magma's cultural chords

MAGMA’S CULTURAL CHORDS

FALL 2014

A TIME OF THANKS

Thanksgiving is one of our favourite times of year, and as we gathered together we took time to cele-brate the loved ones and the opportunities that have come our way—especially those that have

come through our new friends and family from around the world.

Like us, our children are given a unique opportunity to gain insights and perspectives that are rare in Greater Moncton, and we count ourselves amongst the fortunate that have careers that make a true difference in our local community and across the globe. And so we sit and feast together, we remember what an unusual privilege that is as well and share the home-cooked meals from our

many countries.

We’d also like to take this time of year to extend our thanks to all of you who as MAGMA’s many friends, clients, volunteers and supporters have made our work possible, and hope your

Thanksgiving has been just as rewarding as ours.

A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT PAUL VAUTOUR

Please allow me to extend my warmest best wishes for peace and tranquility for the upcoming holiday

season to our staff and clients. I truly believe this is the aspiration of people from all religious faiths.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Board of Directors who have been working tirelessly in

the background to resolve challenges, and I look forward to working with them in setting the vision and

policies for MAGMA as we move forward. In particular we will be engaging the staff to share their views

and input directly with us through a Human Resources Committee that will help in meeting with them and

the managers early in the new year.

I would also like to share the exciting news that our Executive Director, Tradina Meadows-Forgeron, has had the great fortune to be

successful in adopting not one but two babies! The twins, who are six months old, have already arrived, meaning Tradina is now

taking some well-earned maternity leave. We wish you and your husband all the best with your new family members, and we know

that Chad will prove to be an excellent big brother. You’ve left us with some big shoes to fill while you’re away!

FUN TIMES AT MAGICAL ZOMBIE CAT APOCALYPSE

M A G M A ’ S C U L T U R A L C H O R D S

H A L L O W E E N

Imagine your first Halloween. You’ve never heard of the festival, and your culture doesn’t have legends about zombies or were-wolves, and it’s your first month in Canada. You’re dropping your child of at the daycare on the way through to your morning English class and you’re greeted at the door by fortune-telling gypsy, a Raggedy-Anne doll and a 6-foot crayon. You run to class seeking safety, only to find your teacher is a brain-eating demonic angel. The whole building seems overrun with zombies, witches, cats and tattooed punks, and only Peter Pan seems here to rescue you. Luckily, at MAGMA we actually give fair warning. Oh, and candy.

THANKSGRADUPOTLUCK


C U L T U R A L A S S O C I A T I O N S P O T L U C K

What do you get when you cross Thanksgiving with language class graduation ceremony and a cultural associations potluck dinner? It’s...Thanksgradupotluck! We’re hoping the term catches on, but even if it doesn’t it was a night like no other.

To kick things off, families from dozens of local ethnocultural associations turned up in traditional clothing, bringing home-cooked tastiness for all to share.

Next our hard-working students from our regular language classes got to take to the stage and re-ceived well-earned certificates as they moved up through the levels and improved their ability to communicate with friends, neighbours and colleagues.

A big thanks to all the teachers for their continued commitment to helping our students grow!

Then the entertainment began, though not for the faint of heart!

The Indo-Canadians got the audience up on stage for a Punjabi festival dance called dandiya raas where participants spin and twirl while rhythmically clacking brightly-decorated sticks together, carefully coordi-nating to avoid each other’s fingers and knuckles. Well, theoretically anyway...

The entertainment continued with an impromptu set of songs from a young member of the Romanian community, singing enchanting traditional a cappella tunes.

Well, by that time you’d finished the openers and entrées and you need to hunt down some exotic desserts you’ve never tried. Surely there’s room in your stomach...

Even the youngest were fully entertained, from face-painting to a “know your flags” quiz with prizes for their best guessing! A truly wonderful night, and thanks to all the chefs, volunteers and crew involved.

SEND YOUR TASTEBUDS ON A JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD!


F U N D R A I S E R S

In the classic Around the World in 80 Days, author Jules Verne describes Phileas Fogg’s incredible journey through many countries and cultures in his race to traverse the globe. Fogg, a stodgy Briton and a slave to routine, would eat nothing other than his regular British meals. Here at MAGMA, we know how much he missed out on.

We have clients arriving from the four corners of the earth, bringing not only their clothing, art and songs, but also perhaps the most delightful aspect of their culture—their mouth-watering food!

From subtly-herbed soups and delicate desserts to fiery curries and succulent spiced meats, they bring the world to our taste buds. So allow us the pleasure of sharing the experience with you and presenting the meals that Phileas Fogg so foolishly declined on his legendary trip as we go around the world in 80 dishes.

So if you’re in the mood for something different or just looking for a unique Christmas gift, drop by MAGMA and pick up a copy for just $20!

Trust us—we know. The MAGMA potlucks are the stuff of legend. Your taste buds will be glad you picked up a copy, and your next dinner party will be the envy of all.

THIRTY DAYS HAS NOVEMBER...


