The Construction Foundation of BC’s (CFBC) Welcome Exchange initiative and Here IN Canada co-hosted an online edition of the annual Employment Opportunity Exchange (EOE) this November.
The EOE is an annual event that gathers employers, newcomers, and immigrants in one space to understand and discuss jobseeker needs and assets. The EOE provides participants with an opportunity to build relationships, as well as participate in facilitated discussions to share experiences, and address barriers and misconceptions.
Hosted on the unceded Coast Salish Territory of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ nations, this year’s virtual EOE saw 35 participants connecting with four employers from the Greater Victoria region.
“It was great to have collaboration with the Construction Foundation of BC and other market players in this year’s Exchange Employment Opportunity event,” said Dr. Shahinaz Abdellatif.
The EOE was moderated by Danyelle Catini, an indigenous woman from Brazil who recently arrived in Canada. A strategic communicator specializing in business marketing, coaching and facilitating collaborations. Danyelle hosted the morning’s activities which included a Cultural Intelligence Keynote from Karima Ramji, a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) professional at the University of Victoria, as well as a Newcomer Panel Discussion on Cultural Intelligence that featured panelists Asiyah Robinson, Kabir Hosein, Leon Ling and Sergio Ramos.
A brief break in the schedule allowed time for some live music, with two songs performed by internationally recognized violinist and alumnus of the University of Victoria’s English Language Centre, Sari Alesh. Alesh’s experience as an artist includes touring with the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra. Following the music, Brazilian-Canadian Daniela Pinto, who has resided in Canada for the past seven years, shared a story of her experience to leave home and start a new life in Canada.
The Welcome Exchange initiative provides newcomers on Vancouver Island with resources, tools, and events to help them establish themselves in their new community through education, employment and community connections.
For more information on the Welcome Exchange program, including upcoming Cultural Sharing Workshops, please visit www.constructionfoundation.ca/we or join the Welcome Exchange Facebook Page by clicking HERE.
