More than 500 new immigrant students from 91原创鈥檚 New Directions English Language School celebrated graduation from the Language Instruction for Newcomers in Canada (LINC) program.
A Wednesday, March 12 evening service was held at the United Churches of 91原创 with more than 230 participants while a morning service on Thursday, March 13 was moved to Christian Life Assembly to accommodate 320 guests.
The theme of the two-day event was 鈥淲e are from all around the World. Together we are Unity.鈥�
"Truly, these adult students at New Directions were from all around the world. The LINC students came from 60 different countries and together celebrated their collective successes of completing a LINC level and individual language skills including listening, speaking, reading and writing," said Margaret Ann, New Directions community program and events co-ordinator.
LINC 7/8 student Paula Moon an excerpt of writing: 鈥淚 used to think that unity meant having the same thoughts and doing the same behaviours, so to improve unity, increasing something in common was needed. However, I have changed my thoughts about unity. Unity is being one as they are. Unity includes diversity and respects variety. Since I started living in Canada, especially studying in New Directions class, my thoughts have become theoretical. My classmates came from various countries such as Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Korea, Poland, Republic of Congo and Vietnam. We all have different cultural backgrounds, and we are different from each other. However, we feel united and connected at the same time. Our differences create harmony and unity rather than trouble and division because we respect each other.鈥�
Many students expressed their gratitude to the school, their teachers and their classmates.
"It was a festive event," Ann noted. "Councillor Leith White articulated it well when he observed, 'I have never seen so many smiles. Everyone is happy to be here today!'"
Other community members at the ceremonies included another 91原创 City councillor, Paul Albrecht, who was the evening keynote speaker; Cory Redekop, CEO of the Greater 91原创 Chamber of Commerce, who gave the keynote address in the morning; RCMP Constables Talbot McNutt and Rob Roffel, both Community Liaison Officers; Biss Jordahl, manager of Immigration Services Society of BC, 91原创 Rotary Club president Wayne Wiebe; New Directions grad Ines Montoya, who is now working with employer relations at Trinity Western University; and Victoria Biggs, president of Canadian Vocational Training Centre.
To open the Thursday morning session, First Nations drummer, Troy Derrick and Shyama Priya, from the Wild Moccasin Dance group, opened the ceremony with inclusive words of welcome to all the newcomers 鈥渇rom all around the world.鈥� Derrick shared the meaning of the land acknowledgement, and noted that newcomers speak many different languages and should retain their first language and closed with a drumming song in his Gitxsan language.
Marta Kasha, a recent immigrant from Ukraine and former New Directions student, is now director of Mriya, a Ukrainian dance collective that performed several of lively traditional dances.
The festive occasion culminated in a multicultural potluck with ethnic dishes from all around the world.
New Directions founder and president, Yvonne Hopp commended all the graduates, guests and many volunteers who made the event possible. She started the school in 1989 with one classroom, and it has blossomed into 44 classes now offering free English language classes to newcomers to the local and surrounding area.
Newcomers who have permanent resident or refugee status can register at any time for LINC classes (at different grade levels) at New Directions which runs morning, afternoon and evenings from Monday to Friday and mornings on Saturday. Newcomers can larn more 100-20436 Fraser Hwy. or call the school for an appointment. The classes are funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
