Eh Team Interviews: NCC

Who is excited for National Camp?? Well, this week's interviewee has some super stellar things planned for this year's camp! This week we talk to Dimi, the National Camp Coordinator for JB Canada. She gives her answers to our mix of questions:

What positions have you held in CISV (Locally/Nationally/Internationally)
Locally: Secretary, Risk Manager, Jr. Chair, Senior Chair
Nationally: National Camp Coordinator

What is your best CISV memory?
My favourite CISV memory would have to be my first NBM, which was in Halifax. I think I only slept four hours the whole weekend but the friends I made and experience I got from that weekend made it all worth it.

What are your favourite CISV activity and/or energizer?

My favourite CISV energizer is the brown squirrel energizer. I love how loud and rowdy everyone gets.

What do you like most about your Eh Team position?
My favourite thing about being NCC is the fact that after all this planning an amazing camp filled with super cool CISVers from all across Canada will finally happen!

What change would you like to see occur in JB Canada?
I would love to see more chapters opening in Canada and to see more communication between chapters.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years I hopefully have explored more of the world and been a leader for CISV but overall I just hope in ten years that my 28-year-old self will be happy.

If you could be any kitchen utensil, what would you be? Why?
I would be a spoon as I love to eat soup and I love being cuddled (spooned).

What is your favourite thing about your city/province?
My favourite thing about Ontario is that we have all four seasons. I can never decide a favourite season so having all four during the year is nice for me.

Thanks for reading this week's edition of the Eh Team Interviews! We only have two more posts left to make, so make sure to check back for the DCCs and the lovely ECC in the next few weeks. Until then, 

Much love from your CommSquad <3

Eh Team Interviews: PBR

Next up: Mykal!! Mykal is next in our Eh Team interview series, and he is currently the Peace Bus Representative for the Eh Team. This means he coordinates with the adults and helps them make Peace Bus the coolest adventure ever! Here is the sit down interview:

What positions have you held in CISV (Locally/Nationally/Internationally)
-This is my position in CISV, I am the PeaceBus Rep for JB.

What is your best CISV memory?
-Arriving at my first homestay at my village, from that moment knew CISV was amazing.

What is your favourite CISV activity and/or energizer?
-One we made up on PeaceBus when I did it. Called the tigger energizer, and as the name suggests is based on the best character in the best show ever, no big deal.

What is your favourite thing about JB Canada?
-How enthusiastic everyone is about making CISV better.

What do you like most about your Eh Team position?
-I love convincing people to do PeaceBus as I know they will never regret it.

What change would you like to see occur in JB Canada?
-More diversity within members.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
-Graduated engineer starting a small business.

If you could be any kitchen utensil, what would you be? Why?
-An extendable fork, so I can steal food from others’ plates.

What is your favourite thing about your city/province?
-I love how the city is so close to the Gatineau hills and the outdoors, how easy it is to go skiing, biking or skating.

We are more than halfway through our Eh Team Interviews! Stick around and check back next Monday to see who the next interviewee is! Until then,

-The CommSquad

Eh Team Interviews: ICC

Here we are again with another interview from an Eh Team member! This time the interview was with one of the CommSquad, Troy. Troy is the ICC, Internal Communications Coordinator, for JB Canada and loves his job! Here is what he had to say:

What positions have you held in CISV (Locally/Nationally/Internationally)

- I have held the local positions of Risk Manager, Jr./Sr. LJR, and I am currently the Risk Manager again! On the national board I am currently the Internal Communications Coordinator (ICC) and proudly make up ½ of the CommSquad!

What is your best CISV memory?

-One of the hardest questions to ask a CISVer. My step up was in Alta, Norway which is one of the most northern places you can go (more north than Iqaluit, for some reference). The Colombian delegation had to leave camp a day early and so just after they had left the site, the rest of the camp hiked up a mountain next to our site and sat at the top. Because the town is so small we could see the airport, so as a camp we watched as their plane flew away. It was a cool moment, literally on top of the world.

What is your favourite CISV activity and/or energizer?

-My favourite energizer has always been and always will be the Shake Down. It is so easy to run, actually gets you energized, and of course you get to do a stellar ninja kick at the very end.

