Immigrant Welcome Centre will host “What I Believe”

What I Believe

For the next year the “What I Believe” project, hosted by the Immigrant Welcome Centre, will be offering ways to explore various faiths in our community. Cross-Cultural Training and Compassionate Communication Training will teach leaders to provide support and mentoring at several events taking place throughout the project. The free trainings will be held November 6th and 13th from 5:30-8:00pm at the Robron Centre Library. Register with Shannon Briggs, Diversity Projects Coordinator, at 250-830-0171, seating is limited.

The project will include several school presentations during Human Rights Day, an Interfaith Fair at the Walk Away from Racism, faith themed ‘Multicultural Media Nights’ held the 3rd Monday of every month at the Robron Centre as well as an Anti-Oppressive and Intersectionality Workshop to close the project next fall. Participating groups include Baha’i, Buddhists, Centre for Spiritual Living, First Nations including Métis and Cree beliefs, the Anglican and United Churches, Reclaiming, Wiccan, Druids and Sikh.

“This is a unique opportunity for the public to get a glimpse of other faiths in an educational context that is facilitated by the faith groups themselves” said Rachel Blaney, Executive Director of the Immigrant Welcome Centre. “Knowledge is the first step to understanding what we perceive as ‘different’ and we’re hoping this project will increase awareness and reduce discrimination.”

The Immigrant Welcome Centre serves the Comox Valley, Campbell River and North Island. They provide services to immigrants to help them integrate and settle into Canada. As immigration continues to bring innovative and skilled newcomers to the community over 350 clients have been served in the past six months.