St. John's LIP Newsletter: March 2020
The St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership is a broad-based partnership designed to support the well-being and participation 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 funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
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 send out a newsletter 12 times a year that includes the following information:

  • Partners' News and Updates
  • Proposals and Programs
  • Community Engagement
  • Get Involved with SJLIP
MyNewStJohns.ca
Carte de service "Mon nouveau St. John's" - Disponible
The St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership is pleased to promote their interactive, online and mobile-friendly services map to help newcomers easily find and access existing programs and services in both official languages.

With the support of La Fédération des francophones de Terre-Neuve et du Labrador and made possible through financial support from the City of St. John's, the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Check out BOTH sites at Mon Nouveau St. Jean AND My New St. John's

Let us know if there's anything else you would like to see added or edited!
Did You Know? That the St. John's LIP with support from ACOA was able to translate a community package in TWO languages? Now the Arabic and French Community have access to such city services like:

The Real Program + Application, in both Arabic and French
Housing & Tenants Rights , Arabic and French, and
Neighbourhood Watch , also in both Arabic and French

Tell us what you think, and be sure to share this accessible information!
Partners: News and Updates
Click Work Global Canada Poster to Visit Their Website
Study and Stay Program is looking for Mentors
Public Legal Information Association of NL

The Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador has launched a new program to develop and deliver presentations on legal rights to newcomers throughout the province to assist in their workplace integration. Topics will include human rights, family law, residential tenancies, labour and employment rights, criminal law, etc.

For more information or to request a presentation in your region, please contact Project Coordinator Emma Duke at outreach@publiclegalinfo.com or 709-722-2643
Get in the know with Team Grow ...
TeamGrowNL has recently partnered with MUN Alumni on select Alumni events across North America, in which a TeamGrowNL representative will be available on site to chat directly with Alumni about current and future career opportunities available in Newfoundland and Labrador. These events will take place in Houston, Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax throughout 2020. The first event is being held on March 5 th  in Houston. If you’re an employer in NL that has any job vacancies and you’d like them promoted directly to Alumni in Houston at the upcoming event, please contact Tania at  tania@teamgrownl.ca .
The St. John’s Board of Trade and Connector NL , with support from ACOA, recently developed three videos to focus on the benefits of immigration and hiring immigrants through programs such at the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP). AIP allows local businesses to hire international talent and international post-secondary graduates who want to live and work in Atlantic Canada.

If you require support and guidance while learning about immigration programs and services the St. John’s Board of Trade is your GO TO place for business. Contact Rhonda at solutions@bot.nf.ca or visit: https://www.stjohnsbot.ca/hiring-newcomers

BOT has developed three immigration story videos. The videos are available here: https://www.stjohnsbot.ca/hiring-newcomers and Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/StJohnsBoardofTrade  

For More Info: Connector NL
Association for New Canadians

Charity Ball

The gala evening benefiting the Association for New Canadians, originally set to happen in the aftermath of the recent snow storm, has been rescheduled to March 7 – and some tickets are still available!

Memorial University Engineering Society students plan and prepare the event each year to benefit a local charity; the ANC is delighted to have been selected this year and encourages you to attend. The Charity Ball goes ahead March 7 at the Bally Haly Country Club, Logy Bay Road.

Event and ticket information are available here: EventBrite

Diversity Summit
On March 19, the Association for New Canadians host the next Diversity Summit. This full-day (9:30 – 3:30) event will be at the St. John’s Farmers Market on March 19, co-presented with First Light.

Panel and speakers will highlight the benefits of a diverse workplace. The Diversity Awards will be presented to individuals and businesses who demonstrate the spirit of diversity.

A multicultural lunch featuring a variety of food and entertainment is included in the registration fee. Full information is here: Click Here for Summit

Employment & Care e r Information Fair for Newcomers
The ANC’s AXIS Career Services (Acquiring Experience, Integrating Skills) invites newcomers to network and connect with employers hiring from a
broad range of industries, and to attend information sessions about career development, post-secondary, and community engagement options.
Industry representation will include: financial services, retail, food, hospitality, business administration, engineering, health, security, and technology.

The fair is taking place Thursday, March 26, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m ., at the Hilton Garden Inn, St. John’s (150 New Gower Street). Admission is free!
For more details, visit www.axiscareers.net, or email AXIS@NFLD.NET

Citizenship Classes
The Association for New Canadians has opened registration for its next round of free citizenship classes. The classes start Tuesday, March 3, and run for eight weeks. The classes will be from 6pm to 9pm, covering the material in the Discover Canada study guide.

There is no charge for these classes, but space is limited. To register or for more information, contact the ANC English as a Second Language School; phone 709-726-6848 or e-mail linc@ancnl.ca.

Free ESL Classes
The Association for New Canadians offers FREE evening English as a Second Language classes every Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at the ESL Training Centre, 148 Elizabeth Avenue (off Smithville Crescent); classes are open to permanent and temporary residents as well as new (less than 1 year) Canadian citizens.
For more information, or to register phone 726-6848 or e-mail linc@ancnl.ca.