What is your favourite thing about JB Canada?

-I love talking about JB Canada to other chapters because we are so amazing! We are connected, share ideas, help each other, and just find ways to constantly improve CISV Canada. I have met some of my closest CISV friends through National Camp, and it’s just a good example of how you can become so bonded with others without even leaving Canada!

What do you like most about your Eh Team position?

-I’ve always known I wanted to be on the Eh Team, and specifically Internal Comms. I love being able to connect chapters, especially through the blog (cisvcanuck, check it out) and social media! It’s the fact that I get to make JB Joke Fridays on the Instagram (jbcancommsquad) and post hysterical pictures that make me love my job even more!

What change would you like to see occur in JB Canada?

-I think JB Canada has so many ideas that it would be great if chapters could have ways to share those ideas. More inter-chapter discussion and connection would be super cool!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

-I hope to see myself happy (cheesy answer, I know). I would love to have a career that interests me and makes me happy to go into work everyday. Maybe a teacher? Scientist? Who knows. Lastly, I would love to be able to have a family, or perhaps being in the process of starting a fam. I can’t wait to be a dad.

If you could be any kitchen utensil, what would you be? Why?

-Being an avid cook myself I know the importance of a good Chef’s knife. I like to think that I’m a sharp and versatile person who can be useful in different places. Cutting, chopping, transporting, I’m all over the place. And sometimes when you just wanna have a super cool tool, you grab the Chef knife (lowkey trying to say that I’m cool).

What is your favourite thing about your city/province?

-I hail from the Capital. The mighty Otown. The big 613 (the 6ix’s nerdy brother). My favourite thing about Ottawa is that you can have the small city feel in a big city. I can go visit the downtown core, Parliament, the Byward market all while going for a bike ride along the Rideau Canal and totally feel like it’s a quaint little city. I sometimes have to remind myself that although we’re pretty small, we’re still the nation’s capital and that’s pretty cool.

Thanks for reading! Come back next week to check out our next Eh Team interview!

xo -CommSquad

Eh Team Interviews: JRM

Here is the second entry of the Eh Team Interview blog series! This week's entry comes from our fantastic JRM (Junior Risk Manager), Nell! Enjoy!

What positions have you held in CISV (Locally/Nationally/Internationally)

-I’ve been secretary and risk manager for the Toronto chapter, and now I’m Junior Risk Manager on the EhTeam.

What is your best CISV memory?

-I don’t think I could pick just one memory but in general I like the trip home from camp. It gives you a chance to reflect on your experience before going back to your everyday life.

What is your favourite CISV activity and/or energizer?

-I really like plane crash because it was one of the first activities I ever did in CISV and I haven’t gotten tired of it yet.

What is your favourite thing about JB Canada?

-The people involved are always keen to participate, always full of new ideas, and they all really want to be involved in CISV.

What do you like most about your Eh Team position?

-I like how connected I am to the rest of JB Canada!

What change would you like to see occur in JB Canada?

-I’d like to see members of the JB being more actively involved in CISV on a national level, even those who don’t have active roles locally.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

-Well hopefully I’ll have a steady job and no student loans to pay off. Maybe wear cool future clothes.

If you could be any kitchen utensil, what would you be? Why?

-Six different online quizzes suggest that I’m either a spoon or a spatula.

What is your favourite thing about your city/province?

-Being in downtown Toronto makes me feel like I’m indoors outside, like I live in an enormous house made up of skyscrapers. And that’s kind of neat.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check back next week for more updates and interviews from the Eh Team!
Love, the CommSquad

Eh Team Interviews: NJRs

Hi Everyone! We are excited to announce that we are starting a new series of weekly blog posts! They will feature interviews (Q&As) with the different members of Canada's National Junior Board, the Eh Team! 

This week we are starting with your trusty NJRs (National Junior Representatives), Tarra and Santana. They do so much for JB Canada and we were excited to see their answers to some neat questions! Here they are:

What positions have you held in CISV (Locally/Nationally/Internationally)

-Tarra: I have been in JB (Vancouver, at the time) since 2007. In Vancouver, I was the Jr. and Sr. LJR, and then spent two years on the Eh Team as DCC. Now I am finishing up my term as Sr. NJR!

