Newsletter afoofa summer 2015

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St. Catharines Edition

Changes to the Citizenship Act

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s of June 11, 2015 Citizenship and Immigration Canada introduced new changes to the Citizenship application process. Some of the key changes include:

• Requires physical presence in Canada for four years (1,460 days) out of the six years immediately before the date of application.

• Requires 183 days minimum of physical presence. during each of the four calendar years that are fully or partially within the six years immediately before the date of application.

• Requires proof of “intent to reside”.

• Requires applicants aged 14-64 to meet language requirements and pass knowledge test.

• Requires adult applicants to file Canadian income taxes to be eligible for citizenship.

Summer 2015 Volume 9, Issue # 2

Inside this issue: Is your communication advancing your career?

Part II

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Days of Significance

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For a full list of changes to the Citizenship Act please visit the Citizenship and Immigration website at www.cic.gc.ca.

Community Connections has a new staff: Nancy Thiessen 2

Calling All Teens!

Dealing with Life Events

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Pics of good times at the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre

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There is no charge for most activities and bus tickets may be available to those who qualify. Every day will offer something different. Our kick-off event for the summer is on July 3rd from 1-3pm, hope to see you there.

Why should you participate?

• Meet new people • Try new things • Stay active • Continue to practise English • Get connected to the community

For more information please visit room 2, email mneamtz@folk-arts.ca call (905) 685-6589 ext. 243.

Labour Day Parade

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he annual St. Catharines Labour Day Parade hosted by the Merritton Lions will be held Monday September 7, 2015. The Niagara Folk Arts Council continues its participation by extending an invitation to anyone wishing to celebrate with us. We usually have a walking entry, with participants carrying cultural flags and signage announcing their clubs or groups. Please email Pam at festivalproducer@folk-arts.ca by August 15, 2015, so that she can reserve you a space and let the parade organizers know how many of us to expect. Everyone is welcome.

The observance of Ramadan 4 Summer Idioms Design and layout by JULIETH BARRETO

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Is your communication advancing your career? (Part II)

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s your communication enhancing your career development? Do you welcome others’ ideas? Do you send courteous email messages?

Days of Significance

Good communication enhances relationships, contributes to productive work environments, and advances your career. Thinking about what we say and how we say it can minimize misinterpretations.

Address mistakes and conflict immediately.

Before reporting the situation to a supervisor, discuss problems with those directly involved. Aim for win-win solutions. Both parties should express views and document facts. Ensure you understand each other’s viewpoints. Explore potential solutions, and agree on a plan to resolve the conflict.

Keep information flowing. Advise colleagues of progress and stay informed about company and industry news. If you can’t meet deadlines, inform others of developments and modified deadlines.

Share credit and praise. Thank, recognize, and specify contributions of colleagues.

Offer constructive feedback. Instead of criticizing, begin with a compliment, and offer suggestions for improvement. Help others identify and use strengths.

Participate in company projects and social activities. Casual discussions during lunch or coffee breaks can strengthen relationships. Avoid getting involved in negative conversations.

Request feedback. Ask a trustworthy colleague to list two communication strengths and two communication strategies that you could improve upon. Practice refining needed skills.

The Job Search Workshop Program is happy to announce that new workshop topics will be available soon on the following topics: 1.

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June 21: National Aboriginal Day (Canada, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) July 11: World Population Day; International; UN July 17: Eid al Fitr (Muslim Celebration) July 22: Asalha Puja Day, also known as Dhamma Day, is one of Theravada Buddhism’s most important festivals, celebrating as it does the Buddha’s first sermon in which he set the doctrine that had come to him following his enlightenment.

August 3: Civic Holiday, Canada August 9: International Day of the World's Indigenous People; International; UN September 7: Labour Day, Canada and USA September 8: International Literacy Day; International; UN September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day; International September 21: World Alzheimer's Day

Writing e-mails for job search Building your network using LinkedIn Networking and small talk Public speaking

You are welcome to stop by the Job Search Workshop office for information, 2nd floor, room 10

By Jackie Wakeling

Community Connections has a new staff

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hank you for your warm welcome! My name is Nancy and I’ll be working here for one year, mostly with food projects.

We will have workshops on topics such as reading food labels, healthy alternatives to processed and fast foods, menu planning with local vegetables and fruits, eating well on limited income, cooking classes, trips to farms, picnics, potlucks and grocery store tours.

I grew up on a fruit farm in Jordan Station, a few miles west of St Catharines. We grew and preserved most of our food and raised chickens for eggs and meat. I didn’t like any of the work on the farm but l loved living and playing there.

Now I enjoy all food activities- growing food, preserving, cooking and of course eating! My latest interest is fermenting vegetables and I’m hoping someone can teach us how to make kimchi.

Everyone is invited to these activities where you can practice English and learn about eating well in Canada.

You will find me in the Community Connections Office or at Ext 241. I look forward to meeting you!

