St. John's LIP Newsletter, Sept/Oct 2018
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 is 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 6 times a year that includes the following information:
  • What's New at the St. John's LIP
  • News and Updates
  • Upcoming Events
  • Programs and Initiatives
  • Get Involved  
What's new at the St. John's LIP 
"My New St. John's" Service Map
The St. John’s Local Immigration Partnership is pleased to announce a new interactive, online and mobile-friendly services map to help newcomers easily find and access existing programs and services.

The new online service  will support newcomers engage in economic, social and cultural life in the City and facilitate successful integration by making it easier for them to navigate the range of programs and services available.

Features include a robust search function for programs and services by field in alignment with the priority areas of the LIP and its four Working Groups: Education and Training, Health and Basic Needs, Employment and Labour Needs, and Welcoming Communities and Social Connections. Location maps, directions and transportation options are also provided.

This initiative was made possible through financial support for the City of St. John's, the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour and the Atlantic Canad Opportunities Agency.

Check out the new tool at https://mynewstjohns.ca/
International Student "Welcome to St. John's" Reception
Date: September 18, 2018
Time:  3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location:  Foran/Greene Room, 4th Floor City Hall, 10 New Gower St.
 
Event Description:
International students from Memorial University contribute to the cultural, social, scientific and economic richness of the city, adding youth and vibrancy to all aspects of city life. Join us at City Hall to welcome new international students to St. John’s. This informal meet and great will bring international students together with the business community and city stakeholders.
This networking opportunity will allow students to begin to develop that important relationship with our city and lay the groundwork for future collaborations.
Many international students are permitted to work off-campus from the day of their arrival in Canada. Early networking could engage employers with a group of potential employees they may not have considered before. Light snacks will be available.
Spaces are limited so don’t forget to register. Here’s a link to the downtown parking map: www.downtownstjohns.com/live/downtown-parking/
 
Event Champions:
  • St. John’s Board of Trade
  • City of St. John’s
  • Memorial University
  • Government of Newfoundland & Labrador

Sponsorship for this event is provided by Desjardins

Register by 10 a.m. on Monday, September 17
News and Updates
Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism, Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour, Government of NL
A Guide to Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour offers a suite of information and promotion cards and brochures to help potential applicants learn more about the programs offered by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism. Programs administered by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism are the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. As part of The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador commitments to develop resources to educate partners on their roles in attracting, settling and retaining immigrants, as well as inform and educate employers on immigration programs and processes, the Department has developed a number of resources for employers, applicants, communities and other key stakeholders. For more information, click  here.

Complimentary resources include new Information Cards and Brochures on:
  • Provincial Nominee Program
  • Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
  • Foreign Qualification Recognition
Upcoming Events
Sharing our Cultures
Are you or someone you know a high school student? We are seeking participants for the Sharing Our Cultures™ 2018-19 school program. This program provides opportunity for students to enhance leadership skills, meet students from diverse cultural backgrounds, gain volunteer experience, and share with schoolchildren in a public forum at The Rooms in March 2019. Registration is available at www.sharingourcultures.com
International Bazaar
One Sunday a month at the St. John's Community Market (the new permanent site for St. John's Farmers Market).

Dates for the International Bazaar:

iii). Sunday, September 30, from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm
iv). Sunday, October 28 from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm
i). Sunday, November 25, from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm
ii). Sunday, December 30 from 12:00 noon - 4:00 pm
There will be local and international food and craft vendors and entertainment. Admission by donation to We Care Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.


For more information please contact: ZainabTel.: 722-8103, E-mail: zharuna@warp.nfld.net . Website: www.arhyel.ca/tombolo
Facebook: /www.facebook.com/TomboloMulticulturalFestivalNl/ . Twiitter: @tombolofestivalnl
Conference: Addressing Islamophobia in Newfoundland and Labrador
September 22-23, 2018, in the  Bruneau Centre for Research and Innovation  at Memorial University of Newfoundland. 

The two day conference will include keynote presentations, framing discussions, breakout sessions and plenary workshops.

The conference has been planned and facilitated in conjunction with the  National Council of Canadian Muslims  (NCCM) and our local project collaborators, in order to co-create anti-Islamophobia advocacy, ally-ship and education, attentive to our provincial culture.
We anticipate that there will be over 100 members of non-profit community organizations, primarily service providers and community organizers, from across Newfoundland and Labrador participating in the conference. We aim to mobilize the capacity and strengths of our collaborators in a series of workshops, culminating in a discussion on a provincial strategy.
The goal of the project is to increase local knowledge about countering Islamophobia and xenophobic discrimination, and to foster the development of community-wide anti-Islamophobia strategies.

The full conference schedule can be found here:
Read the session description here

Registration
The conference is tailored to service providers - those who work in organizations, both governmental and non-governmental - but is open to all. It is limited to 100 attendees who must register  here .
Early bird registration is open until August 31st, 2018, at a cost of $55.00 CAD/person.
Regular registration will follow until the conference at $75.00 CAD/person.

Registration fees include coffee breaks and a buffet lunch both days, as well as a certificate of completion.

St. John's Celebrates BikeFest
Sunday, September 16
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Water Street between Beck’s Cove and Bishops Cove

You’re invited to the City of St. John’s first ever BikeFest, a free cycling event for all ages and abilities, in partnership with Happy City St. John’s.

This free, family friendly event features guided bike rides, face painting, bike decorating, an obstacle course, buskers, and musical entertainment in the afternoon.
 