-Santana: Throwing it back to to the early 2010s, I have been LJR, Local Nat Camp Coordinator, National Camp Coordinator, and Jr NJR

What is your best CISV memory?

-T: My best CISV memory… wow. At my seminar camp, we spent time together as a camp, every night, wrapped up in blankets on mattresses outside of a farm, on the top of a mountain looking up at the stars. We called it “confession time” and anyone could share any story from their life that they felt like the couldn’t share during an activity, or just in general. It was probably the most connected that I have ever felt to people around me. I always think about that memory and remember why I feel so safe at CISV.

-S: This question is so difficult!!!! How am I supposed to choose??? One of my favourite moments is from when I was a JC in the Netherlands. My friends Andrea, Tey, and I were night angels and we were telling the girls bedtime stories. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard! Needless to say, these stories did little to actually encourage sleep. I also loved the Gala at NBM in Toronto this past November. Dancing the night away with so many of my favourite people was an amazing way to celebrate being elected as well as all the work we did over the weekend.

What is your favourite CISV activity and/or energizer?

-T: I love the “GET LOOSE” energizer! The Brazilian JC at my village led it so well!

-S: My favourite CISV activity is Yes/No/Maybe. I love the discussion it creates and the way it makes people think about their own lives and opinions! I also love the energizer Gasolina!

What is your favourite thing about JB Canada?

-T: I love the sense of community in JB Canada. I feel like we all support each other, and are more than just co-workers or acquaintances. JB Canada is such a strong group of individuals who teach me new things about the world, and about myself every, single, day.

-S: My favourite thing about JB Canada is how excited everyone is to learn and participate! Seeing the enthusiasm and passion JBers bring to things like NBM and SBTF makes me excited for the future of JB Canada and the things we will accomplish.

What do you like most about your Eh Team position?

-T: I really like the connection that I feel with JB Canada. Some NJRs around the world don’t even know the names of their LJRs. I also really love watching JB Canada grow, and knowing that in some way, I might have inspired some of the growth. JB Canada never stops impressing me, and it’s why I love being NJR!

-S: I love talking to JBers! I am so inspired by the passion everyone has their roles as well as JB Canada as a whole. I also love working with the fantastic people who make up the Eh Team, I could not be more proud of what they’ve accomplished :)

What change would you like to see occur in JB Canada?

-T: I would like to see JB Canada feel more a part of the Americas’ region. I know that it is hard to understand how CISV works as a region, but there is so much that we can learn from the other countries in our region and I would love to see more cooperation and connection.

-S: Over the next few years I would love to see even more connections being made across the country. We have so much to learn from one another and I think that creating an even more close-knit community would create a way to share problems and best practices across the country.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

-T: In 10 years, I hope to be FINALLY done university, living in a place of my own, still involved in CISV and having a puppy

-S: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Probably in the White House, as the first Canadian to become President of the United States

If you could be any kitchen utensil, what would you be? Why?

-T: I would want to be a can opener because they look pretty cool. Come on, you can totally tell that they are basically the king of the kitchen.

-S: I would be one of those wooden mixing spoons, so that I could be useful, but also just chill in the container with all the other wooden spoons and whisks.

What is your favourite thing about your city/province?

-T: Although I live in Toronto, Vancouver will always be my home and my favourite thing about Vancouver is that you are half an hour away from the ocean, the mountains and forests. People are happy and helpful and there is amaaaaazing ice cream (because of all the hipsters).

-S: My favourite thing about Fredericton is the Saturday morning Farmers Market. You can get anything from samosas to German pastries there. I also see at least five people I know there, which can be both a blessing and a curse.

Thanks everyone! We'll see you next week for the next installation from another rockin' Eh Team member!
Love, your JB Canada CommSquad

CanExUs 2015!

CanExUs 2015:

CanExUs is a regional meeting involving the National Associations of Canada, Mexico, and the USA. CanExUs unites dedicated leaders from JB North to form and to progress a well-connected community with a strong identity. JB North is our regional neighborhood and CanExUs is a workshop designed to unite CISVers from across North America and to show our diversity across our National Associations.

