SCCC's Welcoming Community Training Initiatives

It has been a busy month for the Sault Community Career Centre (SCCC) and a number of its staff members!

On May 31st 2010, the entire SCCC staff attended an Anti-Oppression and Anti-Racism Workshop, in collaboration with the initiative to create a Welcoming Community. Rebecca Lamoureux from Thunder Bay Multi-Cultural Association delivered the workshop and lead discussion on issues of discrimination and racism, in addition to strategies to affect change.

During the week of June 4th 2010, SCCC and community members attended a training session facilitated by Stephen Baileys and Kathleen Purvis-Bellamano from Victoria BC, aimed at responding to the employment needs of culturally diverse newcomers as well as developing strategies and an overall plan for Employment Service Providers in Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma District.

Participants were introduced to the PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope), a strategic planning tool used to develop an annual action plan for organizations (business, education, health, non-profits, etc.). It is a graphic and interactive tool used with small and large groups of participants to dynamically address any organizational issues or to instigate progress on a variety of topics. Training was funded by Citizenship & Immigration Canada and delivered by Thunder Bay Multicultural Association and facilitated by ICA Victoria.

June 15th and 16th 2010 saw yet another group of participants attend a Cross Cultural Workshop aimed at creating a Welcoming Community and Diverse Workplace. Facilitator Herman DeSouza guided participants in the exploration of effective ways of increase cultural intelligence in order to enhance the way they work/teach in a culturally diverse environment. The workshop was facilitated EQUITY 2000 by funded by Citizenship & Immigration Canada.

This October Sault Community Career Centre will be hosting guest speaker Dr. Lionel Laroche, who specializes in helping professionals and organizations reap the benefits of cultural differences in their work. The workshop, Achieving Diversity in the Workplace, will be directed towards Settlement Staff and Service Providers, Internationally Trained Individuals (ITI’s), and Employers in Sault Ste. Marie and intends to examine the root causes of the challenges experienced by ITI’s during their job search and the first few years of their Canadian careers. It also provides concrete, how-to advice and suggestions to deal with a wide range of difficult situations, as well as addresses the benefits for employers to have ITI’s as a part of their workforce. The workshop is delivered by MCB Solutions, and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration.

Exciting things are happening with immigration in Sault Ste Marie!!