F U N D R A I S E R S

If international cuisine isn’t your choice of stocking stuffer, fear not! Thanks to the photographic excellence of Stephen Conrad and the graphic design labours of cookbook-creator Joanna Gorczynska you can bring home a year of multiculturalism with the MAGMA calendar.

From winter fun to summer scorchers, share a year of fun with us for just $10 apiece!

MAGMA’S GETTING CRAFTY

With our creations printed and ready, MAGMA took to the Turner’s Craft Fair at the Moncton Coliseum to sell our wares. As the knitters, quilters, cooks and artisans descended on the dozens of booths they couldn’t help but stop and pick up a copy (or two!) of our new calen-dars and cookbooks, hot off the press.

Sales were brisk, and on returning more than a few of the remaining copies were picked up by MAGMA staff and clients who are heading back to their home countries for the holidays and found these to be ideal gifts for the folks back home.

“Great art is like great cooking; it can be tasted, but not explained.” ~Maurice de Vlaminck~

AN APPLE A DAY KEEPS THE BOREDOM AWAY

PAGE 6 M A G M A ’ S C U L T U R A L C H O R D S

S C H O O L & Y O U T H

When you’re young, the answer to many of life’s big questions can of-ten be found up a tree. The view’s great, you get a whole new perspective on things, and you’ve had to struggle and overcome fear to get there. Plus, if you pick the right tree, there are literally the sweet

fruits of victory to be savoured.

The first brisk bite of fall weather inevitably leads to a MAGMA apple-picking excursion, where we get to bite back! Our clients got to experience the true Canadian fall experience of picking fresh apples right from the tree and then turning it into a range of simple, tasty

dishes.

Our clients’ first fall season is always special as they get to experience a true change of seasons and watch the leaves turn into vibrant golds

and vermilions, all while getting the brisk reminder of winter on its way.

It’s also a great time to talk about dressing for the cooling weather and having the right boots for the increasingly messy walk to and from

MAGMA.

But most of all it’s about feeling brave, getting up into the high branches and getting those hard-to-get delicious treasures to take

home.


S C H O O L & Y O U T H

HEALTHY STARTS AT HOME

You’ve got your healthy activity routine, you know the right foods to eat and you’re making sure you’re a good example to the kids of a

balanced lifestyle with a solid base of nutrition.

But what if all that changes? You’re in a new country, you don’t recognize any of the local foods and the local sports and activities are literally foreign to you. Imagine how easy it is to fall into bad

habits and let things slide.

That’s where the Healthy Together program kicks in. Aimed at families, it’s designed to teach and promote cooking and physical activities that can be done as a whole family. In keeping with the old adage of “the family that plays together stays together,” it brings parents and kids together in the kitchen, in the back yard

and at the park, building confidence, health and family unity.

First rule? No equipment required. Everything needs to be simple, quick, easy and inexpensive. So this program’s kick-ing it old school, with dance parties, duck duck goose and

musical chairs. Inside, outside, fast fun and active.

The key is it’s got to be something you love doing. As we all know, if exercise and cooking is a chore we tend to avoid it, but when it’s the most fun way you can imagine spending time with your family then it’s something you find time for every

single day.

Winter? No problems. If they’ve never seen a snowflake it seems impossible to imagine playing in six feet of snow, but that’s exactly what they learn to do—it’s time for snowmen and snow forts! Bounding through the drifts is the best possi-ble exercise and perfect for chasing away the winter blues. Just make sure you’re dressed warmly, which reminds me...this is called a “toque”, and this is a scarf, these are

boots...

Then finally it’s back to the kitchen to chop and dice fast and nutritious meals from fruit salad to tortilla wraps. Our good hosts at Atlantic Superstore guided the group through the Canadian culinary avenues they never knew existed, arriving at last at some tasty solutions to “I’m hungry but we’re in a

hurry.”

Families connected, nutritious meals eaten, fun activities

shared all day—I guess it’s time to talk about “sleep patterns”!

Make A Connection

Change A Life

WWW. M AGM A -AM GM. ORG 22 Church St Suite C170 Moncton NB E1C 0P7

If you’re looking for a life-enriching experience, we

have a unique opportunity designed to open the

door to new horizons right here in your local com-

munity.

For over 30 years, the Multicultural Association of

the Greater Moncton Area has been helping new-

comers from around the world become a success-

fully integrated part of our local community.

For that, we need you. Volunteers form the back-

bone of our support services, giving both the new-

comers and the community members a chance to

learn from each other.

B e th e D i f f e ren ce I n the L i f e o f a Ne w A r r i va l

Our Family Connections Program volunteers are the

centre to their success, pairing with families for a full

year to be there for them as a friend, advisor and source

of

encouragement.

Whether you’re a dedicated individual, a settled couple

whose children have long since left the nest or a young

family looking to expose their children to a larger view of

the world, we work to find the ideal match for you.

