ORGANIZING against RACISM AND HATE (OARH)
Organizing against Racism and Hate (OARH) is a program that promotes equality rights and addresses discrimination through the delivery of educational campaigns. Our anti-racism program believes that education is the best tool for ending discrimination and building inclusive societies. Through this program and its Network we provide an opportunity for Prince George and the surrounding smaller communities to discuss, share, promote and develop anti-racism resources while mentoring each other. Our program recognizes the value and importance of provision, accessibility and sustainability of resources in our isolated northern rural communities. Our continuous work and efforts to end discrimination of any type consists of the following: delivery of educational workshops, provision of printed material created by the program coordinator and community partners, community round-table discussions and dialogues with community members and government officials; in light to address community concerns that can support a more effective development and improvement of structural policies.
Resources that have been created by the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George and the OARH Program:
Anti-racism Community Protocol
Assists and supports existing service providers who have expertise in enforcement, investigation and victim support. This document provides information that identifies and addresses different forms of racism and discrimination.
Anti-Discrimination & Anti-Bullying Training Manual for Educators, with a Trauma Informed Approach
Helps to enhance capacity building, provides skills and knowledge for educators and for anyone living in Canada to be effective at promoting respectful relationships and public health in ethno-culturally diverse social environments. It aims to help decrease risks of emotional problems by increasing our awareness of when and how others are being treated disrespectfully based on their differences. This manual is a compilation of best practices, supported by previous academic research, case studies and other already existing best practices. This manual is intended to serve as a guide and a corroborative resource to lean on when facing complex challenges and demands of our growing culturally diverse society. This is not a legal document.
Funded by the Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
ETHNO CULTURAL SENIORS PROGRAM
This program addresses some of the challenges and disadvantages of the ethno cultural minority seniors that they face in terms of income, health, healthcare, family and community support. Also, barriers in accessing other services such as those stemming from language and culture differences, discrimination and racism or a lack of access to income sources, can lead to situations of isolation, dependency and poverty.
Through conducting regular information sessions, workshops, talking circles as well as involving them in some community events, the seniors have increased their awareness about their rights and responsibilities, healthy lifestyles, safety, available local resources and the opportunity to socialize and communicate with each other.
SOLIDARITY OF WOMEN AND INCOME SECURITY PROGRAM
IMSS has continuously assisted and provided regular support to women to develop their sense of security, know their legal rights and manage their own affairs. Many women cannot work outside their home because they lack basic skills, cannot speak English or have to look after their small children.
This program allows IMSS to provide women the support that they needed to polish their skills and gain financial independence. Some women have started a small home-based business, learned to sew and knit, gained community connections and increased awareness about their legal rights and choices. Women have built their confidence, self-esteem and now enjoy a healthy lifestyle with harmony at home.
Some women also took part in different ethnic celebrations throughout the year. They participated in information sessions, workshops, talking circles and fun activities such as music therapy, yoga, Nia, cooking and baking.
“We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia”
Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs)
- Systematize local engagement of service providers and other institutions in newcomers’ integration process;
- Support community-level research and strategic planning; and,
- Improve coordination of effective services that facilitate immigrant settlement and integration.
LIPs do not deliver services directly to newcomers, but provide a collaborative framework to facilitate the development and implementation of sustainable solutions for the successful integration of newcomers that are local and regional in scope.
The overall objective of the LIPs initiative is to enhance collaboration, coordination and strategic planning at the community level in order to foster more welcoming and inclusive communities and improve settlement and integration outcomes.
COMMUNITY REFUGEE RESPONSE TEAM (CRRT)
CARIBOO – PRINCE GEORGE
Temporary public policy to facilitate the sponsorship of Syrian and Iraqi refugees by Groups of Five and Community Sponsors – renewal
The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) is a program designed to support the Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) of Canada, their Constituent Groups, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors interested in sponsoring refugees. RSTP provides resources and services to meet the ongoing information and training needs of private sponsors of refugees in Canada.
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
Skills Connect for Immigrants Program
The IMMIGRANT & MULTICULTURAL SERVICES SOCIETY of PRINCE GEORGE, in partnership with ASPECT provided the improved provincial Skills Connect for Immigrants program.
Skills Connect was for clients who might not had high school level education or work experience as well as those with higher levels of education and experience. Whether had skills or experience or need to acquire skills before seeking employment.
Our program provided an individual approach, tailored to meet client’s needs.
