Staff Feature – Multicultural Connections Program
July 30, 2021
Lisa Ward, our Multicultural Connections Program Coordinator, has been with TRCA since 2008. She goes above and beyond in her commitment to delivering quality programming that is engaging and informative.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020, Lisa has delivered 217 online presentations to 3,840 newcomer participants. This is a huge accomplishment given the work required to coordinate with centres and to transition all programming to a virtual format.
TRCA’s Multicultural Connections Program (MCP) staff deliver environmental programming to new Canadians at their English Language Learning Centres/Schools in Peel, Toronto and York Region.
Topics include Pollinators in the Garden, Indigenous Peoples in Canada, The Value of Water, and more. In addition, MCP engages newcomers at cultural and faith events, as well as providing transportation subsidies for field trips to TRCA parks.
Engaging new Canadians in their local natural environment fosters a conservation ethic and helps newcomers better understand their new home and how to help protect the environment.
While we look forward to the time when we can once again deliver in-person presentations, MCP is proud to be able to offer these online presentations, and to have had such a great response and demand for Lisa’s wonderful programs.
Lisa consistently receives glowing feedback from administrative staff, teachers and students. Thank you, Lisa, for all your wonderful work engaging newcomers in these important environmental topics.
Sample Feedback
“This presentation by Lisa was like a breath of fresh air: organized, helpful to have the lesson & vocabulary beforehand. Lisa spoke clearly & slowly for the English language learners and repeated or explained terms in a simple way for them to understand, the visuals were great, and such an important topic that many of us take for granted. I know that the ESL students got a lot out of it & so did I.” — ESL instructor at the Newmarket Welcome Centre, May 2021
“This presentation was the best ever. Even though I’m not a native speaker, I could fully understand because of your moderate speed of speaking and you pronounce so clearly. I learned from this presentation about biodiversity, the importance of pollinators and it also changed my perception of bees. It makes me interested in the natural world.” — Feedback from student