Conversation Circle
Everyone is welcome to the Community Conversation Circle, offered by the MUN Student Experience Office and MUN Internationalization office in partnership with the Association for New Canadians. The Conversation Circle goes ahead every Monday from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. at the Internationalization Office multi-purpose room in the Corte Real Building on the MUN campus.

Programs and Initiatives

Call for interpreters and translators
We are currently seeking individuals who would like to join our interpretation team! We are currently accepting interpreters for any and all languages, but we currently have a particular need for Tigrinya and Arabic, Turkmen, Sango, Somali, Amharic and Oromo. Interested individuals are asked to email Kathryn Holloway at  kholloway@ancnl.ca  to learn more!

Support for temporary residents
The Association for New Canadians offers settlement supports to all temporary residents on the Avalon Peninsula. These include temporary foreign workers, international students (MUN, CNA, and other post-secondary institutions), as well as family members of these groups.

Anyone looking for assistance can contact Sophia Solomon, the ANC’s Community Settlement/Integration Counsellor, at 709-552-4736 or ssolomon@ancnl.ca.

Supports for Atlantic Immigration Pilot
The ANC continues to offer Atlantic Immigration Pilot program supports at no charge to both employers and employees. Employers interested in learning more about the AIP program can contact Zack Noel, the ANC’s AIP Officer, at 709-552-2262 or znoel@ancnl.ca.
Designated employees who have their permanent residency should contact Sonia Krajewska at skrajewska@ancnl.ca

Volunteer Opportunities
You can make a lasting difference in the lives of newcomers to St. John’s! To apply for either of these opportunities, or if you are interested in other kinds of volunteering with the ANC, please e-mail the volunteer co-ordinator at volunteer@ancnl.ca

Language Coach
The ANC’s Education and Support for Employment (EASE) program gives Canadian workplace experience to people who have arrived here as refugees. Participants are adult students at the ANC’s ESL Training Centre hoping to eventually find work in fields they were experienced in prior to their arrival in this country. We are seeking adult volunteers who can be trained as language coaches to accompany EASE students as they volunteer in workplace-like environments in the Greater St. John’s area.

Match Program
The Association for New Canadians is recruiting volunteers for the Newcomer Match Program. The Match program connects newcomers with volunteers. The volunteers help newcomers learn English, introduce them to the community and establish friendships/connections. This program works entirely around each volunteer's schedule. Once interested individuals complete the application process, volunteers work closely with the Community Connections Coordinator to find a suitable match and begin the program.

School Supply Donations
The Association for New Canadians’ Child and Youth Team has an ongoing need for school supplies for newly-arrived refugee students. The Team is happy to accept any donations of pencils, pens, paper, notebooks, backpacks – anything a student would need starting out.
Contact cayp@ancnl.ca for information, or feel free to bring donations to our office at 144 Military Rd.

Programs & Initiatives
techKNOWtutors  offers free digital literacy training for the community!
Come join us for our upcoming sessions:

Internet Basics  –  Three Part Session!
Topics:  Hardware Basics, Digital Citizenship, Protecting Yourself Online

Navigating eServices for Drivers  – Learn how to renew your driver’s license or vehicle registration online!
… and  more !
 
Need answers not in our sessions? Come to our upcoming  drop-in session  on  March 5 th  (AC Hunter Library) for individual support!
 
techKNOWtutors are on the scene in  Corner Brook, Bonavista, and Lethbridge  in March, as well! Find sessions in your area  here !

Please note that all sessions are ESL Learner Friendly!
We welcome anyone to register with us and join our sessions!
Contact us on  Facebook  or at  techknowtutors@cscnl.ca  or 709-753-9860 to register and for more information!
 Community Engagement
The Once & Future Library visioning campaign is an initiative of the St. John’s Public Libraries Board (SJPLB) to connect with the community in library planning.

Take our  survey  and take part in marking the 200th anniversary of libraries in St. John’s.
Help Revolutionize the AC Hunter Library - Do the Survey!
Awesome opportunity with our LIP Partner


You can complete online survey  on what improvements you’d like to see in St. John’s Libraries. Paper copies of the survey are also available in the branches and the survey will remain open through May. 
 
While a new central library facility is a long ways off - we want to encourage big thinking — this is a multi-year conversation and SJPLB wants to gather your ideas and to have fun with it, too!
 
SJPLB has partnered with the Newfoundland Association of Architects to sponsor a “Napkin Sketch" Design Competition,  asking:
 
What is your vision for a dream library for St. John’s? 
 
There are  cash prizes  to be be won and submissions are welcome from everyone, from children to architects!
 
Send in a single image and a brief write up to  info@onceandfuturelibrary.ca  or drop your sketch into the branches.


Winners will be announced at the  Once & Future Library Public Forum   on  March 6th  at the St. John’s Community Market, 7-9 PM. 
That date marks the 200th Anniversary of the library. The event is free and everyone is welcome to attend. We hope you will come and join in the discussion. 
 
