratch! Open to adults of all ages and designed for beginners. For more information, please contact Shirley at schan@coqlibrary.ca.

 

 

 

Preparing for Job Interviews - Career Prep Workshops

April 26th, 2:00pm to 3:30pm. Coquitlam Public Library | Do you feel your interview skills are stopping you from getting the right job? Join this online presentation to learn basic strategies to answer interview questions. With the help of a Career Advisor you will get information that will help you structure answers and place your skills at a higher level! This workshop will be offered through Zoom and all job seekers are welcome. 

 

 

 

Zoom Meeting Orientation (Mandarin)

April 8th, 10:00am to 11:30am| S.U.C.C.E.S.S. | From attending this workshop, participants will learn how to create an account, set up meetings, adjust their window, switch views, rename themselves, change their background, save the chat history, share their screen, and annotate slides. Permanent Residents, Protected Persons, Convention Refugees and Live-in Caregivers are all considered eligible participants. Registrants will be contacted to validate their information and confirm the registration. Please have your Permanent Resident card or immigration documents available.

 

 

 

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Network Better for the Canadian Job Market (English)

April 8th, 10:30am to 12:00pm| S.U.C.C.E.S.S. in Partnership with Terry Fox Library – Port Coquitlam| Takeaway practical online and face-to-face networking tips to increase your chances of landing your next job in Canada, while discussing informational interviews, effectively utilizing networking platforms, the do’s and don’ts, how to reach out to local professionals, and leveraging your LinkedIn account. Eligibility: work/study permits, PNP nominees, refugee claimants, and naturalized citizens. 

 

 

 

Navigating Employment on the FASD Spectrum

April 13th, 9:00am to 4:00pm| WorkBC YWCA | Join this free, online conference to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the circle of our lives. Featuring FASD Key Workers and Support Specialists, as well as individuals with FASD and lived experience, this conference will focus on employment for people with FASD, from both employee and employer perspectives. The event will be held online, featuring speakers and panelists, as well as various activities. Registration is essential and space is limited to 100 attendees. 

 

 

 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 

 

 

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Is the Two-Step Migration System Serving Canada and Newcomers as it is Intended?

Join CERC Migration for a webinar on April 12th, 12:00pm to 1:00pm (Eastern Standard Time)/ 9:00am to 10:00am (Pacific Standard Time) to discuss the impact of Canada‘s two-step immigration system on the transition experiences and challenges facing different groups of temporary migrants, and what proactive approaches could address these challenges. More often today, migrants to Canada experience a two-step immigration process where they are first admitted with temporary status and then have the potential to transition to permanent status through federal and provincial immigration programs. While the transition rate of temporary migrants has increased over time, it is not consistent across various groups of temporary migrants. During the pandemic, several policy initiatives were undertaken to address this issue, including the intake of a record number of applications for the Canadian Experience Class program from within Canada and introduction of an immigration program for international students and essential (low-skilled) workers. Given this backdrop, it is critical that service providers understand fully the implications of our current system and how it can be refined to best serve Canada and tomorrow‘s newcomers.

 

 

 

Better Workplace Conference 2022

For over two decades, the Better Workplace Conference has hosted a national conversation on creating a safe and healthy workplace. This April 5th to 7th, the Conference Board of Canada is bringing together thought leaders, researchers, and industry experts, for an important, evidence-based discussion on workplace wellbeing in 2022. This event will provide a chance for service providers to expand their network, gain insights, and access practical tools to improve their organization‘s culture. Discussions of the Conference will include: reimagining the better workplace, workplace health and wellness disruptors/ challenges, and the way forward. 

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Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Teaching and Learning (UBC)

This course was created for instructors in all disciplines who are interested in developing their capacity to create more inclusive classrooms and learning environments but are not sure of where to start. The content is also relevant for anyone who is involved in teaching and learning in higher education, including Teaching Assistants, educational developers, or staff who support instructors. Questions of equity, diversity and inclusion are especially important for students who belong to social groups that have been historically, persistently and/or systemically underrepresented and marginalized. Research shows that inclusive teaching practices are in fact helpful for all students, not only for underrepresented or marginalized students. In addition, beyond classrooms, all students live and work in a world that requires the ability to interact with people who have different perspectives or lived experiences, and where the capacity to consider equity and inclusion will make for stronger, more innovative and more thoughtful teams and projects. While any of the five modules can be taken independently, it is recommended that you start with Module 1 to make sure that you are familiar with the basic concepts and vocabulary used in the course. 

 

 

 

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

 

 

 

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Homework Help Club

April 14th, 4:00pm to 4:40pm| Coquitlam Public Library | This tutoring program matches teen volunteers (grades 8 to 12) with kids in grades 1 to 6, and anyone is welcome. The meetings take place on Zoom and registration is online. Contact librarian Chris Miller at cmiller@coqlibrary.ca for information and for registration.

Volunteer Job Fair

April 23rd, 10:30am to 1:30pm| Community Volunteer Connections and the Coquitlam Public Library have teamed up once again to host a Volunteer Job Fair. This in-person event invites adults that are 55 years and older to attend a Volunteer Job Fair to meet with volunteer coordinators and the organizations they represent to learn more about volunteer opportunities in their community.  No registration is required, and the event is hosted at the City Centre branch (1169 Pinetree Way) in Rooms 136 & 137.

 

 

 

National Volunteer Week

April 24 - April 30th| City of Port Coquitlam | Volunteers are an essential part of the operation and culture of the City of Port Coquitlam. They provide much-needed support in recreational programming, emergency preparedness and community services, environmental programs, and much, much more. Through this Volunteer Week the City is showing it's pride and gratitude for the citizens who offer up their time and energy to make our City what it is. Find volunteer opportunities at portcoquitlam.ca/volunteer

 

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

 

 

Vulnerable, Inequitable, and Precarious: Impacts of COVID-19 on Newcomers, Immigrants, And Migrant Workers in Rural Canada


International Students as a Source of Labour Supply: Pre-Immigration Study in Canada and Post-Immigration Earnings  


Canada's "Best Diversity Employers" for 2022 Announced


Canada Launches New Temporary Residence Pathway to Welcome Those Fleeing the War in Ukraine


Minister Fraser Meets with Afghan Newcomers and Settlement Services Organizations in Alberta


The Only Constant: Changing Nature of Work and Skills


To Retain Immigrants, Decision-Makers Must Address Systemic Failures


Discrimination is the Top Legal Challenge Facing Immigrants in Victoria, Study Suggests


Ukraine Immigration Measures: Key figures


B.C. Report Finds Temporary Foreign Workers Suffer ‘Troubling’ Abuse


 

 

 

For additional immigrant and settlement related resources, visit our website www.tricitieslip.ca

 

 

 

Share your event or initiative with us!

News items featured in the e-newsletter are sourced, provided to us by our partners or accessed through open data sources. To include your news and events in our next update, please email the TCLIP Team.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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