At CanExUs, I met people from all across JB North, which was great because there is not often a lot of opportunity to come together and learn about each other. We all shared our personal experiences with our local JB (Junior Branch) and I learned fresh, new, and exciting ideas and educational content activities. I also learned about practices from other chapters across JB North to better improve my chapter. We also got to reflect on our JBs and our regional neighborhood, and we really got to focus on how we want to improve our communications and connections with other chapters across North America.

I got to be a part of something bigger than my local JB. It was an amazing experience. I got to meet a lot of really amazing and inspiring people that are passionate about CISV and JB. I would strongly encourage all JBers who are willing and interested in learning more about JB attend in years to come.

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Canexus est une réunion régionale avec les associations nationales du Canada, le Mexique et les États-Unis. CanExUs unit les dirigeants dévoués de JB Nord pour former et progresser une communauté bien liée à une identité forte. JB North est notre voisinage régional et CanExUs est un atelier conçu pour unir CISVers de partout en Amérique du Nord et de montrer notre diversité dans nos associations nationales.

À CanExUs, j'ai rencontré des gens de partout JB Nord, ce qui était super parce qu’il n'y a pas souvent beaucoup d'occasions de se réunir et d'apprendre les uns des autres. Nous avons tous partagé nos expériences personnelles avec notre JB locale (Junior Branch) et j'appris de nouvelles idées, fraiche et passionnantes et des activités de contenu éducatif. J'ai aussi appris quelques pratiques d'autres chapitres à travers JB Nord, pour mieux améliorer mon chapitre. Nous avons également eu à réfléchir sur nos JBs et notre voisinage régional et nous avons vraiment eu l'occasion de se concentrer sur la façon dont nous voulons améliorer nos communications et des connexions avec d'autres chapitres à travers l'Amérique du Nord.

Je suis arrivée à être une partie de quelque chose de plus grand que mon JB local. Ce fut une expérience incroyable. Je suis arrivée à rencontrer beaucoup de gens vraiment étonnants et inspirants qui sont passionnés par CISV et JB. J'encourage vivement tous les JBers qui sont prêts et intéressés à apprendre plus sur JB assister dans les années à venir.

-Ellie  (LJR, CISV Calgary)

How Can We Help?

Hi JB Canada!

As many of you may know, Canada has pledged to take in 25 000 Syrian refugees over the course of the next year. Our government has been praised for the efforts they are taking in helping people escape war-torn Syria. With the flood of people coming into our country, volunteers are needed in the coming months more than ever. What better way to spread the word of CISV than through a volunteer or even Mosaic project?

Below, you can find a list of organisations that are looking for volunteers and donations to help the Syrian refugees. JBs across the country can do many things to help these organisations out. We can volunteer in person, host a fundraiser to help support a refugee, refugee family or community, or, collect necessities like clothing, furniture and anything else that might be needed.

Couldn’t find anything from the list below? Check out this website for more opportunities!: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/refugees/welcome/help.asp

Salut JB Canada!

Comme beaucoup d'entre vous le savent, le Canada a promis de prendre en 25 000 réfugiés syriens au cours de l'année prochaine. Notre gouvernement a été salué pour les efforts qu'ils prennent pour aider les gens à échapper déchirée par la guerre en Syrie. Avec le flot de gens qui viennent dans notre pays, les bénévoles sont nécessaires dans les mois prochains, plus que jamais. Quelle meilleure façon de répandre la parole de CISV que par un bénévole ou même projet de mosaïque? Ci-dessous, vous pouvez trouver une liste des associations qui recherchent des bénévoles et de dons pour aider les réfugiés syriens. JBs travers le pays peut faire beaucoup de choses pour aider ces organisations. Nous pouvons faire du bénévolat en personne, accueillir une collecte de fonds pour aider à soutenir un réfugié, famille de réfugiés ou de la communauté, ou, de recueillir de première nécessité comme des vêtements, des meubles et tout ce qui pourrait être nécessaire.

