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St. John's LIP Newsletter, August, 2017
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The St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership is a broad-based partnership designed to support the participation and wellbeing of newcomers in all aspects of life in the city, as well as to strengthen the city’s ability to integrate newcomer needs into municipal planning processes. The St. John’s LIP is co-led by the City of St. John’s and the Association for New Canadians and is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
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In this Newsletter:
We've heard from our Partnership Council and others that there is a need for more tools for connecting individuals interested in immigration issues in the city. To help meet that need, and to encourage collaboration and information sharing, we have decided to create a newsletter to
be distributed 6 times a year and will include the following information:
- What's New at the St. John's LIP
- News and Updates
- Upcoming Events
- Programs and Initiatives
- New Research
- Get Involved
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What's new at the St. John's LIP
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The LIP has a new logo!
The St. John’s LIP is launching its new logo, designed by Karly Barker.
The connected beach rocks have a symbolic significance that represent the values of the LIP. Like beach rocks on the water’s edge, we are all different but together we make this place. Each person is unique but we are all connected to our St. John’s home. Many are drawn to beach rock because they symbolize our connection to the ocean and our connection to place. The heart shaped rock represents love for our community and that in becoming a resident of St. John’s, the person is joining a community of many different and unique people.
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Engaging Newcomer Volunteers
Volunteerism can be a great way to foster social connections between new Canadians and Canadian-born residents and can be hugely beneficial in helping new Canadians expand their networks and develop skills that can help in finding future employment. When voluntary organizations intentionally engage newcomer volunteers it can also help them become more effective in their work, by tapping into a diversity of competencies and experience, widening the pool of potential volunteers, and raising cultural awareness within the organization. Newcomers to Canada often face unique barriers to getting involved with community organizations through volunteering. We see this as a missed opportunity for both new Canadians and for voluntary organizations who can both benefit from engagement.
The LIP and the ANC are undertaking an initiative to help voluntary organization integrate some simple supportive practices into their programming to address some of the barriers to entry that newcomers can face in volunteering. Currently we are in the process of developing a toolkit which aims to support voluntary organizations in engaging newcomer volunteers. We are reaching out to organizations to participate in an initiative that will help us develop a resource that is truly useful and in touch with the realities that voluntary organizations are experiencing here in St. John's.
If you are an organization with volunteer programming that is interested in how you can integrate supportive practices into your work, please get in touch with Kelly Ball at
[email protected]
Tales from Afar: Old Stories from New Residents
The St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership and the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL) are looking for old stories from new residents as part of a project to collect and share the diversity of oral traditions that exist within the region, and to create a showcase of traditional stories and folktales from around the world.
Sharing folktales can highlight the commonalities between cultures, and help build a common understanding between people by bridging cultural, political and religious divides. Sharing the stories we grew up with is a way of bringing people together.
Project organizers are looking for folktales, legends, myths, stories of saints and miracles, ghost stories, fables, or traditional children’s tales -- any story that has been passed down by word of mouth. Participants could be newcomers in the truest sense of the word - recent refugees, temporary foreign workers, international students, newly arrived professionals or economic migrants, or could be well-established immigrants who have long since made St. John’s their home. Organizers will work with participants to edit and polish the stories for publication once they are collected.
The project will culminate in the creation of written booklet of world folktales. The booklet will be made available online, printed, and shared through key organizations and at community events. Stories can be submitted in written form, or participants can sit down with a collector and tell their story in spoken form.
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Genesis Centre Launches Start-up Visa Program with Federal Government
One of the most difficult things to do as an immigrant to a new country is achieve citizenship. Navigating the course of immigration is a challenging process; one that can be made easier if an individual has employment already arranged. But what about those who aspire to be an entrepreneur? What provision allows newcomers to spark innovation and grow the economy here in Canada?
The Start-up Visa Program aims to bring high-potential and skilled entrepreneurs and their families to Canada to pursue their business ideas. Canada’s growing knowledge economy enables them to compete on not only a national, but global scale. Through Start-up Visa, immigrant entrepreneurs can apply to three streams approved to invest in or support potential start-ups: venture capital funds, angel investor groups, or business accelerators/incubators. These designated groups can help facilitate and advance the entrepreneur’s permanent residency status.
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Multicultural Family Sports Day
The ANC hosted its 5th annual Multicultural Family Sports Day to celebrate Canadian Multiculturalism Day and Canada Day. The event included a variety of family-oriented games, sports, and activities as well as face-painting, bouncy castles, and a barbeque. Check out this link for more details and to see some pictures from the day:
https://goo.gl/pZL7NW
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Home is Where the Heart Feels: Refugee Day Photo Exhibit
The ANC and the City of St. John’s, held its second annual World Refugee Day Photo Exhibition at City Hall from June 20 to July 11. “Home is Where the Heart Feels” was designed to reflect on the settlement and integration experiences of refugee youth/young adults living in the province and provided the public with a vital opportunity to interact with, and learn from, some of the newest members of the community.
Listen to three of the youth photographers talk about their experience taking part in the project on
CBC morning show
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RIAC's Summer Cultural Festival
RIAC's annual Summer Cultural Festival will be held on Saturday, August 26th at the John Cabot Amphitheater in Bowring Park, (behind the new fountain), starting at 12:00pm.
