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Housing newcomers: Partners share their experience
What has housing resettled refugees been like for our partners? Hear from Pacifica Housing about their experience. 

Check out Pacifica Housing's experience housing newcomers
ICA invites you to A Christmas Carol event: December 17
ICA would like to invite you to a live reading of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol on: 
Saturday, December 17, from 11 am - 2 pm 
Featuring CBC personalities Michael Tymchuk, Robyn Burns, Gregor Craigie, Bob MacDonald and Megan Thomas as well as readers from ICA Paulina Grainger and Taiwo Afolabi.
Live performances by local artists and musicians include Sari Alesh, Viva Mexico Folklore Dancers. 
The event will be MC'd by Councillor, Charlayne Thornton-Joe and ICA's Community Development Coordinator, Steven Baileys. 
Vegetarian chili, hot beverages and snacks are available for cash purchase.
We hope you will be able to join us at this festive event. Please  register on Eventbrite. Event is open to the public. Donations accepted. Read more here...
More resources for newcomer women
Submitted by Roya Badii, Settlement Coordinator

The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) is pleased to thank and highlight the positive partnership with Victoria Women in Need Community cooperative (WIN) in the last number of years. WIN has been providing ICA with gift certificates under their Gift Certificate Program to support immigrant and refugee women. We will continue this partnership as well as cooperate to ensure immigrant and refugee women in need receive support.

ICA also thanks WIN for accepting all the generous donations of clothing and other items that Victorians have been making over the past year in support of resettled refugees. These donati ons are helping newcomers to ease the transition as they establish their new lives in Victoria. 
Are you looking for new ways to support refugees this holiday season? 
Submitted by Kate Longpre, Community Integration Coordinator


Refugeepartners.com   has conducted interviews with 14 refugee families in Victoria. During these interviews, resettled refugees shared information about their lives and created a wish list of items that will assist them with their settlement and future in Canada.  Refugeepartners.com   provides community member's a "structure" to respond directly to the specific needs of the resettled refugees in Victoria. Community members can visit  refugeepartners.com , review the stories and pledge items to specific refugee families in Victoria.
For the past 11 years,  homelesspartners.com   has connected generous community members with individuals experiencing homelessness. 
Refugeepartners.com   is a new initiative this year. We hope you take the time to review the resettled refugee stories and consider donating items in need.  http://www.refugeepartners.com/ Read more here...
Volunteers Talking the Talk
Submitted by Liz Bean, Coordinator of Volunteer Services


If you've ever tried learning a new language, you would agree that it can be quite challenging. And, when you add the extra layer of living in a new country and new culture, it's even more challenging. Yet, as a newcomer, learning to speak the language becomes the key to your entire future. Language skills opens up doors to job opportunities, friendships and basic day-to-day social interactions, like at the grocery store, the bank or when someone on the street asks you for directions. When learning something new, especially a new language, it takes practice, and more practice. Read more here...
Fall Youth Program Update
Submitted by Becki Steel, ICA Practicum Student

ICA's fall youth programs are in full swing! Homework Club has been consistently busy throughout the fall, thanks to practicum students and dedicated volunteers, we have been able to provide one-on-one tutoring for all participants. The Meet Up continues to host fun community-based events for newcomer youth. Exciting activities for the upcoming weeks include ice skating and an IMAX movie.
 
This October, for 10 weeks, Youth Services launched the annual Youth Employment Training (YET) for newcomer youth aged 15-25. YET informs young newcomers about the educational and career options in Canada, and prepares them with the skills, knowledge and resources to pursue their goals. This year, we altered the program to deliver more practical results and to meet immediate employment needs. Modifications to the program were very successful: all of this year's YET participants have obtained employment as a result of the program, and learned a variety of valuable skills such as creating resumes, interview etiquette, cross cultural communication, and problem solving. Read about other programs here....
Holiday Fund Raising Clinic


ICA welcomes new staff and intern
Salameh Ayaad, Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) Worker 
 
Hi!  My name is Salameh Ayaad (pronounced Salama 'Ayyad). I moved to Canada in August 2011 as an international student and have lived in Vancouver ever since. I completed my Master of Arts in Communication from Simon Fraser University (SFU) in February 2015. 
 