Impossible de trouver quoi que ce soit dans la liste ci-dessous? Consultez ce site web pour plus de possibilités! : http://www.cic.gc.ca/francais/refugies/bienvenue/aide.asp

Victoria

Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society: http://www.vircs.bc.ca/volunteer.php

Vancouver

Immigrant Services Society (ISS) of BC: www.issbc.org/prim-corp-nav/our-work-with-refugees/refugee-crisis/how-can-i-help-refugees

MOSAIC: http://mosaicbc.com/volunteers/volunteer-us

Calgary

Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association: http://www.ciwa-online.com/get-involved/volunteer

Calgary Catholic Immigration Society: https://www.ccisab.ca/donate

Saskatoon

Global Gathering Place: http://globalgatheringplace.com/welcome/?q=node/607

Saskatoon Open Door Society: http://www.sods.sk.ca/Events/Info/Volunteer.aspx

Waterloo

Reception House: http://receptionhouse.ca/

London

London Cross Cultural Learner Centre: http://lcclc.org/index.php/become-a-volunteer

Toronto

Lifeline Syria: http://lifelinesyria.ca/

COSTI Immigrant Services: http://www.costi.org/supportingcommunity/supporting.php

Ottawa

Refugee 613: http://www.refugee613.ca/

Montreal

Conseil canadien pour les refugies: http://ccrweb.ca/fr/action-refugies-syriens

Fredericton

New Brunswick Multicultural Council: http://www.nb-mc.ca/help-with-refugees/

Multicultural Association of Fredericton: http://www.mcaf.nb.ca/index.php/about/overview/

Halifax

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia: http://www.isans.ca/

Residents of The Halifax Regional Municipality can also call 211 for volunteer opportunities.

JB Ottawa Cookies and Winter Camp!

   On December 11th, CISV Ottawa hosted its second holiday Cookie-a-thon! 20 enthusiastic cookie bakers gathered in a local kitchen, where they whipped up a storm of ginger, sugar and spritz cookies. People were particularly partial to cinnamon spritz cookies, large quantities of which kept mysteriously disappearing. All in all, there were about a thousand cookies baked, decorated, and packaged. There were also activities during the event, such as Troy’s Top Ten, Apples to Apples (team version), and Suits. On Sunday, three of the bakers spent the day selling cookies in front of a Lindt chocolate store and a local movie theatre, both of whom had generously given CISV Ottawa selling spaces in front of their stores. All of the profits from the event will be contributed to Ottawa’s Step Up next summer, as well as the bursary fund (and all the leftovers will be devoured by hungry campers at Winter Camp, which is happening a week after Cookie-a-thon).

   Le 11 Décembre, CISV Ottawa a organisé son deuxième Cookie-a-thon tant attendu! 20 enthousiastes boulangers se sont rassemblés dans une cuisine locale pour préparer une tempête de biscuits au gingembre, au sucre et spritz. Plusieurs ont été particulièrement conquis par les biscuits spritz à la cannelle, dont une grande quantité de ceux-ci ont mystérieusement disparu durant la soirée. Dans l'ensemble, mille biscuits ont été cuits, décorés et emballés. Des activités ont également été organisé au cours de l'événement, tels que «le Top Ten de Troy», «Apples to Apples» (version d’équipe), et «Suits». Le dimanche suivant l’évenement, trois des boulangers ont passé leur journée à vendre des biscuits en face d'un magasin de chocolat Lindt et d’un cinéma local, qui avaient tous deux prêtés généreusement des espaces de vente à CISV Ottawa devant leurs magasins. Tous les profits de l'événement serviront à contribuer au “Step up” organisé par Ottawa l'été prochain, ainsi qu’à des bourses (et tous les biscuits restants seront dévorés par les campeurs affamés pendant le camp d'hiver, qui aura lieu une semaine après Cookie-o-thon).

   Seventeen super-CISVers attended Ottawa’s 14+ Winter Camp, which was held between December 19th and 22nd. The camp was a bit smaller than usual, which gave us the opportunity to experiment with a new, less structured, type of schedule! We had more time to relax as a group and get to know each other; a lot of time was spent industriously working on a crossword with more than 600 clues, trying to name every country in the world (we got around 185 before giving up), playing Settlers of Catan, and doing yoga. But worry not! There was still ample time for a bunch of interesting activities. The highlights include a discussion about our plans and goals for the future, an activity where we were assigned exaggerated character traits and then had to work in groups to create a musical, a debrief about religious freedom, an intense and highly competitive scavenger hunt, and a short session on the experiences of non-english speakers at CISV camps. It was a perfect event to finish off a great year for CISV Ottawa, and sets the bar high for 2016!