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Dealing with Life Events

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anaging life events such as a birth, death or marriage can be difficult in a new country. Find out more about what to do during these events in Ontario at http://settlement.org/ontario/daily-life/life-events/ . Important life events include: • Birth. If you have a child in Ontario, you need to fill out a birth certificate application and submit it to the Vital Statistics office in the province where your child was born. This certificate is the legal ID of your child.

• Marriage: In Ontario, you must get a marriage licence before you get married.

You can apply for a marriage licence at municipal offices and city halls.

• Divorce. The law about divorce in Ontario is the same as everywhere else in Canada.

You do not have to be a Canadian citizen to apply for a divorce, but there are certain criteria you must meet. What are your rights and obligations if you get separated or divorced? Will your foreign divorce be recognized in Canada?

• Retirement. When you retire, you may be eligible for financial assistance programs from the government. However, you may want to prepare for this stage in your life by considering the following: How can I save for retirement? What is a RRSP? Will I get a pension from my employer?

• Death and funerals. The process of planning a funeral following the death of a loved one can seem overwhelming. The more informed you are, the better decisions you make. Some questions to consider include: Do I need a Will? How do I make a Will?

Source: settlement.org

Pics of good times at the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre

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Volume 9, Issue #2

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The observance of Ramadan

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Volume 9, Issue #2

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Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre Newsletter 85 Church Street St. Catharines, ON L2R 3C7 Phone: 905 685 6589

For more information visit our Website: www.folk-arts.ca Niagara Folk Arts #niagarafolkarts @niagarafolkarts

Special Thanks to our Funders: Citizenship & Immigration Canada, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship & Immigration, United Way of St. Catharines & District, The Niagara Region, Niagara Prosperity Initiative, City of St. Catharines, Canadian Heritage, New Horizons, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, Ontario Trillium Foundation, and The District School Board of Niagara.

Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, so it is an important time for every practising Muslim. It is a 30-day period of reflection and includes fasting in the hours between dawn and sunset. That means no food or water can pass the lips of a Muslim during those hours, with a few exceptions such as young children and the ill, until the end of Ramadan – called Eid al-Fitr.

The holy period falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and its timing changes every year. In 2015, it starts on 18 June and falls during the long days of summer – meaning it could put extra pressure on those fasting because of the long, warm days.

Long breaks between meals, sleep disruptions, hot weather, long days. How does it all affect Muslims with their daily live activities? Safiyya Vankalwala, a Toronto lawyer, mom and blogger with Huffpost Living Canada, says: “Well, let's summarize what a day in the life of a fasting Muslim mom could look like this: 1. Get up around 3 a.m., eat something nutritious and drink as much water as your bladder can hold.

2. Try to go back to bed before it is time to wake up again; 3. Start your day and hope for least amount of interaction with Muslims who are suffering from tea/coffee and smoking withdrawal; 4. Respond to your kids 100 questions while your throat dries up; 5. Survive a trip to McDonald's where your kids happily eat their happy meal while your tummy growls; 6. Deal with clients who want to chat endlessly while you manage your headache; 7. Prepare dinner without tasting the food (this usually results in "oops, I forgot the salt!"); 8. Count down to sunset at least a dozen times; 9. Break your fasts and attempt to drink 8 glasses of water before bedtime; 10. Spend the night going to the bathroom on-and-off until its 3am-ish when you start back at # 1 above.”

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/safiyya-vankalwala/ ramadan-planning-fasting_b_7590812.html

Idioms for Summer!

Learn and practice some idioms related to summer, so that when you return to English classes in September you can tell everyone all about your summer break The dog days of summer- The hottest period of the summer, typically three weeks or so between July and August. Example: During the dog days of summer it’s too hot to do anything but relax and go swimming.

Travel on a shoestring- Typical of university students and other young people, this means to travel very cheaply, staying in youth hostels, and always looking for deals and discounts to make the trip as cheap as possible. Example: I really learned how to travel on a shoestring when I studied abroad.

Off the beaten path- If you travel off the beaten path, you stay away from the most popular and touristy sights and go instead to places where you may get a more authentic experience. Example: We’re hoping to get off the beaten path on our next trip to Toronto and see some of the undiscovered beauty of the city.

Soak up some sun- Quite simply, to spend some time in the sun and get a tan. Example: Sandra can’t wait to lie by the pool and soak up some sun on her vacation.

One swallow doesn’t make a summer- An expression that means that just because one good thing has happened doesn’t necessarily indicate that the tendency will continue. Example: His baseball team won the first match in the tournament, but one swallow doesn’t make a summer. They still have four more games to go!

A summer fling- A short romance during the summer holidays that typically ends before returning to school and/or university in the fall. Example: Sandy and Danny started out as a summer fling, but ended up staying together after discovering they went to the same high school.

To beat the heat- To escape the heat of summer, typically by finding indoor activities, places to go swimming, etc.

Example: We’re going to beat the heat by going to the cinema today. They always have the air conditioning turned on.

Source: http://nepschool.com/en/posts/summer-time-idioms/

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