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101 - 255 Ingram Street Duncan BC V9L 1P3
250-748-3112
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Activating Our Stories—Creating Our Home

ART ART ART ART ART ART ART ART ART DIALOGUE DIALOGUE LEARN ART ART ART EXPLORE ART ART ART ART LAUGH LAUGH LAUGH ART ART ART DIALOGUE LEARN ART ART ART SHARE LAUGH SHARE ART ART ART DIALOGUE ART ART ART CRY ARTS ARTS ART REFLECTION ART ART HEART ART INSPIRATION ART ART DIALOGUE ART ART ART ART ACTION ART ART ART DIALOGUE ART COMMUNITY

How do you …

…get people to participate in the first place?

…hear from everybody to assess community need?

…build a welcoming and inclusive community where COLLECTIVE responsibility is STRONG?

Funded by WelcomeBC, this project teaches leaders, community stakeholders, and artists in the Cowichan Region how to use arts-based dialogue to get to the heART of the matter.

Come participate in this amazing opportunity.

You will:

  • receive training in a new toolkit from Americans for the Arts. This approach will empower leaders and artists to add another level to community engagement.

  • receive funding to collaborate on an arts-based event in one of 11 communities of the Cowichan Region.

The Dialogue:

  • serves as a framework for community engagement through the act of conversation and story telling

  • creates empathy through hearing first-hand accounts

  • nurtures relationships

  • inspires thought

  • motivates action for social involvement

The Arts:

  • stimulates reflection with a multi-sensory approach

  • transcends communication barriers

  • engages a broader cross-section of our diverse community

  • is FUN and not just another meeting!

Training is provided for 2 ½ days in January, all expenses paid. Registration is mandatory. Space is limited to a maximum of 30 participants so please register now. Click here to download a printable registration form.  For more information or to register, contact:  Bev Thompson at bev.cis@telus.net or 250-748-3112 or drop in to 101-255 Ingram St. in Duncan


Settlement Information and Support Services

For individuals and families:
  • we provide detailed information and support to help people settle and adjust to life in Canada.
  • we assess the needs and barriers to integration.
  • we identify appropriate services and resources relevant to your needs
  • we introduce you to community services and the labour market
  • we assist with developing realistic goals and plans
  • we help you access other services in the broader community
We provide professional and compassionate information about sponsoring family members, clild benefits, healthcare information, English upgrading, law, income tax preparation, citizenship applications, housing, school registration, social benefits, labour markets.

On-site service can be provided in Tagalog, Mandarin, and English.  Other languages available on request.
Intercultural Women's Group
We offer a caring and supportive atmosphere to newcomers of different cultures and cultural awareness in the community through multicultural school presentations and participation

We provide educational workshops and conferences designed to serve and assist new Canadians
a.) to better understand Canadian Society and therefore to fully participate in Canadian society without losing individual cultural identity

b.) to access community services and resources, share information, build self-confidence, and improve communication skills

Everyone Welcome.
 Free drop-in meetings.
 When:    Thursday
 Time: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: CIS Office
International Men's Circle

We gather to talk openly and honestly about issues that concern us as living between cultures, fatherhood, our stories, and our wisdom.  We create a place of mutual support where men from different origins can meet in the spirit of friendship.
English as a Second Language (ELSA) Classes

English Language Services for Adults (ELSA) classes are available mornings.  Small, welcoming classes allow students to feel safe and comfortable as they learn English and become familiar with life in Canada.  Our experienced and dedicated instructors keep lessons interesting and inspire students to improve their English skills.

 Classes are free to immigrants.  Eligibility for classes and language level will be assessed before the student enrolls. 
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Community Bridging Program

The Community Bridging program connects new Canadians with Volunteer Host Families.  The goals of the program include helping newcomers to:
  • develop positive relationships and friendships in the community
  • become more familiar with what our community has to offer
  • learn about and experience Canadian culture
  • practice English
  • explore diversity and share cross-cultural experiences in a fun, safe, respectful, and meaningful way
  • experience a Warm Land welcome.
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Canadian Connections Tutoring Program
Canadian Connections is an English as a Second Language Assistance Program. 

We provide language training to adult immigrants and refugee newcomers in order to aid their social, cultural, economic and political integration in Canada.

We offer a one-to-one learning environment for the Canadian tutor and the ESL learner to help both the immigrant and the community to have a better understanding of each other.

We are always looking for volunteer tutors to work one-to-one with new immigrants to Canada.


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Safe Harbour         Safe Harbours

Be a Leader!

Safe Harbour is a Canadian-government sponsored program which recognizes that many diverse community members such as First Nations people, youth, people with disabilities, and newly arrived immigrants, may not feel welcome and safe in our communities. The Safe Harbour program promotes the idea of moving past acceptance to a better understanding and true celebration of diversity, resulting in safer, more welcoming communities.

Businesses, service organizations, and community member can attend this dynamic 2-hour workshop to learn how to address the impact of stereotyping and share ways of better demonstrating respect to everyone who walks in the door.

Safe Harbour locations commit to:

  • Equitable Treatment

  • “Be a Safe Harbour for someone who may be feeling lost, threatened, needing a moment of solitude or assistance in a busy world.” “It’s the new Block Parent, but for businesses”

  • Training other employees

The Safe Harbour decal on participants’ businesses publicly demonstrate their respect for all cultures, ethnicities, religions, classes, ages, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations.

Here’s what Safe Harbour participants had to say:

“I am grateful that our company is finding the time to put our employees through this. It encourages equality and tolerance.”

“I belong to a business that cares.”

“This is something I want to share with my children”

“Safe Harbour should be something all of us embrace and incorporate into our daily lives.”

“Wow! Safe Harbour will help change my city.”

“Safe Harbour benefits all of us.”

To learn more and to see a list of Cowichan Region Safe Harbours, go to www.safeharbour.ca. For more information, contact cis@telus.net
Youth Programs

North American Indigenous GamesSafe Harbours for KidsYouth Ambassadors
Group HugInclusive Leadership
Cowichan Intercultural Society Youth Projects bring together youth and caring adults from diverse backgrounds.  We share leadership in building a more welcoming and inclusive world, starting with our homes, neighbourhoods, schools and communities in the Cowichan Region.

Learn about upcoming Inclusive Leadership Adventures here.

Learn about past Inclusive Leadership Adventures here.

Volunteering at the Cowichan Intercultural Society

The Cowichan Intercultural Society has been described as an organization with a “big heart.” Our staff and volunteers reach out to the community to promote multiculturalism, anti-racism, and inclusion for all residents of the Cowichan Valley. CIS maintains an active schedule of educational workshops, special events, youth mentorship, fundraising, and other activities. We value the contribution of our volunteers who make it possible to provide a range of services to the community.

Why volunteer for CIS? You can meet people from all over the world, make new friends, develop job skills, have fun, and help make life more welcoming and inclusive for all those who share our home in the Cowichan Valley.

Here are some of the volunteer opportunities at the Cowichan Intercultural Society:

ESL Tutoring
Receptionist
Clerical
Computer Support
Fundraising
Special Events
Repair/Maintenance
Phoning
Youth Projects
Advocacy

To be a volunteer, the Cowichan Intercultural Society asks the following:

    1. A criminal record check.  These are free for volunteers. We have the forms and waiver fee letter on file at the CIS office.

    2. Agree to the privacy act. This means that we don’t reveal telephone numbers or addresses of people connected to the Cowichan Intercultural Society. We require that all information be kept confidential.

    3. That all volunteers represent the Cowichan Intercultural Society in a polite and professional manner.

Please join us as a CIS volunteer. Contact our office for more information.
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