My most recent professional experience has been as a freelance interpreter for Arabic-speaking immigrants and refugees, on behalf of MCIS Language Solutions. My work history also includes serving as a cultural affairs assistant for the Embassy of the United States of America in Kuwait between 2008 and 2011, teaching assistant for undergraduate students at SFU from 2012-2014, and cataloguing Arabic-language books as a full-time library assistant at SFU's Bennett Library. Read more about Salameh here. 
 

Dean Yuan, Communications and Evaluations Intern

Hello there! My name is Dean Yuan, I am a student from the Master of the Inter-Cultural and International Communication program at Royal Roads University. I come from mainland China and have been here for 16 months. As an international student, I can truly understand those challenges that newcomers are faced with and I'm eager to help them integrate into the culture and community in Victoria. So I'm here!
It is also a great opportunity to apply my theoretical knowledge on inter-cultural communication into real work here. Based on my previous work experiences at television stations in China, I will work on over 10 successful stories from ICA staff and clients and share them through media during my 6 months of placement. In addition, I will also participate in some of the evaluations work at ICA.  I can't wait to get in touch with those who have interesting stories to share and hope I will realize my value of life and reach my goals here in ICA!  Read more here.
In This Issue
Housing newcomers: Partners share their experience
ICA invites you to a A Christmas Carol event
More resources for newcomer women
Refugeepartners.com
Volunteers Talking the Talk
Fall Youth Program Update
Holiday Fund Raising Clinic
ICA welcomes new staff and intern
Ride for Refuge
What's Happening?
Community Events

Have you seen Margriet Ruurs latest book? Written to the artwork of Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr. 

Purchase yours at 
ICA reception for $20. 

 


What's Happening?  
   


Weekly Settlement Orientation 
Sessions
Important information to help newcomers settle in Victoria. 
Available in English: Every Wednesday 12:30 - 2:30 pm 
Available in Mandarin: Wednesdays 9:30 am - 11:30 am, December 7 - January 25
Available in Arabic on Wednesdays
12:30  - 2:30 pm  October 26 - November 30

Homework Club   
Weekly homework club support for immigrant and refugee children and youth.   
Wednesdays until December 14, 2016
3:30 pm - 5:30 pm 

Citizenship Classes 
Help applicants prepare for citizenship tests. 
Ongoing
Two Fridays per month.    
 


ICA Employment Services
If you are looking for employment or need to upgrade, ICA's Employment Services Centre can help!  

C ommunity Events

National Gingerbread Showcase 2015
Victoria's Inn at the Laurel Point hosts the National Gingerbread Showcase to highlight bakers from across Canada.
Saturday, November 19 - Monday, January 2, 2016.
9 am - 9 pm 
Laurel Point Inn
680 Montreal St.
 

 

Koneline: Our Land Beautiful Walk
Winner of Best Canadian Document 2016 -features stunning landscapes and stories from opposing perspectives 'from diamond drillers to elders to protest against them'. 
December 2-4: 3pm, 5pm and 7 pm
December 5: 5pm & 7 pm
Centennial Square



IEOC Truck Light Convoy
Lighted truck parade from Oak Bay village to downtown to the Westshore communities. 
Saturday, December 3, 2016
6 pm
Festival of Trees
Come celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Festival of Trees. 
Until January 3, 2017
Daily at The Bay Centre



Masters of Rhythm
An unforgettable evenings with three of West Africa's finest musicians Naby Camara, Amadou Kouyate, Weedi Braimah
Friday, December 2, 2016
7:30 pm
UVic Phillip T Young Recital Hall 
 
Learn more...


NGO HO HO HO 
Join ICA staff and other NGO workers at the annual NGO Ho Ho Ho - the holiday party for Victoria's non-profit community. 
Friday, December 2, 2016
7:30 pm -1:00 am
Victoria Event Centre
1415 Broad St. 





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