Volunteer Spotlight

QUIS wouldn’t be able to fulfill its mandate if it wasn’t for the help of our wonderful volunteers. Today we shine the spotlight on one of our great volunteers, John Mark Robertson. John Mark is involved in the HOST program, which partners a native Canadian with a newcomer in an effort to provide a friendly guide to Candian customs and culture.

QUIS recently sat down for an interview with John Mark.

QUIS: Tell us about yourself, where you're from, what's your background and what do you do now?

JMR: I grew up in Mississauga, mostly, and moved to Belleville about five years ago. I studied Political Science at Queen’s University, and most of my career has been in English as a Second Language teaching and adult literacy. I spent four years in Japan, where I met my wife. Right now, I work for an organization called Ontario Tutors. We do educational upgrading for people who have had workplace injuries. It ranges from literacy upgrading to high school credit courses.

QUIS: How did you first get involved with QUIS?

JMR: When I lived in Toronto, I was involved in an organization called CultureLink, which is similar to QUIS. When I moved here, I wanted to do similar work. I am working on the Social Service Worker diploma part-time and did a placement at QUIS in the fall of 2007. While there, I was paired up with my partner, who comes from the Phillipines.

QUIS: What is the most rewarding part of being involved in the Host Program?

JMR: I like finding out about the experiences of people from other countries. They are often fascinating. I also have the sense that I am helping an individual to become acclimatized to Canada, to feel that they are wanted here, that they have friends here. I realize their lives can be difficult, so I want to try to ease that.

QUIS: Has your experience in the Host Program surprised you? Did you learn something new? Did you find that we have more in common with each other than we realize, etc?

JMR:I am constantly amazed at the abilities and education of the newcomers to Canada. My partner, Armando, is Filipino. However, he lived in Saudi Arabia for several years and was a foreman at a cement plant. He is an engineer. The warmth and friendliness of Filipino people has been reinforced to me.
I didn’t realize that the Philippines had as many languages and cultures as it does.

QUIS:Any Final thoughts?

JMR:The Host program is definitely worthwhile. I think if people got to know newcomers, we would realize that we have the same goals, the same wants in life. I would like to think that if the situation were reversed, that someone would take an interest in me and would want to make me feel welcome and included in their country.

Earn extra income as a language interpreter

QUIS is looking to hire language interpreters. If you speak more than one language, working as a language interpreter can earn you some additional income. Interpreters are generally used in a face to face situation or by telephone but can also be used for message relays and sight translation.

For information please email: ceo@quis-immigration.org

Lots of great events happen at QUIS!

Summer arrived at the QUIS organization with a fun, excitment and lots of kid energy.

For the month of July we held our QUIS Youth Summer camp. The aim of the camp was to assist parents attending summer LINC classes who made the hard decision to continue their English language lessons throughout the month of July.

In partnership with Loyola QUIS ran the camp to accomodate those parents who had children between the ages of 7 and 16. The camp was filled with many fun filled activities such as crafts, sports, drama and on those rainy days young Canadian movies.

The camp helped out this young newcomers by introducing them to new Canadian summer activities and increasing their social network of friends. It truly was a great time.

Soccer Anyone?
July saw 80 Newcomer friends, family, volunteers and QUIS staff enjoying a great day of soccer at it's best. With children and young teens racing up and down the fields. With an invitation to a friendly competitive game of soccer, Immigrant Services of Kingston and Area (ISKA) joined us. Although, everyone was a winner and took home medals donated by Star Trophies. It was Kingston who took home the adult trophy also donated by Star Trophies with a 5-1 one. Oh well, QUIS has vowed to get it back in September. To top of the day Pizza Pizza Belleville donated tons of pizza to fill every palate playing or watching the games.

Thanks to everyone for joining the fun.

The September soccer match in Kingston saw a hard fought game with QUIS bringing home the trophy. Good going .... team QUIS

October was QUIS haunted House with lots of scary things to see, play and eat.

December was our fantastic Children's Holiday party with over clients, children, volunteers and staff in attendance. It was a party to remember by all.

Be sure to continually visit our blog to stay updated on the latest news from QUIS. You can take a look at our 'Events' box on this page for planned events.

QUIS Raises Awareness to Combat Discrimination

March 21, 2009 marked both a grim anniversary and a step towards becoming a better society. On that day in 1960 a South African Township called Sharpeville was the site of a massacre perpetrated by white policemen.

Forty-nine years later the day was marked with a pledge to continue the noble struggle against the myriad forms of racism and discrimination.

The UN has dubbed this day the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and in 1989 the Department of Canadian Heritage introduced the now familiar Racism. Stop It! Campaign.

On March 21 this year QUIS held an event in the Kindness Court area of the Quinte Mall in Belleville. In addition, they held a Racism in Canada workshop at the Bridge Street United church on March 26 for high school students grades 9–12 from several local schools.

“This is our first public awareness event that we are going to hold for March 21,” said Sheilagh Marchand-Pegg, QUIS office manager and head of the HOST program. Getting Kindness Court as a venue for this years event was a stroke of good luck for QUIS.

"We are all immigrants," says Marchand-Pegg a sentiment is shared by QUIS outreach worker Yvonne Ferguson who says "We are all in the same boat and I think it’s important to remember that."

The purpose of this years function was to raise community awareness of the message and meaning of March 21 and more importantly try to reach the youngest members of our society. “If you can get to the youth you can change the world and that is so important,” says Marchand-Pegg

The QUIS volunteers and employees shared stories, music and styles of dress from a wide gamut of cultures to help illustrate the diverse nature of Canada and "Why it [March 21] is a day that people need to take notice of," says Marchand-Pegg.