SJPLB is also hoping to draw out some historical pieces of library history and plan to share as much information about the history of St. John’s libraries as we can throughout the 200th year. 
 
DO Fill in the Survey  -  Send in a Design of your Dream Library  -  Attend the Free Public Forum  and Join the Conversation!
 
Go to:

Global Refugee Narratives 2020
Global Refugee Narratives 2020 Symposium

On behalf of Memorial University’s chapter of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), we would like to invite you to attend and participate in the “Global Refugee Narratives 2020” international symposium on March 14, 2020.

The one-day symposium will be held at the Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation at Memorial University.

The purpose of this symposium is to facilitate conversations and achievable solutions to the global refugee discourse. The event will bring together an array of former refugees who will help us better understand the plight of refugees by sharing with us their migration and settlement related journeys. In conjunction with discussions with various professionals who provide services and information to newcomers, this event aims to conceptualize achievable solutions that encompasses the intersectionality of this pressing and proliferating matter.

You can find the details about the symposium in our website: https://www.mun.ca/international/programming/Global_Refugee_Narratives/

This event, from 9 am - 4:30 pm, will take place at the Bruneau Centre (IIC), room number 2001. On the same day, you are welcome to attend our Syrian themed “Culinary Diplomacy” dinner which takes place at 6 pm at the Internationalization Office (IO). Both the symposium and dinner are free events, however only the former can be attended online as well. To register, please click on the link here .
SHARING OUR CULTURES™ EVENT
THE ROOMS on 9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John’s, NL
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

You’re invited! Come celebrate our province’s diverse cultures with us and interact with high school youth as they share their cultures with you. Engage in hands-on activities, participate in traditional performances, and/or connect with the young people who make our province such a wonderful place to live. Please check our website www.sharingourcultures.com

Free Admission to Sharing Our Cultures™.

THE EVENTS

The Rooms
March 18, 2020
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm

You’re invited! Come celebrate our province’s diverse cultures with us and interact with school youth as they share their cultures with you. Engage in hands-on activities, participate in traditional performances, and connect with the young people who make our province such a wonderful place to live. Free admission to the Sharing Our Cultures event. https://www.sharingourcultures.com

The Rooms
March 21, 2020
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Join the conversation with amazing individuals who contribute daily to the social, cultural, and economic development of Newfoundland and Labrador. Listen to their stories in sharing circles and discover the difference they are making in our community. Free admission to the Sharing Our Cultures event. https://www.sharingourcultures.com

LES ÉVÉNEMENTS

The Rooms
18 mars 2020
16h 30 à 18 h 30

Vous êtes invités ! Venez célébrer les diverses cultures de notre province avec les jeunes qui vont partager leurs cultures avec vous. Participez aux activités interactives, aux spectacles traditionnels, et venez rencontrer les jeunes qui font de notre province, un merveilleux endroit à vivre.
Entrée gratuite à l’événement À la découverte de nos cultures. https://www.sharingourcultures.com

The Rooms
21 mars 2020
14h 00 à 16 h 00

Participez aux discussions avec des personnes remarquables qui contribuent quotidiennement au développement social, culturel et économique de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. Écoutez leurs histoires lors de cercles de partage et découvrez la différence qu’elles font dans notre communauté.
Entrée gratuite à l’événement À la découverte de nos cultures. https://www.sharingourcultures.com
At Home in the Kitchen:
Access to Culturally Diverse Food and Ingredients Project
Over the last few months, St. John’s has been talking about food. Particularly, specific foods – and special ingredients – that are a taste of home. Many new Canadians arrive to St. John’s and struggle to find familiar foods to them; making it harder to feel at home in their new community. These access issues are also a barrier to new food-based businesses.

To help map out some solutions, the St. John’s Farmers’ Market Cooperative and the St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership have come together to create a new project: “At Home in the Kitchen,” funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador through their Labour Market Integration for Newcomers program.

We are looking to hear from people from all culturally diverse backgrounds, whether immigrants, Indigenous, refugees, citizens that have arrived from other countries and community organizations that work with people of culturally diverse background. This part of our project ends this month!

If you would like to connect and share your perspective, fill out THIS survey , sit in for a group chat about food, or to conduct an in-person or phone interview, please contact our Project Coordinator below:

Michelle Debnath-Canning,
Project Coordinator
At Home in the Kitchen
Call for Performers

The City of St. John’s is accepting submissions to the 2020 Call for Performers.
Performers are invited to submit applications annually for the opportunity to perform at City hosted events and festivals, including but not limited to the
Music @ Concert Series and cruise ship visits.
The deadline to apply is 4 p.m. Sunday, March 15, 2020. To apply, complete the
For more information visit  the City website  or email  performers@stjohns.ca .
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 or event included in our newsletter. We now send out a monthly newsletter, so please send April updates by March 26, 2019!

The St. John’s LIP also has many opportunities for you to get involved. It is comprised of over 60 volunteers who participate through involvement on the Partnership Council or on one of our four working groups.

Contact sgardner@stjohns.ca for more information or to get involved.

Follow us on Twitter @StJohnsLIP