Eligibility Criteria:
– Permanent resident of Canada within the last 5 years, and;
– Unemployed or underemployed; and
– Had an intermediate level of English language proficiency
Eligible client was provided:
– Assessments for language, qualifications and training requirements;
– Career counselling and career planning services;
– Job seeking skills and support i.e. resumes and interview techniques;
– An introduction to Canadian workplace culture;
– Training funds for language, upgrading or job specific skills training;
– Assistance with regulating bodies or certification;
– Networking and help finding employment opportunities.
80% of the participants who completed this program have found a meaningful employment. Others have had skills upgrading and training to set them firmly on their career path.
“The BC Skills Connect for Immigrants Program is part of the WelcomeBC umbrella of services,
made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.”
Welcome PG
Overview of Welcome PGWelcome PG was a strategic collaboration of community stakeholders, businesses, non-profit organizations and service providers based on a mutual passion and belief in removing barriers to social inclusion for new immigrants. This collaboration was organized to enhance Prince George’s social and economic prosperity by strengthening its capacity to attract, recruit and retain internationally trained new immigrants who have chosen Canada, specifically Prince George, as their home.
Despite recent economic uncertainties, the labour market in BC continues to face demographic, and economic, challenges due to an aging workforce and a competitive job market which means there is an increasing need for internationally trained individuals to fulfill market and social demands.
On the other hand, the challenges faced by the internationally trained individuals immigrating to Canada are often times overwhelming. Despite impressive credentials, new immigrants face higher rates of unemployment as well as under-employment.
Welcome PG provides a forum where employers, service providers and other stakeholder groups engage and share innovative tools and resources to promote cultural competence and diversity in their workplaces and tap into new Canadians’ talent. It is our belief that an effective strategy to address the economic downturn and the projected skill shortages is to ease the integration of New Canadians into our community.
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Setting the Stage
for Girls and Young Women to Succeed
Setting the Stage for Girls and Young Women to Succeed was a two year project funded by the Status of Women Canada, and coordinated by the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George.
The two objectives of the project were 1) to develop the capacity of girls and young women to identify and respond to specific barriers to their full participation in civic, political and community life in Canada; and 2) to support measures to respond the under-representation of girls and young women in these sectors.
The project was geared towards girls and young women aged 14 to 26. The project is now over, but the project has a legacy. The young women have developed great projects that continue to run in their communities.
Youth Friendly Network
The Youth Friendly Network (YFN) works to make youth feel more welcome and connected to their downtown. The YFN is a collaboration between youth and businesses that has created Waypoints (businesses marked by a sticker where youth can be sure of a welcome).
The YFN marks Waypoints on a youth-created Waypoint map to help youth find these spaces and ensure that they never feel out of place.
Super Women!
The goal of Super Women! was to ‘draw’ out the issues that can get in the way of youth finding personal connection to a cause. Youth worked with local artist Krista Huot over the spring and summer of 2014 to learn how to draw comic book style art and more importantly, how to draw out the message they wanted the community to hear. Some of the young women focused on what volunteers contributed to the community, with others choosing to address how to engage youth or issues specific to life as a young woman. The result is 27 different comic strips in a stunning variety of styles and topics, which share exactly what each youth artist thought was most important for the community to hear.
You can view the comics here.
The comics are being distributed to our project partners, so you will continue to see the message. If you would like to get a copy of the comics you can reach us by email and we can discuss sharing the comics with you digitally or in hard copy.
Photovoice & Inspire Action
The Setting the Stage project, was youth-driven which meant that the youth set the direction of the project. The young women identified what the issues were and then discussed these with the community to get inspiration for how they might develop projects that would lead to action and change. The process was challenging, but it was very successful.
“It’s Not Easy”
Setting the Stage also ran a project in Burns Lake, with the support and dedication of the Lakes Learning Center students and staff. The female students came together to tackle some issues that make it difficult for young women in Burns Lake. The digital story is powerful and moving; the story has a complex and subtle message that says ‘This is us’. The strength of the girls who live in Burns Lake is clear from every reference and picture. The calm declaration of the script lays out a stark and unpitying picture of what is like to be a young women in Burns Lake.
Standing Up
Standing Up Against Bullying Harassment and Violence in the Workplace was a workshop hosted in Mackenzie for youth and young professionals. In an effort to ensure that workshop and training would be interactive, engaging and appealing to young women, Setting the Stage engaged Street Spirits Theater Company (Street Spirits).
The project funding has ended, but the action still continues. To find out more about what these young women are doing in our community follow Setting the Stage on Facebook.