The Bow Valley Immigration Partnership (BVIP), a coalition of community groups, local government and business dedicated to improving immigrant integration in the Bow Valley, is seeking foreign-born Bow Valley residents to join a new planning group.
The project is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and a new Immigrant Advisory Group will advise the BVIP council and help create a strategy to encourage full inclusion and participation of newcomers in the valley.
The volunteer opportunity is available to any resident of Lake Louise, Banff, Canmore, western M.D. of Bighorn, or Kananaskis who was not born in Canada. No special experience is required, but participants should have an interest in helping their community, have intermediate or better English language skills, and be able to participate in the group for 12 months.
“The goal of integration is really about supporting a close-knit community,” says Meagan Stewart, BVIP coordinator. “Encouraging civic participation is one important way we can help newcomers connect, and for the Bow Valley it’s an opportunity to benefit from and celebrate the diverse talents newcomers bring.”
The Immigrant Advisory Group will ensure BVIP’s actions are grounded in immigrant experiences while helping provide a voice for immigrants in community planning. For participants, it can also be an opportunity to develop new skills and make new connections.
“We see this group as equally important to the BVIP council,” said Ruth Pryor, community development coordinator at the Town of Banff. “When we looked at what was successful with other local immigration partnerships, we learned that having direct involvement from immigrants themselves was vital. We know that the community wants to get involved with this initiative and this is one way they can do that.”
Those interested in learning more about the opportunity should attend an information session in Banff council chambers on Wednesday (Oct. 15) from 5:30-7:30pm or apply online by Oct. 17 at www.bvipartnership.com/immigrant-advisory-group or by contacting Meagan Stewart at 403-431-0705 or [email protected].