The festival includes a mix of local talent rendering international and local pieces as well as newcomers performing Canadian and Newfoundland and Labrador folk and new genres.The lineup includes Latin Dance, Eastern Moves, Newfoundland and Labrador Folks, Swing Dance, Gypsy Heat, African Rhythms, and more as the call for performers is still open.
Visit RIAC's website for the list of activities and fun being planned for the whole family at http://riac.ca/
Call 709-754-4122 or send an e-mail to Summer Cultural Festival for more details.
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Speaking Tour: Story of a Muslim Newfoundlander
Aatif Baskanderi is a Muslim Newfoundlander. He grew up in Clarenville where very few people looked like him, or believed in the same things. In spite of those differences, his community always accepted and encouraged him, leading to his unwavering sense of belonging to Newfoundland and driving him on an interesting life journey. Aatif believes Newfoundland carries a level of sincerity, respect and appreciation within its character that breeds the capability to create great change in the world. Now, he is returning to his home province to share his story for those who feel different, sometimes anxious, and highlight how Newfoundland showed him and others a way to build communities of love and respect that can build people up in great ways.
Aatif will be speaking at Memorial University on the evening of Wednesday, September 27. Please RSVP online: http://bit.ly/SalaamBy-StJohns
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ESL Evening Classes
The ANC’s ESL Evening Classes will be back in September for the fall semester. Classes will be delivered every Tuesday from 7-9 pm at the ESL Training Centre on Smithville Crescent and will be available in 4 different levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Pronunciation. For more information, please contact Marlene at (709) 726-6848 or [email protected]
Computer Support Class
The ANC is offering a weekly Computer Support Class for newcomer young adults every Wednesday from 2-3:30 in the Computer Lab of the ESL Training Centre. Please contact Meghan at (709) 722-2828 or
[email protected] for more information.
CELPIP Testing
We're offering monthly Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) Testing at the ESL Training Centre on Smithville Crescent. For more information, please contact Marlene at (709) 726-6848 or
[email protected].
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St. John's Board of Trade Connector Program
The St. John’s Connector Program is an effective networking program that helps local businesses and organizations connect with immigrants, international students and graduates who are interested in starting and growing their career in St. John’s.Through one-on-one meetings, local business and community leaders known as Connectors meet with talent interested in opportunities in St. John’s. The Connector gains access to a wealth of diverse, pre-qualified talent and Connectees gain insight into their professional network, and connect with career opportunities.
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CMHC Newcomer Housing Guide
CMHC is the Government of Canada's national housing agency and the go-to resource to better help you settle in Canada. We are providing you with housing information to help you make decisions and find a safe, affordable home for your family. According to the 2006 Census, an average of 240,000 newcomers arrive in Canada each year. As a result, roughly two-thirds of Canada's annual population growth now comes from net international migration.
For many of these new arrivals, finding a safe, affordable place to live can be an immediate challenge, especially since housing in Canada varies greatly between provinces and territories, cities and communities. To help Canada’s newcomers make the best housing decisions, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers the tips on what to look for when buying or renting a new home.
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Call for Applications: Pathways to Success Program
Applications are currently being accepted from newcomer youth for twenty spots available for the Pathways to Success Program. The deadline for application is August 15th, 2017 for the September 2017 – March 2018 program.
The Pathways to Success project supports newcomer youth looking for mentorship and information on post-secondary education, employment, and career pathways. Youth will receive individual support with their questions and will be matched with mentors in the fields they are considering studying or working.
Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants must be
1- Former refugee / immigrant.
2- Student in grade 11 or 12 in high school (in St. John’s, NL) in 2017-2018 academic year.
To apply, please fill out the application form by clicking on the PSP-Application Form or contact Mr. Mohammad Ali Bakhshi, Project Coordinator, at [email protected]
For more information visit: https://meaningfulfuturesnl.wordpress.com/2017/08/03/pathways-to-success-project-a-program-for-newcomer-youths/
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Changeup Grants: Inspirit Foundation
ChangeUp grants create opportunities for people aged 18-34 to initiate creative solutions-focused projects that address issues of discrimination and prejudice in their local communities. The $10,000 one-time grants are for projects that implement creative strategies to open minds and shift attitudes that perpetuate prejudice and exclusion based on ethnicity, race or religion. Through the grants, Inspirit Foundation is particularly interested in supporting the development of effective, connected and influential young change leaders.
Guidelines:
ChangeUp Grants fund projects that:
- Are developed and led by young people between the ages of 18-34 who have personal experience with issues and communities being addressed in the project;
- Engage local issues and stakeholders;
- Open minds and shift attitudes that perpetuate prejudice and exclusion based on ethnic, cultural or religious difference;
- Occur within a 12-month period;
- Take place in Canada
Round 2 Online Application opens July 10th, 2017
Application Deadline: September 25th, 2017 5:00 PM EST
http://inspiritfoundation.org/grants-opportunities/changeup-grants-en/
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Submit Your Events and Get Involved
Do you have an upcoming event the community should know about? Would you like us to highlight a successful program or initiative? Get in touch if you wish to have your organization's work included in the newsletter.
The St. John’s LIP also has many opportunities for you to get involved. The LIP is comprised of over 60 volunteers who participate through involvement on the Partnership Council or on one of the four working groups.
Contact Jessica Barry, LIP Project Officer, for more information at [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter @StJohnsLIP
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