| September 2024 Newsletter President’s Message Hope all of you are having a wonderful summer, creating memories with friends and family! ICWA has been busy with many activities and achievements over the Summer. We are all very thankful to the current Board and Staff for their dedication and commitment to ICWA.Our Executive Director Jodi Zabludowski is leaving ICWA for greener pastures and we wish her all the best for her future endeavors. She has been a great asset to ICWA for the past 3 years and will be greatly missed. Summer has been busy with many activities commemorating special days, many workshops, AGM, as well as some fundraising efforts: Elder Abuse Awareness Day, International Yoga Day, Picnic with Family, Waste Management Workshop, ESL Public Speaking Workshop, Independence Day celebration, Financial Literacy Class for Youth and Online information session on Identity theft and fraud prevention. ICWA held its Annual General Meeting on June 22nd. Sonia Nayak, our Bro-Bono lawyer, provided her in sight on family issues that currently exist. ICWA’s Casino event went smoothly on August 14th & 15th. We are thankful to all the volunteers for their help with this event’s implementation at Starlight Casino. ICWA, in partnership with Image India, held a fundraising concert “Gems of Bollywood,” on August 18th at Festival Place, Sherwood Park that was attended by more than 300 people. Our sincere gratitude to Image India’s Mrs. Radha Padmanabhan for producing this show with amazing singers and musicians was greatly appreciated by all attendees. We are also thankful to all the Sponsors, Donors, Advertisers and all the attendees for their support for ICWA. We look forward to the fall season to continue our regular programs and wish everyone all the best for a fulfilling rest of the year. Mita DasPresident, ICWAUpcoming events! Daughters day Celebration!Daughters Day is the flagship initiative of Canadians For A Civil Society. Each year we identify remarkable women making a global impact through their intentional actions. Help us honor the trailblazers who fight for the elimination of gender inequality, violence, and discrimination against those who identify as girls and women.  Join us for a session with Kriti Lamsal to learn about essential nutrients for body balance and fall prevention on Sep 26,2024 drop in time 12:30-1:30 pm at CISE, 9504 37 Ave, NW Edmonton, Ab T6E 5N2. We look forward to seeing you on October 17th at the address mentioned above between 4-7 PM as we celebrate National Seniors Day and International Day of the Girl Child. This fall, come dressed in your scariest costumes to spook us at the ICWA Office on October 24th between 12 PM and 3 PM. We can’t wait to see you here for Halloween! We are excited to invite you all to celebrate the most awaited festival Deepawali with us, and get ready to taste Indian Sweets and Food and show us your painting skills by Diya Painting and other cultural Programs. Highlights from June-SeptemberOn June 10th, 2024, we observed the Elder Abuse Awareness Day with guest speaker Rachel Augustine, who shared valuable information about preventative measures. The event took place at the ICWA office and included a visit from MLA Christina Gray. Everyone had a wonderful time. This gathering was held a few days before the official Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th.  On June 20th, 2024, ICWA attended a luncheon that provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with others and celebrate shared achievements. The event, hosted by the Edmonton Community Foundation at 11:30 AM, welcomed over 620 attendees and featured Tarek Hadhad, who shared his inspiring story of founding Peace by Chocolate with support from ECF. The photo features Jodi and Dell. International Yoga DayOn June 21st, we celebrated International Yoga Day with Namitha Patel. The event was held online to ensure accessibility for all participants.On June 22nd, the 40th Annual General Meeting was successfully held at the ICWA office from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with about 27 members in attendance. Soni Nayak served as the keynote speaker, sharing insights on financial benefits, protection, and abuse prevention. The annual report was distributed, offering members a review of the year and a chance to connect.  On July 2, 2024, we celebrated Family Day at Mill Woods Park from 12 PM to 4 PM. The event brought together seniors and youth for a fun-filled day of games, including Marco Polo, relay races, and more. For lunch, everyone contributed a variety of delicious dishes, such as pav bhaji, bread with dip, and chole.  The waste management workshop, held on July 18th from 4-6 PM at the ICWA office, was a great success thanks to our speaker Vartika Kumar. With over 10 attendees, including seniors and adults, the session focused on practical tips for reducing, reusing, and recycling efficiently and effectively at home.   We hosted a public speaking workshop for ESL kids at Millwoods Library from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM, with about 8 to 10 children in attendance. Partnering with Speechdojo, we were delighted by the kids’ energy and eagerness to learn and participate in our activities. The topics covered included pitch, tone, and pace in public speaking, as well as the importance of open body language in engaging an audience compared to closed body language.   Fundraiser CasinoOn August 14th and 15th, we hosted our Casino event at Starlight Casino in West Edmonton Mall. A big thank you to all our amazing volunteers! Gems of Bollywood EventOn August 18, we hosted a Bollywood music concert in partnership with Image India at Festival Place in Sherwood Park. The event featured local singers, including Raghav Vamaraju, Shruti S. Nair, Nandini Debnath, Shailaja Narayanan, Raj Seshadri, and Savithri Rajan. We welcomed about 300 attendees Financial Literacy Workshop for YouthOn August 22nd, the ICWA office hosted a Financial Literacy Workshop for youth aged 14-18, aimed at empowering them with essential money management skills. The engaging session, led by guest speaker Sumedha Garg, covered topics such as budgeting, saving, and financial planning, featuring a hands-on budgeting activity that allowed participants to practice real-world financial scenarios. With around 20 attendees, the workshop fostered a collaborative environment where participants enjoyed light refreshments and interacted with each other and the speaker. Overall, the event was well-received, and we look forward to providing more valuable educational opportunities for our community’s youth.   Summer StudentsThis year, we welcomed two summer students: Ghutas Aulakh, who served as the Youth Coordinator from May to the end of June, and Radhika Soni, who was the Education and Outreach Coordinator from July to the end of August. Together, they organized events like the Speechdojo Workshop and the Financial Literacy Workshop and provided valuable assistance to youth and other related events throughout the summer. Social Insurance Number Application is now Online!Each year, Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada experiences increased demand for Social Insurance Number (SIN) applications, particularly as international students arrive for the fall and winter semesters. The SIN is essential for working in Canada and accessing government programs and services.To avoid long wait times at Service Canada Centres, you can apply for your SIN online. A completed online application with all the required documents will be processed within 5 business days. You will then be able to view your SIN in your My Service Canada Account.Farewell Jodi Zabludowski  On August 23rd, 2024, we said our goodbyes to our Executive Director -Jodi Zabludowski and reflected on the incredible impact she has made since joining us in September 2021. Over the past three years, Jodi has led with vision, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to our mission, helping us reach significant milestones, and strengthening our community.As she begins a new chapter, we extend our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes for her continued success. Thank you, Jodi, for everything you have done for us—you will be missed! Newly elected Board of Directors PresidentMita DasVice-PresidentRashmi JosheeTreasurerBharathi SureshSecretaryPapiya DasDirectorsAnuradha GanguliAvau FastDr. Janki ShankarMiriam ThomasDr. Rashmi JyotiShivangi  |
September 2024 Newsletter President’s Message ICWA
Bycanadaheight
Sep 20, 2024