B.C. EVENTS: For the week of Saturday, February 8

(These are FREE listings. Submit your event / announcement at EditorVoice@gmail.com in typed format as early in the week as possible. No posters please.)

Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen: Annual Valentines Event

Guru Nanak’s Free Kitchen (GNFK) is holding its annual Valentines event to empower women in need on Sunday, February 9, 2-4 p.m. at Sukh Sagar Gurudwara located at 347 Wood Street, New Westminster. This year GNFK has set a goal of handing out 500 care packages to women shelters, transition homes and second stage homes all over the Lower Mainland. They will be accepting donations of toothbrushes, toothpastes, socks, gloves, underwear. Cash donations will also be accepted up to February 9. To donate, you can contact GNFK at 778-320-6038 or 778-789-6558 / email: gurunanaksfreekitchen@gmail.com. Website: www.gnfk.org

South Asian Adults / Seniors: Musical Chairs Game

Vedic Seniors Parivar Center of Vedic Hindu Cultural Society Surrey invites South Asian adults, seniors as well as non-members to join them for a musical chair game on Sunday, February 9, 2-3:30 p.m., at Shanti Niketan Hall of Lakshmi Narayan Temple, 8321 140th Street, Surrey. Contact Surendra Handa, organizer, at 604-507-9945 for further details.

Education Session for South Asian Families on Dementia

Alzheimer Society of B.C. is offering a free education session in Punjabi for area family members who are caring for a person with dementia. Dementia Dialogues Understanding Dementia runs on Thursday, February 13. Dementia Dialogues are unique interactive learning opportunities. With the help of a facilitator, participants connect with one another and increase their knowledge about dementia and caregiving skills. The workshop runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Fraser Alzheimer Resource Centre, 201 – 15127 100th Avenue. Pre-registration is required by calling the South Asian Dementia Helpline at 1-833-674-5003. If you are living with dementia or have questions about the disease, visit www.alzheimerbc.org.

Free Family Caregiver Series on Alzhemier

Coming to Surrey, starting on February 22 for three consecutive Saturdays, the free Family Caregiver Series offered by the non-profit Alzheimer Society of B.C. provide basic information about the disease for family members who are caring for a person living with dementia. The sessions offer practical techniques and strategies that caregivers can begin using immediately. Sessions also offer insight into planning for the future and self-care for caregivers. The series run February 22 and 29 and March 7 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Guildford Seniors Village, 14568 104A Avenue. Pre-registration is required by contacting 604-449-5000 or info.southfraser@alzheimerbc.org. If you are living with dementia or have questions about the disease, visit www.alzheimerbc.org and call the First Link Dementia Helpline at 1-800-936-6033 (English), 1-833-674-5007 (Cantonese and Mandarin) or 1-833-674-5003 (Punjabi).

ESSW Program MOSAIC

The ESSW is a unique program available for vulnerable newcomer immigrant women living in the Surrey area. Sometimes, the settlement process can be hard on families, and newcomer women may find themselves faced with challenges and/or in an unhealthy relationship. A Woman’s Support Worker can provide: * Basic counselling support, information and orientation * Monthly educational workshops * Information on rights * Referrals to Community Services Call if: * You are a newcomer woman in the Surrey area * You want to learn about your rights in Canada * You want to increase your ability to function in the community. Weekly Sessions for Women – Every Tuesday 1- 2 p.m. Educational and Informative Weekly Sessions for Women by ESSW: * Information on Rights in Canada * Relationship Dynamics * Settlement Support * Safety Planning * Building Confidence. Monthly Workshops: deliberately designed workshops for women with guest presenters: * February 13, Thursday, 12:30-2 p.m.: Learn Your Legal Rights in Canada: Immigration Law and Concerns. * March 12, Thursday, 12:30- 2 p.m.: Family Law and Legal Advice. * April 8, Wednesday, 12:30-2 p.m.: MCFD: Role and Support. For registration, call or e-mail Shivani at 778-591-9334, ext.193 / sraheja@mosaicbc.org. Location: #200-7134 King George Boulevard, Surrey.

Punjabi Language Celebration                                                                                                                     

Punjabi Language Education Association’s (PLEA) in partnership with Deepak Binning Foundation and Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU): 17th Annual International Mother Language Day on Sunday, February 23, 1:30-4 p.m. Location: Spruce Building Atrium – KPU, 12666 72nd Avenue, Surrey. Discussions: Ongoing efforts to promote Punjabi Language education in BC. * Young Punjabi learners will share poetry, songs and stories. * PLEA will honour individuals for their important role in promoting Punjabi language education. * PLEA invites everyone to come and be part of the annual celebration of our mother tongue Punjabi. Free event with refreshments. For more information, contact: Balwant Sanghera at 604-836-8976, Sadhu Binning at 778 – 773 – 1886 or Paul Binning at 778-889-8255.

Surrey Board of Trade: Surrey Police Transition Update

With Keynote Speaker, Wally Oppal, Chair of the Surrey Police Transition Task Force. With a Provincial Task Force in charge of the proposed Surrey police transition, Surrey’s business community will hear a progress update on Wednesday, February 26, 7:30-9:30 a.m. (Program begins at 8 a.m.) Location: Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel, 15269 104th Avenue, Surrey. Pre-registration required for admission. To register for this Surrey Hot Topic Dialogue, go to  https://business.businessinsurrey.com/events/details/february-26-2020-surrey-police-transition-update-10881 or call the Surrey Board of Trade at 604-581-7130.

Free Journalism Workshops for New Immigrants

At MOSAIC, March 14, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. New Canadian Media (NCM) will be offering free journalism workshops to new immigrants interested in learning how their stories can be published in Canada’s ethnic and mainstream media outlets. These free professional development workshops will be offered in Vancouver on March 14. Each workshop will feature three sessions facilitated by seasoned journalists from an immigrant background and will consist of a lecture combined with class discussion and an opportunity to get some mentoring. The lectures will focus on the following topics: * What Makes Canadian Journalism Different. * Giving Voice to the Voiceless: Advanced Reporting * Moving the needle through commentary: Advanced Opinion writing. To register for workshops go to https://newcanadianmedia.ca/events/ncm-the-walrus-professional-development-series-for-immigrant-journalists/. As part of the registration process, you will be required to submit a story pitch on one of the following themes, examining them through an immigrant lens: * Family reunification * Political engagement * Canada: Preserving bilingualism + advancing multiculturalism * Settlement agencies /integration * Foreign credential recognition. For enquiries, email events@newcanadianmedia.com.

(For more events, visit the “Events” section of our website at voiceonline.com)