   Dix-sept super-CISVers ont participé au camp d'hiver 14 ans et plus d'Ottawa, qui s’est déroulé du 19 décembre au 22. Le camp était un peu plus petit que d'habitude, ce qui nous a donné l'occasion d'expérimenter un nouveau type d'horaire, un peu moins structuré! Nous avons eu plus de temps pour se détendre en groupe et apprendre à se connaître les uns les autres; beaucoup de temps ont été assidûment consacré à travailler sur des mots croisés avec plus de 600 indices, à essayer de nommer tous les pays du monde (nous en avons eu environ 185 avant d'abandonner), à jouer au Colons de Catane et à faire du yoga. Mais ne vous inquiétez pas! Il y eu suffisamment de temps pour un tas d'activités intéressantes. Les faits saillants comprennent une discussion à propos de nos plans et nos objectifs pour l'avenir, une activité où nous avons reçu des traits de caractère exagérés et devions alors travailler en groupes pour créer une comédie musicale, un compte rendu à propos de la liberté religieuse, une chasse au trésor intense et hautement compétitive et une courte séance sur les expériences des non-anglophones dans les camps CISV. Ce fut un événement idéal pour finir une grande année pour CISV Ottawa et mettre la barre haute pour 2016!

New Year, New Us!

Hi JB Canada!

We hope you all are having a fantastic New Year! The CommSquad hopes that you all have an excellent 2016. On that note, we are your new CommSquad team! Troy is your new ICC (Internal Communications Coordinator) and is an active member of the Ottawa chapter. Evelyn is your ECC (External Communications Coordinator) is from the Halifax chapter! Together we will be keeping all of the Canadian chapters involved and updated about what’s going on within, as well as outside of, CISV Canada. We would love to get blog posts submitted about cool things going on, ideas that work for your chapter, and anything else! We’re excited for a great year!

Salut JB Canada!
Nous espérons que vous rencontrez une Nouvelle année fantastique! Le CommSquad espère que votre 2016 est excellente. Sur cette note, nous sommes votre nouveau CommSquad. Troy est votre ICC (Internal Communications Coordinator) et il est un membre actif du chapitre d'Ottawa. Evelyn est la ECC (External Communications Coordinator) et elle est du chapitre d'Halifax. Ensemble, nous gardons tous les chapitres canadiens impliques et mise à jour avec ce qui se produit dans le Canada et même dehors le Canada. Nous aimerons recevoir les messages blog à propos des choses intéressants qui arrive dans vos chapitres, les idées qui fonctionnent et tout le reste. Nous sommes excités pour une année magnificente!

CanExUs 2015 Applications are NOW AVAILABLE!

Hi JB Canada!

We are so very please to present you with the 2015 CanExUs Applications. This JB North program aims at creating connections between Canada, the USA and Mexico, and fostering those connections. This neighbourhood workshop is the perfect opportunity to learn things that will help your chapters as well as JB Canada as a whole.

The program is held December 28th, 2015 January 2nd, 2016 in Dallas, Texas.

Find the application file here!

Everything is due Friday, October 21st, SO HURRY!

____________________

Salut JB Canada!

Nous nous réjouissons de vous présenter aujourd'hui les dossiers de candidature pour CanExUs 2015. Ce programme de JB North vise à créer des liens entre le Canada, les États-Unis et le Mexique, et de promouvoir ces liens. Cet atelier organisé par le neighbourhood est une opportunité sans pareil pour pouvoir apprendre des choses qui serviront à votre chapitre comme à JB Canada au complet. 

Le programme se tiendra du 28 décembre 2015 au 2 janvier 2016 à Dallas au Texas.

Vous trouverez les formulaires requis ici!

Le tout est dû pour le vendredi 21 octobre, alors DÉPÊCHEZ-VOUS!

Carlo & François