CVIMS - Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society

Art Therapy
2025-02-07 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-14 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-21 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-02-28 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Vancouver) | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
This workshop is designed to help you explore and express your emotions through creativity in a safe and supportive environment. The 8-week Art Therapy workshop is a drop-in group that is open to all skill levels. There will be a new theme explored each week with the guidance from Amélie Blanchard, a Registered Art Therapist and Pauline Goh, Clinical Counsellor.
Dates: Fridays from January 17 to March 7, 2025
Time: 10am – 12pm
Interested? REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org
Look at the themes for each week:

January 17: Goals and Visions
January 24: Stress Management
January 31: Boundary Setting
February 7: Anger Management
February 14: Couples Communication
February 21: Grief and Loss
February 28: Self -Care
March 7: Women’s Wisdom Circle

Stronghold - Men's Group
2025-02-07 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-21 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-28 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-07 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-21 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-28 14:00 - 16:00 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Are you looking for a safe space to help you navigate the struggles or stress of everyday life?
We have partnered with The Men’s Centre to create a safe space for men to come together, share their struggles, connect with others, and learn how to deal with the hassle of everyday life. This is a space to build resilience, gain clarity, and create bonds with others that share the same ideals.
Weekly meetings from January 17 to March 28, 2025.
To register – aalfakosh@cvims.org

CRA Tax Clinic
2025-02-11 09:00 - 15:00, 2025-03-18 10:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-15 09:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-20 10:00 - 15:00 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Taxes? Got questions? Make an appointment to attend the CRA Tax Clinic and get one-on-one guidance, assistance and answers to your questions regarding taxes and the Canada Revenue Agency.
Get assistance on:

Taxes: Get clarity on tax filing requirements, deductions, credits, and deadlines, ensuring compliance with CRA regulations while maximizing your tax benefits.
Government Benefits and Credits: Learn about available government benefits, such as the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), GST/HST credits, and other income support programs, and how to apply for them.
GST/HST Guidelines: Understand the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) requirements for businesses and individuals, including registration, filing, and remittance procedures.
Pension Plans and Retirement Savings: Explore pension plan options, including the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), and Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs), and how they impact your financial future.
CRA My Account Assistance: Receive assistance with setting up and navigating your CRA My Account, a secure online portal where you can manage your tax and benefit information conveniently.

Contact your Settlement Worker to REGISTER
APPOINTMENTS ARE LIMITED

Understanding Taxes in Canada
2025-03-05 14:00 - 16:00 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Join us in this information session to understand the importance of filling your income taxes correctly. In this session, learn from a Canada Revenue Agency agent, how filing your income taxes provides you access to direct payment benefits and refundable tax credits.
As tax season is just around the corner, do not miss this opportunity to gain valuable information and insight from an expert. Whether it is your first time filing your taxes in Canada or you have been and just want to make sure you are getting it right, this session will have something for you!
REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org

Art Therapy
2025-03-07 10:00 - 12:00 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
A special session of the ongoing Art Therapy series in celebration of International Women’s Day! Co-facilitated by Amélie Blanchard, a Registered Art Therapist and Pauline Goh, Clinical Counsellor. This session is dedicated to honoring the sacred feminine within us all. While cultural associations often link the feminine (yin) and masculine (yang) to specific genders, every person embodies both energies, though they may not always be in balance. During this session, participants will engage in creative expression through art, music, and movement. We will all collaborate to create an altar to honor the women (past and/or present) and/or feminine energies that have shaped our lives.
What qualities define the sacred feminine for you? How are these qualities expressed, or not, in your life today?
Date: March 7, 2025
Time: 10am – 12pm
Interested? REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org

Art Therapy
2025-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Self care practices help us recharge, reconnect with ourselves, and maintain physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Join Amélie Blanchard, a Registered Art Therapist and Pauline Goh, Clinical Counsellor for this special session of our Art Therapy workshop series!

Cultural stigmas and social pressures can make it difficult to prioritize self care. Through movement, music, and art explore ways to relate the concept of self care, practice self care.

Friday, March 14
10am – 12pm
101 – 319 Selby St.

Let’s reconnect, recharge, and discover ways to nurture ourselves. This session is open to all – no artistic experience needed!

Interested? REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org
Or just drop-in!

Art Therapy
2025-03-21 10:00 - 12:00 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
This workshop is designed to help you explore and express your emotions through creativity in a safe and supportive environment. The Art Therapy workshop is a drop-in group that is open to all skill levels. There will be a new theme explored each week with the guidance from Amélie Blanchard, a Registered Art Therapist and Pauline Goh, Clinical Counsellor.
March 21st, the topic is Courage & Resilience
Time: 10am – 12pm
Interested? REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org
Or just drop-in!

