March 2008
 |
The Fourth Annual AMSSA Multicultural Health Fair
|
Multifaith Calendars . . .still some left!!
We've sold 8,000 multifaith calendars but there are still a few left. As we are now approaching April, AMSSA is able to offer the calendars at a discounted rate of $10! You can purchase them by phone at 604-718-2784 or toll free 1-888-355-5560, or purchase on-line at: http://www.amssa.org/calendar/index |
 |
ActNow BC Project:” The Healthy Living – Youth Initiative”
Hon. Ida Chong, The Minister of Community Services and Minister Responsible for Seniors’ and Women’s Issues, spoke at the event. Also in attendance were the Executive Director and ELSA instructors from the Intercultural Association of Greater Victoria, and representatives from the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Association and ELSANet. |
IICC Membership Expanding!AMSSA is happy to welcome their two newest members of the Immigrant Integration Coordinating Committee (IICC): Community Connections Society of South-East BC and the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society. The growing interests in IICC memberships reflect an ongoing trend among BC community service providers to participate and benefit from IICC’s networking services. We expect that the demand for IICC memberships will continue to expand as more and more organizations are recognizing the importance of effective immigrant service delivery in their communities.
Partnering to Provide Frontline Worker TrainingOn March 3, AMSSA partnered with ELSA Net and the Legal Services Society with funding from The BC Settlement and Multiculturalism Division to provide training to frontline ESL and settlement service staff. They educated both Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley agencies staff on new Labour Market Focussed immigrant services. Following the training, we were pleased with the very positive assessments provided by attendees!
|
Safe Harbour- Celebration Event
Through the media coverage offered by CTV, our event will be raising awareness across BC of the value of understanding and supporting diversity in our province. The event is taking place between 10:00am – 12:00pm on Thursday, March 20 in the Alice MacKay Room, Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library. Hope to see you there! http://www.amssa.org/safeharbour/news.html
Safe Harbour-expanding across the province“In our province of BC, one of the most culturally diverse places in the world, the only way of |
Youth not just willing to accept differences, but to embrace diversity
With generous support from Canadian Heritage, the Safe Harbour Youth Ambassador Diversity program enables youth to focus on the different ways they can speak out against discrimination and stand up for peers who are being treated with disrespect. Through fun and interactive workshops, elementary school children are learning from high school youth about ways to create positive, safe environments for youth in their schools and communities.
AMSSA Staff Changes Good-bye Bernard, Vivianne, Ada and Sophie . . .
Bernard has accepted a position working for the Multifaith Action Society of BC as the Multifaith Calendar Distribution Manager. He has been working with AMSSA since 1996. We will miss having him around the office, though we will still be working closely with him in his capacity of calendar distributor. Vivianne has worked as the Multicultural Health Fair Coordinator for the last two years. She has done an exceptional job in making the fair a big success! Ada recently worked as the Multicultural Health Fair Volunteer Coordinator. She has also worked at AMSSA in different capacities including Safe Harbour Coordinator, IICC Information Coordinator and Multicultural Policy Research Coordinator. Ada will be spending time volunteering in India. Sophie is a Co-op Communications student from Simon Fraser University. She worked as the Multicultural Health Fair Assistant, and will complete her practicum placement at the end of March. To everyone moving on, thank you for your hard work and good luck! |
|
|
If you would like to be taken off the AMSSA Insider distribution email list, please respond with the subject “unsubscribe”. |
interviews by Red FM, Fairchild TV, Global TV, CBC TV and CKNW. For our full list of sponsors, refer to
On February 8, over 200 participants joined AMSSA’s launch of ActNow BC’s Healthy Living Youth Initiative Project funded by MAG. Participants included students and teachers from three local high schools in Victoria, and ELSA students from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds: such as South Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Eastern European. 
The event took place at the Pearkes Recreation Centre from 9:30 am- 11:30 am. Both staff and venue were exceptional. The Launch included a fitness demonstration with 95% participation! Furthermore, participants received materials related to Healthy Living, Healthy Snacks, juice, and various great door prizes. These were donated by: The Heart & Stroke Foundation, BC Recreation and Parks Association, the Running Room, Lululemon, Sportmart, Health Canada, Save on Foods and Happy Planet. A big Thank you to our generous donors and to Shaw TV who covered the event. 
AMSSA is excited to be hosting a Safe Harbour Celebration Event, sponsored by CTV Television. Come join us to celebrate Safe Harbour’s successes, as well as acknowledge March 21: “The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”. There will be storytelling, interactive activities, and refreshments! AMSSA is proud to welcome renowned musician, Leon Bibb, who will be our guest speaker. 
coexisting is with profound respect for each others’ differences.” Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Safe Harbour spokesperson
“I know I wouldn't be where I am without all the people who helped me. There are lots of people who help others. I want kids to learn that helping is the least we can all do.” - Youth Ambassador 
AMSSA says good-bye to Bernard Bouska, Vivianne de Pass, Ada Chan and Sophie Daviau Dempsey. 