Event Schedule
10:00 a.m.     BikeFest begins
10:15 a.m.     Welcome and presentation of the Bicycle Rack Design Contest shortlist winners
10:30 a.m.     Avalon Mountain Bike Association Guided T’Railway Ride begins (meet at Harbour Drive/Bishop’s Cove)
12:30 p.m.     George Street Bike Parade
1:30 p.m.      Door Prize Draw
2:00 p.m.      BikeFest concludes
 
Participating Organizations
Canary Cycles
Ordinary Spokes & The Tool Library
Bicycle Newfoundland Labrador
TriAvalon
Bikeshare n’ Repair
Triathlon NL
Avalon Mountain Biking Association
Metrobus & many more
 

Help Inform the Bike St.John's Master Plan
The City of St. John’s invites the public to attend its first community session as part of the planning process for the Bike St. John’s Master Plan on Monday, September 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Foran Green Room, City Hall. This open house-styled session is designed to bring together residents interested in the use of on and off-road cycling facilities for self-propelled transit and/or recreation. 
The two-hour session will be hosted by Jim Scott of Trace Planning and Design and David Leinster of The Planning Partnership. Jim will focus on developing cycling network design and David will explore cycling within the context of downtown, seeking seamless integration within the urban core environment.
The public is invited to engage with Jim and David, as well as other project team members, through several stations that review a preliminary St. John’s cycling network and its components. All participants will have a meaningful role at this session which will result in a network model for both cycling corridors and programs in St. John’s.
Programs and Initiatives
Music, Media and Place: Neighbours Project
The Neighbours Project: is a Phone App of Narratives and Interviews from Cultural Communities in and around St. John’s, Produced by Dr. Meghan Forsyth and Dr. Beverley Diamond.
The the app enables users to take a walking tour of downtown St. John’s and Middle Cove Beach to hear stories associated with individual locations. It is available free for download from the App Store and from Google Play.

A propmotional can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pFS8Ag7_gI
Réseau immigration francophone de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
COMPAS Immigration
Découvrez le tout nouveau service provincial d’accueil et de soutien en immigration francophone de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador ! 
L’équipe du COMPAS est prête à vous soutenir dans vos démarches vers une intégration réussie. Restez à l’affut des activités sociales et culturelles, des sessions d’orientation et d’information, des cafés-rencontres et bien d’autres! Et suivez l’actualité de COMPAS sur Facebook et Twitter au VIVREaTNL .


Immigration COMPAS
Discover the brand new provincial welcome and support service in French for Francophone newcomers of Newfoundland and Labrador!
The COMPAS team is ready to support you through the steps toward successful integration. Stay tuned for social and cultural activities, orientation and information sessions, coffee meet-ups and much more!
And follow COMPAS news on Facebook and Twitter at VIVREaTNL .
Association for New Canadians
Let's Talk Diversity in the Workplace!

The demographic face of Canada has changed significantly over the past several decades due, in part, to immigration. Indeed, Newfoundland and Labrador is becoming increasingly diverse, with a significant rise in multicultural communities in the province.  
 
Are you prepared to operate within this increasingly diverse marketplace?
 
Contact us today for details on our Cultural Competency Tool-Kit, which includes workshops on a number of topics tailored to the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses in the province; these include:
 
·        The Business Case for Diversity
·        Culturally Inclusive Recruitment
·        Cross-Cultural Interviewing
·        Engaging and Retaining a Culturally Diverse Workplace
 
We also offer an "Introduction to Workplace Norms" workshop for newcomer employees.
 
For more information on  FREE  workshop options, please contact:
 
·        Phone: (709) 722-0718
·        Email: jcampbell@ancnl.ca



Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) Support Services
 
Supports for Designated Employers:
 
The Association for New Canadians supports the long-term needs of employers and business owners participating in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. 
 
In addition to providing assistance in completing AIPP applications (for those businesses seeking designation), the Association helps ensure a smooth settlement process for endorsed employees and their families by providing:
 
·        Information and orientations about life in Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the local community
·        Employment and career services for endorsed employees’ family members
·        Assistance in enrolling children in school
·        Assistance in completing applications for mandatory Provincial and Federal Programs (such as MCP, SIN, etc.)
·        Access to English as a Second Language Training (e.g., on-site, distance/outreach, etc.) 
·        Access to social and volunteer opportunities in their community
·        Access to health supports (e.g., locating a pharmacist, family physician, etc.)
·        Assistance in completing Permanent Residence applications 
 
These services are offered  without cost  to eligible permanent and temporary residents. 
 
Supports for Endorsed Employees:
 
As an endorsed employee participating in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, the Association for New Canadians works to support you and your family’s long-term needs by providing:
 
·        Information and orientations about life in Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the local community
·        Needs assessments and referral services
·        Assistance in completing applications for mandatory Provincial and Federal Programs (such as MCP, SIN, etc.)
·        Assistance in enrolling your children in school
·        Access to English as a Second Language Training (e.g., on-site, distance/outreach, etc.) 
·        Employment and career services for your family members
·        Access to social and volunteer opportunities in your community
·        Access to health supports (e.g., locating a pharmacist, family physician, etc.)
·        Assistance in completing Permanent Residence applications 
 
These services are offered  without cost  to eligible permanent and temporary residents. 
 
 
For more information, please contact:
 
·        Phone: (709) 722-9680
·        Email: intake@nfld.net
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.

https://connectornl.ca/
Coalition on Enhancing Immigration
The St. John’s Board of Trade is bringing together community stakeholders that are focused on enhancing immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador.

You can’t grow an economy without growing a population. When you look at our demographics it is easy to see the challenges we face. In just one generation, Newfoundland and Labrador has gone from the fastest growing and youngest population in the country, to the fastest shrinking and most aging population. There are solutions, we just need to be open to them. Click here to read the Board’s latest column on successful immigration.

For more information or to join our coalition contact
Rhonda Tulk-Lane
Director of Business Solutions
351-0291
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 jbar ry@stjohns.ca

Follow us on Twitter @StJohnsLIP