Seeking Professional Mentors

As many of you already know, VIRCS provides service, support and grants for newcomers with professional skills and training to re-qualify to work in their fields here through the Skills Connect program. We are still very much in need of volunteer mentors in all the fields.

To learn more about the program, please contact Marian Britto, our mentor coordinator on 250-361-9433 ext209 or e-mail marian@vircs.bc.ca. Alternatively, you can also contact me (Krissy Huibillo Yang) at volunteer@vircs.bc.ca or on 250-361-9433 ext 212.

Seeking Professional Mentors

As many of you already know, VIRCS provides service, support, and grants for newcomers with professional skills and training re-qualify to work in their fields here. This program, Skills Connect, is vital in connecting newcomers with the professions and industries that desperately need them.

An essential part of this process is spending time with practicing professionals here in Victoria. These volunteer mentors spend a few hours talking about our standards and practices, and sharing knowledge with professionals from abroad.

Right now, we are in great need of mentors, especially from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, law firms or lawyers and experienced accountants. To become a mentor, a volunteer must have at least three years of professional experience within Canada. Mentors receive free training from VIRCS, and agree to meet with their paired newcomer (the mentee) four times over the space of 12 weeks. Mentees must also have at least 3 years of professional experience to qualify in this program.

If you would like to share your professional knowledge, or know someone else who would, we would love to hear from you.

To learn more information about this program, please contact Marian Britto, our mentor coordinator, at 250-361-9433 x209, or marian@vircs.bc.ca.

Or, you can always contact me (Krissy Huibillo Yang) at volunteer@vircs.bc.ca, or 250-261-9433 x 212.

Seeking Professional Mentors

As many of you already know, VIRCS provides service, support, and grants for newcomers with professional skills and training re-qualify to work in their fields here. This program, Skills Connect, is vital in connecting newcomers with the professions and industries that desperately need them.

An essential part of this process is spending time with practicing professionals here in Victoria. These volunteer mentors spend a few hours talking about our standards and practices, and sharing knowledge with professionals from abroad.

Right now, we are in need of mentors, especially in the fields of telecommunication, sales, and finance. To become a mentor, a volunteer must have at least three years of professional experience within Canada. Mentors receive free training from VIRCS, and agree to meet with their paired newcomer (the mentee) four times over the space of 12 weeks. Mentees must also have at least 3 years of professional experience to qualify for a mentor.

If you would like to share your professional knowledge, or know someone else who would, we would love to hear from you.

To learn more contact Marian Britto, our mentor coordinator, at 250-361-9433 x209, or marian@vircs.bc.ca.

Or, you can always contact me (Chris Geater) at volunteer@vircs.bc.ca, or 250-261-9433 x 212.

HR Solutions Workplace Diversity Celebration Recap

Recent Events:

Thank you to all of you who helped with our last event, the Summer Intercultural Gathering on August 13th.

It was a great event, with delicious food, free Henna, and a great interactive performance by Puente Theatre. Over 150 people attended despite the rain, but we couldn't do it without you!

Thank you all for your help!

Summer Intercultural Gathering on August 13th

We are looking for volunteers to help with this fun event! This is the last event for HR Solutions, and we need volunteers to help with many aspects of the event, including:
registration, greeting and guiding clients, helping with food and refreshments, and setting up the stage.

(Click the picture for a bigger version)

We are also looking for two volunteers to share a story or anecdote about the challenges of being in a multicultural workplace. These volunteers will get to help direct the actors and writers of Puente Theatre as they act out the story. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a Theatre Company!

Whether as a volunteer or participant, we'd love to see you at the event!

Summer Intercultural Gathering

The HR Solutions Project's last event will be a huge celebration on August 13, from 4-7pm.


This fun event is aimed at showing employers and employees how to create a positive, multicultural work environment, and will feature an interactive performance by Puente Theatre, free Henna tattoos, and Cross-Cultural Communication mini-workshops.

We'll also have our famous Multicultural Food!

The event will be held at Victoria's Edelweiss Club, at 108 Niagara Street in James Bay.

Click on the invitation to see a larger version

Workplace Diversity Celebration update

Coming up, we are all preparing for our Workplace Diversity Fair next Friday, May 29th, from 10:30am to 1:30pm. This event includes an Employer Trade Fair and Multicultural Fashion Show, as well as great food from around the world. For more details, click here.

We're still looking for help with this great event, so if you're interested in helping please contact myself or Mary, the event coordinator, who can be reached at Mary@vircs.bc.ca or 250-361-9433 x244.

HR Solutions Workplace Diversity Celebration

VIRCS is also having a major event May 29, part of the culmination of our HR Solutions Project. HR Solutions educates employers on how to have positive multicultural work environments, and how to avoid conflict and discrimination in the workplace.

As part of this project, we are hosting an Employer's Fair on May 29th at the Central Baptist Church. This event will include over 100 people, mostly employers, and we are looking for volunteers to help at the event.

I will be hosting an info session on Wednesday, May 6th at 4pm at VIRCS.