Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Category Archives: Health & Wellness


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Get ready for Vancouver’s biggest job fair – April 11

MOSAIC job fair

At a job fair it’s important to dress the part to make a good first impression. Visit the Vancouver Northeast WorkBC Employment Services Centre ahead of time to find tips on writing resumes and cover letters, and interview and networking skills.

MOSAIC is hosting its 6th Annual Career & Job Fair on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 from 10 am to 4 pm at the Croatian Cultural Centre located at 3250 Commercial Drive.

Career fairs offer job seekers a unique opportunity to meet employers face-to-face, create a positive impression, and make meaningful personal connections that are impossible when submitting a resume online.

Here are some tips on how to connect effectively with employers and get the most out of a job fair.

Before the job fair

  • Determine which of the businesses participating in the fair match your career objective. Make a list of your target employers based on their needs and your skills and interests.
  • Visit the websites of participating employers you have pre-selected to find out about their job opportunities and company culture. The research will help you figure out if the company is a good match for you.
  • Use the information from your research to develop a list of questions you’d like to ask employers. Employers are looking to hire people who are polite, proactive and equipped with a positive attitude and good listening skills. Stand out from the crowd by asking thoughtful, smart questions. Don’t ask questions for which the answers are readily available online.
  • Prepare your resume and make sure that you have plenty of copies ready. Prepare different versions of resumes tailoring each to a targeted employer and career objective.
  • Most employers prefer that you apply online before the job fair. It also allows you to cast a wider net, as many companies are hiring for a variety of positions at multiple locations and this way your application will be seen by more hiring managers within the company.

Furthermore, by taking the extra step in preparing for the job fair, it shows prospective employers your commitment and interest in working at their company. This does not mean that you are wasting your time by attending the job fair; employer representatives are taking note of candidates they are interested in, so be sure you make a good first impression.

  • Come prepared. Bring a simple notepad and pen to take notes and a folder to keep your resumes organized and ready to hand out.
  • Visit the Vancouver Northeast WorkBC Employment Services Centre to find tip sheets or workshops on topics such as resume and cover letter skills, interview skills and networking skills to help you prepare with putting your best foot forward.
  • Prepare a 20- to 30-second introduction to use with employers. The introduction should be a concise and well-presented message that quickly provides just enough information about you to generate the listener’s interest and attention, and set the stage for meaningful conversation.

At the job fair

  • Dress the part. First impressions are important and send an immediate message regarding how serious you are in your job search. Clothing should be clean and pressed; business casual is appropriate for most jobs.
  • Take time to interact with the employers you’ve targeted. Deliver your resume and take the time to make a positive first impression on the employer by showing interest in their needs.
  • To appear confident and knowledgeable about the company, demonstrate your knowledge by asking questions that are specific to a position or department you’re interested in. Tell the employer how your skill-set matches their requirements.
  • Watch your body language. A firm handshake and eye contact are important. Good manners are critical to making a good impression; employers always appreciate someone who is dedicated, conscientious and attentive.
  • Be friendly and stay on topic. Job fairs can be noisy, so speak clearly and with confidence.
  • After talking to each representative, ask for a business card and use the back of the card to record notes to help you remember important details and follow-up instructions. If no card is available, record their contact information and your comments in your notepad.

 After the job fair

  • Follow up with thank you notes or emails a day or two after the job fair. Thank the employers for taking the time to meet with you, review key points from your conversation and add any new information. Don’t forget to attach your resume and follow up a week or two later to see if opportunities are available for you within their organization.

For more information on how to prepare for a job fair or other job search tips and information please contact the Vancouver Northeast WorkBC Employment Services Centre at 604-708-9300 or visit www.employmentworks.ca


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March is Nutrition Month: Take the Fight Out of Food

BY ANGELINA LAM, HELEN YEUNG AND KATHY ROMSES

NutritionMonth-2017-eng

Are you constantly confused about what to eat because of all the information out there or simply having a hard time keeping up with the newest food trend? Each year, Dietitians of Canada leads a campaign in March called Nutrition Month. This year, celebrate with dietitians to Take the Fight Out of Food! Spot the problem. Get the facts. Seek support.

