RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS
15
February 2018
Michael Radano is enjoying his career with MOSAIC, a charity that has been serving immigrant, newcomer and refugee communities in Greater Vancouver for the past 40 years. Mosaic recently moved. There new home is right here in Collingwood, at 5575 Boundary Road, in the Wall Centre Central Park.
with the City of Vancouver regarding a future home for MOSAIC had been ongoing for a dozen years, with the Wall Centre Central Park site confirmed in 2013.Michael confirms that MOSAIC is pleased to be in the Collingwood area which allows it to better serve its clients both in Vancouver and Burnaby.
The organization currently manages a $20 million plus budget annually with more than 300 staff, 450 volunteers and 300 contractors! Services are delivered from 26 client-accessible sites and include settlement assistance, English language training, employment programs, interpretation and translation, counseling services, and community outreach for families and individuals. This includes children, youth and seniors; the LGBTQ and temporary foreign worker communities.
Michael is originally from Mauritius, a small island nation off of the the southeast coast of Africa. He moved to Canada in 1981 and later received his MBA from Simon Fraser University & Certified Association Executive designation from CSAE. Before he was with Mosaic, Michael was CEO of the Society of Translators & Interpreters of BC.
There is so much that Mosaic offers: settlement services, employment services, English classes, counseling services, interpretation and translation services. Programs like CultureFit Training help newcomers to make the most of their skills, education and experience. This type of training is designed to help newcomers to overcome the most common barriers that they will face in finding and keeping employment. MOSAIC’s new 23,000 square foot space includes over 100 staff offices and work stations, a large community room, a welcome centre, eight meeting rooms, a computer lab and a child-friendly family counselling space. Discussions l Chinese New Year Lion Dance – Saturday February 24, 2018 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All businesses are invited to participate in the Traditional Lion Dance. A Lion dance team will come to bless your business. The parade route is from Boundary Road to Rupert and then along Joyce to Wellington. Look for a flyer to be delivered to all the businesses. To sign up please contact the CBIA office 604.639.4403 or email angela@shopcollingwood.ca
Complete parade schedule will be posted on social media by February 20th, 2018. See ad in this paper. l Collingwood Days 2018 - May 26, 2018@ GASTON PARK – 15 th Anniversary Sponsorship Opportunities, International Marketplace and Food Court vendor
Now with Mosaic, his role is Director of Employment & Language Services serving both the general public and new comers. What does Michael love most about working with Mosaic? “I love the chance to pay it forward as I received a lot of help from immigrants and fellow Canadians when I arrived 30+ years ago. Michael and his wife have three children. He loves to golf and travel. He also spends quite a bit of time mentoring start-ups and graduate students. Michael says, “I would like to acknowledge the dedicated team of employment & language services professionals who operate and serve clients at the WorkBC & LINC Language centres at Broadway and Commercial. MOSAIC looks forward to serving all of the newcomers in the Collingwood area, so please drop by.”
and Volunteer application are online. www.collingwooddays.com Call out to local maritial art schools, dance, music, performers and bands we want you to be a part of our largest community event of the year. Contact Angela for more information on how you can participate. l Collingwood BIA Board Members Needed We have a few positions available on our board of directors and various committees and invite all property owners and businesses owners to join the board. We meet monthly during the lunch hour every second Wednesday. Call or email angela@shopcollingwood.ca for more information. Together we can make Collingwood the Place to BE.
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