So if you’re up to this incredibly rewarding challenge,

then please get in touch with our Community Connec-

tions

Coordinator here at MAGMA:

Rachel Dimanche

Ph.: 858-9659 Ext 2260

Email: [email protected]

F a mi l y C onn ec t i on s P r og r am

READY FOR THE WORLD


P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T

In Canada, what does it take to have a great Interview? What do you do if you disagree with your boss’ opinion? How do you get

ahead? What makes a résumé really stand out? How do you access financing to get your fledgling enterprise up and running?

If you’re born and raised locally you’ve learned these rules (sometimes the hard way!), but what if you’re coming from a country where respect, excellence and teamwork all have a different approach? MAGMA’s professional language courses are designed to fill these gaps, and through the Professional English Language Training (PELT) and Business English Start-up Training (BEST) courses we make sure that highly-skilled professionals and newcomer business owners are set up with everything they need to bring their skills,

experience and capital to add to the Greater Moncton economy.

After months of training, the graduation ceremony brings them all together for one last celebration with certificates proudly in hand.

Congratulations to all our graduates, and to the course instructors and coordinators Julien, Amelia, Kari and Justin.

Now it’s time to do it all again! If you’re interested in learning the language and approaches for employees or entrepreneurs, contact

us at [email protected].


C O M M U N I T Y P A R T N E R S H I P S

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS THANKS TO MOORE’S

There’s nothing like looking sharp to give you the edge you need for success. Whether getting your first job interview, visiting financiers for your start-up enterprise or nervously picking up your date for the prom, the classic suit and tie look never goes out of style (well, except the big paisley ties and ruffle-front shirts, but then again fashion has a

funny way of coming back around).

Fortunately MAGMA was once again the local recipient of the Moore’s Clothing Suit Drive, giving us the chance to have our clients look the part. So on behalf of all our newly haute-couture clients, a huge thanks goes out to the community for their generosity in providing new and gently-used suits and to Moore’s for organizing such a critical

campaign.


V O I C E O F A G E S

RIDE FOR THEIR LIVES!

Any parent can only imagine what it’s like to wonder if their child will live the night, and yet having your son or daughter diag-nosed with juvenile diabetes means a constant regime of waking little ones and testing their blood sugar to make sure

they don’t lapse into a coma, or worse.

In a time of life meant to be free of care, this life-changing condition means that everything they eat or drink, every bit of

exercise has to be measured, controlled and thought about.

The good news is we believe a cure is close, and so MAGMA partnered with dozens of other local community partners to take part in the annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

(JDRF) Ride for the Cure.

With this in mind, five of MAGMA’s fittest, bravest and most committed talked another five of MAGMA’s most gullible into mounting stationary bikes and furiously pedalling themselves into panting buckets of sweat as they chased eternal glory (and

cookies).

With hundreds of dollar raised by MAGMA to add to the tens of thousands contributed through the Moncton campaign the day was a huge success. Once again our enthusiastic clients sealed the deal on the Spirit Award, cheering and singing as the urged on our dedicated team. Our Good Sport award goes to HR Coordinator Claudine Landry, who was “jailed” and had to call friends and family to bail herself out, adding hundreds more to

the pot!

For over 30 years, MAGMA has existed for just one reason: to

welcome newcomers. Here, in their new home, they can strive to

achieve their dreams of success, freedom and security.

At no cost, MAGMA aids in all aspects of settlement, including

assisting with:

locating and settling into their new homes and schools;

securing a job, learning a trade or practising a profession;

learning English or French; and

connecting with support agencies and health care

professionals.

MAGMA is there with the advice, training and support needed to

bring their skills and culture to add to the rich fabric of our society.

Peace Centre

22 Church St

Suite C170

Moncton, NB

E1C 07P

1 (506) 858-9659

www.magma-amgm.org

Email: [email protected]

PAGE 12

BRINGING THE WORLD TO GREATER MONCTON


M U S I C A L C O N N E C T I O N S

We often celebrate musical instruments from around the world, but with this season of Thanksgiving in Canada and the US we decided to stay close to home and look at

instruments from the native inhabitants of North America.

While a huge variety of drums, rattles and other percussion instruments exist for every imaginable kind of ceremony and celebration, for this edition we’ve chosen the beautifully-carved flutes that reflect the natural world

around their makers.

Many stories exist on their creation, but our favourite is that hungry woodpeckers made holes in a tree to search for termites, and then the wind blew through the branches making beautiful music and inspiring the native people to

carve out the first flutes.

INSTRUMENT OF THE MONTH—NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE

Their two-chamber design gives them a distinctive sound, with the slow-air chamber adding extra resonance to the sound. Some go further with their design are those that create a “warbling” effect, which sounds like the flute is switching back and forth between the

two notes but is in fact different harmonic components of the same note dominating at one time, then quickly subsiding again.

Together with their percussive cousins and group vocalization, the flutes come together with the slow, steady beats that usual begin

the music, rising in a rapid crescendo to the song’s climax and giving us one of the true cultural hallmarks of North America.

magma's cultural chords

Documents