Art Therapy
2025-03-28 10:00 - 12:00 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
This workshop is designed to help you explore and express your emotions through creativity in a safe and supportive environment. The Art Therapy workshop is a drop-in group that is open to all skill levels. There will be a new theme explored each week with the guidance from Amélie Blanchard, a Registered Art Therapist and Pauline Goh, Clinical Counsellor.
Dates: Every Friday, until March 28th.
Time: 10am – 12pm
Interested? REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org
Or just drop-in!

Temporary Foreign Workers Hiring Process
2025-04-16 17:00 - 18:30 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
An information session for employers looking to hire Temporary Foreign Workers!
Join us in this information session and learn more on the hiring process from a Licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, Evgeniya Bagina.
In this session you can expect to learn about:

Strategic pathways for hiring temporary foreign workers
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements and streams
Hiring temporary foreign workers under BCPNP Process
Recent program updates

Are you interested? Join us in person or online!
REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org

One in Spirit Walk
2025-04-28 11:00 - 14:00 | Bowen Park Complex, 500 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo, British Columbia, V9R 1Z7, Canada
Join Elder Randy Fred on a nature walk at Bowen Park, where you will get the chance of hearing his story and the cultural significance of National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is an opportunity to hear about the culture and heritage of Indigenous Peoples in your community, and connect with nature.
This is a safe space where everyone will be able to share their stories, enjoy good company, connect with nature, and learn more about your community!
Join us until the end for a potluck and sharing of food!
For more information & registration: community@cvims.org
Walk at Bowen Park – 11am to 12pm
Lunch at CVIMS office – 12:30pm to 2:00pm

Health In Canada
2025-05-07 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-05-14 10:00 - 11:30 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Join us for this information session to understand medical services and accessing pharmacies. In this session you will gain valuable insight that will help you understand how the medical system works in Canada and how to access those services, as well as how to access pharmacies.
With a SPECIAL GUEST: Nicole Leung, Associate Owner, Pharmacist, NSL Pharmacy LTD
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
1:00 – 2:15pm.
REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org

Residential Tenancy Law
2025-05-12 09:00 - 22:30 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Are you renting in British Columbia? Join this information session and learn everything you need to know about:

Tenants Rights and Responsibilities
Landlords Rights and Responsibilities
Types of Tenancy Agreements
Conflict solving

Presented by Emma Lazo, Public Legal Education Coordinator from Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre.
Monday, May 12
9:15 – 10:30am
REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org

Residential Tenancy Law
2025-05-14 12:30 - 14:00 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Are you renting in British Columbia? Join this information session and learn everything you need to know about:

Tenants Rights and Responsibilities
Landlords Rights and Responsibilities
Types of Tenancy Agreements
Conflict solving

Presented by Emma Lazo, Public Legal Education Coordinator from Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre.
Wednesday, May 14
12:30 – 1:45pm
REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org

Canadian Citizenship Information Session
2025-05-16 11:30 - 13:00 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Are you ready to take the next step in your journey in Canada? Is applying for Canadian Citizenship overwhelming? We understand that the process can be stressful and confusing, join us for this Information Session on How to Apply for Canadian Citizenship! Get answers to all your questions, get all of the information required to make this process go as smooth as possible.
In this information session, you can expect to learn about:

Eligibility and requirements – are you eligible to start this process? What requirements might you be missing to start? You might be eligible and it is time to start this process.
Procedure – What is the process to achieving your Canadian Citizenship? Find out where to start, what to expect during this process, and what to do at each stage.
Studying for the Citizenship test – You have completed the application, now you need to ace that test! Find out how to study for this test, where to get some resources to better prepare yourself.
Preparing your documents – Learn about all the documents that you need to have ready in order to get it right from the beginning, to have enough time to gather them all, and to make sure you are not missing anything!
Fees – Find out about what the costs involved with the application.

Make sure you REGISTER for the session: workshops@cvims.org
Friday, May 16, 2025
11:30 – 1:00pm

Outdoors Survival Guide
2025-05-21 16:30 - 18:30 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Excited that summer is just around the corner? To get the most fun and safety out of this summer, join our information session on how to SURVIVE the OUTDOORS. In this session, you will learn essential information on what to do, and what NOT to do while spending time outdoors this summer.
With a SPECIAL GUEST – Barb Sorensen, a volunteer from Nanaimo Search and Rescue (NSAR)
REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org

Summer Water Safety
2025-06-06 11:30 - 12:30 | CVIMS, 101-319 Selby Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada, V9R 2R4, Canada
Get summer ready!
Join this information session for valuable information on staying safe around water during this season. Designed to help individuals and families enjoy the summer season and minimize risks.
Some key topics will include, recognizing hazards, safe swimming practices, how to respond in an emergency, life jackets, supervising children near water, and more! Special Guest: Amanda Watkins, Pool Operations and Program Manager.
In person and online session available.
Date and time: Friday, June 6, 2025 | 11:30am – 12:30pm
REGISTER: workshops@cvims.org