The goals of Nutrition Month are to provide nutrition information you can trust, help debunk fad diets and identify nutrition myths. With the support from dietitians, enjoying food, eating healthily and working on problems with food will be easier.

By participating in Nutrition Month, individuals will develop skills to make healthful food choices that are more sustainable and to become more confident in problem-solving food issues. Each week of March focuses on a different topic such as fad diets, digestive problems, picky eating, eating and stress, and managing a health condition.

Visit the website www.nutritionmonth2017.ca to find resources, recipes and phone apps featured along with each topic to make it easier to participate.

Why not get started now with one of the featured recipes for Nutrition Month.

Avocado, Roasted Squash and Black Bean Tacos

Makes 4 servings. Recipe by Avocados from Mexico

1 Butternut squash (approx. 1.3kg/ 2.9lb) 1
2 tbsp Olive oil 30 mL
¼ tsp Salt 1 mL
¼ tsp Fresh ground pepper 1 mL
2 tsp Sumac (or paprika) 10 mL
½ tbsp Olive oil 7 mL
1 Garlic clove, finely minced 1
1 Can (540 mL) black beans, rinsed & drained 1
1 tsp Ground cumin 5 mL
½ tsp Chili powder 2 mL
½ tsp Salt 2 mL
8-10 Corn tortillas 8-10
1 Avocado from Mexico, diced 1
½ cup Feta cheese, crumbled 125 mL
  Fresh cilantro, hot sauce and lime quarters, to serve  

Recipe tip: For seasonal ingredients, such as butternut squash, be creative and substitute it with other starchy vegetables like yams, which are available all year round.

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Peel the squash and cut it in two. Remove the seeds and stringy fibres, and dice the squash.

Step 2

Arrange the squash pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil, add salt and pepper, and sprinkle with sumac or paprika. Roast for 25 minutes.

Step 3

In a small saucepan, sauté ½ tbsp olive oil and the minced garlic over low to medium heat. Add the black beans, ground cumin, chili powder, salt and ¼ cup of water. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for approximately 5 minutes or until the beans are well heated and soft (but not dry).

Step 4

In a hot pan, heat the tortillas for a few minutes, or microwave them for 20 seconds. Cover with a clean cloth to prevent them from drying out.

Step 5

Top the tortillas with roasted squash, black beans, avocado and feta. Serve with fresh cilantro, hot sauce and lime quarters.

Visit the website www.nutritionmonth2017.ca for more nutrition resources, recipes and tools to help celebrate Nutrition Month!

Angelina Lam is a University of BC dietetic intern. Helen Yeung and Kathy Romses are public health dietitians with Vancouver Coastal Health.

Copyright (c) 2017 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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Multinational corporation pays $15 a day for Hope water

BY CINDY CHEN, JESSICA SUN AND ALYSSA YAN

The earth’s surface is covered by 70% water. Only 3% is fresh water,and less than 1% is accessible for personal uses.

How would you feel about a brand name company being able to access your water supply in the middle of a drought, while withdrawing the water that you and your community rely on for only a price of $2.25 per one million litres?

You may be familiar with the brand name Nestle, known for their countless products ranging from food to cosmetics. The Switzerland-based company is currently extracting millions of litres of water from Hope, B.C., and profiting through their bottled water industry and much more.

Up until 2016, Nestle has been profiting off our water for free, until they were required to pay $2.25, which only covered their access fee, per every million litres. However, this enormous corporation withdraws millions of litres of water while paying Hope less than $15 a day.

Their plastic water bottles alone are sold around the world and back to the citizens of Hope for over $6 for a pack of 12 bottles. What is supposedly a human right for everyone is being taken by large corporations like Nestle, and sold back to us without us even considering where the water comes from or why we buy it.

Troubled by this, a group of 30 youth is taking action and raising awareness for this problem through social media, newsletters, petitions, videos and more. By doing this, we hope Nestle will stop stealing our water and take responsibility of the damages they have created on Hope.

Cindy Chen, Jessica Sun and Alyssa Yan are Grade 11 students in the Leadership program at Windermere Secondary. Cindy enjoys learning about social justice and sustainability. Jessica is passionate about environmental sustainability and social rights. Alyssa is dedicated to giving back to her community through volunteering ranging from organizing community events to teaching kids piano.

Copyright (c) 2017 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News