TFC vs. Montreal

Lacrosse, Toronto Rock Game

Wintegration- OLI Dance Concert

Sexual Integrity Workshop by Pregnancy Care Center

Thanks CultureLink for Wintegration!

Watching a hip hop performance at Koerner Hall, Mar 1, 2014, Thanks to Kids Up Front

The Wintegration Youth program is a great place with a lot of opportunities. Here you can practice your language, find a lot of new friends, learn new things about sports, and so on. You can also try our different sports, or get to watch how professionals do it. Also, you get the opportunity to earn volunteering hours while having fun and learning.

Learning boxing and leadership skills with MJKO Boxing in Feb 2014, thanks to ParticipAction

For kids who are new in Canada, it's the right place to start your Canadian life, because our group is very friendly and we are always happy to see new faces in our family. Also here you can find a lot of new information for your future life, and some advice about education and health. And here, you can start to do your volunteer hours.

Trying out something new all the time - Dance session on Sep 19, 2013

When I came to the Culturelink’s Wintegration Youth program, I was a very shy person because I felt that my English wasn't good enough for me to speak with people, but I quickly realised that you need to speak in order to improve your language. Also, this program helped me to learn about Toronto and different places here. For example we went to visit a farm, had a fun day in wonderland, watched games at the Air Canada Centre, visited parks and so on. So, we were able to visit a lot of places and all of them were in different locations all over Toronto.

Making friends while having fun! Ice skating at Dufferin Grove Park all winter 2013/2014

I have always loved sports, and this program is exactly suitable for people like me! I always participate in school sports teams because it's fun and also it's very good for me. When I came to Wintegration, I didn't expect that we will have the chance to go to watch games played by Toronto teams like Raptors, Marlies, Rock and etc. I learned a lot of new rules about my favourite sports and also I had chance to see a lacrosse game for the first time! It was an amazing experience for me because I have never heard of this sport before then. I have also never seen a baseball game live, so it was a great chance for me to get to watch a Blue Jay’s game. This is thanks to the partnership between CultureLink and Kids Up Front.

Wonderful opportunities for us to watch different sports! Lacrosse game at Air Canada Centre, Feb 7, 2014

I am very thankful for CultureLink for this amazing program!

Written by: Flyura Zakirova
Edited by: Lynda

Our last skating session this season

Fun skating at Dufferin Grove Park

Last Wednesday, 5th March 2014 we had more one skating program - the last one. We had a lot of fun enjoying the last day, skating and making a "thank you” poster for the staff at Dufferin Grove Park.

Making "thank you" poster for the staff at Dufferin Grove Park

Thanks to staff at Dufferin Grove!

Thank you, Lynda and CultureLink Youth Services for letting us have the opportunity to learn how to skate, and for all the fun we had. All of us are going to miss all of these moments!

Fun Times!

And thank you to all the participants that made this program more fun, and more interesting at the same time!

Thank You Dufferin Grove Park!

Written by: Liliana Matos

Edited by: Young

Hip Hop Dance!

"... a huge Thank You to Kids Up Front for the tickets!" ~Flyura (front left)

On Saturday, March 1st, Kids Up Front gave us, who are in CultureLink’s Wintegration Youth Program, a great opportunity to watch Dr. Rennie Harris's hip hop show called "Rennie Harris Puremovement". All over again, from all of us, a huge Thank You to Kids Up Front for the tickets! We really appreciate this!

"I really enjoyed it, and thanks for the tickets for us to watch!" ~Nic Shaw (2nd from left)

Dance and music is part of our life because if you can't say something in words, you can show that through the emotions of dance and music.

Dancers and musicians are two kinds of artists who always have been one of the most interesting and mysterious people to me, because from simple things they can make something unique and incredible!

"I really liked the last part, cool!!! Thanks for the tickets!" ~ Ryan Wang (left)

I had a great time watching this show, it's actually changed something inside me and also gave me inspiration! I love dance, and I had just started dancing with a hip hop crew. It is a really nice way to show yourself that there are a lot of things that you don't know about your body, and also it's a good way to express your emotions.

Written by: Flyura

Edited by: Young

Peer Leadership Training Games

Last Thursday, 27 February 2014, we had an activity about Peer Leadership Planning at CultureLink.
With this activity, I learnt about what are the qualities and responsibilities a leader need to have.

Planning activities.

"I've learnt that as a peer leader, I have to speak louder so everyone can understand me. I've learnt to explain instructions clearly so my team mates could understand and not make them confused. I've learnt that as peer leaders, we should introduce fun activities so everyone won't be bored. Most of all, I've learnt that good leaders should be responsible, patient, respectful and polite!" ~Shefally Baldemor

Discussing how to be good peer leaders

Enthusiasm, taking the initiative, being calm and speaking clearly are important requisites of being a leader. Also, activities should not be too long, and they should be interesting and not-quiet. It is important to try keep the participants interested in the activities chosen.

Trying out the games

It was very interesting and I enjoyed getting to know everyone better, and find out what we all have in common.

"We always have fun" ~Liliana

I would recommend Wintegration to my friends because I think that we are teaching and learning always. And we have always fun during these activities.

Written by: Liliana Matos
Edited by: Young

Crossfit Training Fun

Wintegration youths at Academy of Lions

On Feb 11, my friends and I went to the Academy of Lions for crossfit training. It was a very great experience for me because I’ve never been to a gym like this. 

"The training was hard but it was fun!" ~Ngawang

The training was so hard but it was fun! I experienced the pain and the spirit of an athlete. I really had a great time.

"I experienced the pain and spirit of an athlete" ~Ngawang

 Thanks CultureLink’s Wintegration Youth Program for this awesome training, and thanks ParticipAction for the opportunity!

Written by: Ngawang Shenphen
Edited by: Young

Watching Toronto Rock -- Our first Lacrosse game!

"A very big thank you to Kids Up Front for the tickets!! We had very awesome seats and I had a great time! And I'm happy because I finally got chance to watch it!" ~Flyura

On February 7, Wintegration program went to watch a lacrosse game between Toronto Rock and Philadelphia Wings! 

"I've never seen this game before..." ~Flyura

"The lacross game was fun! I liked the game, and it was my first time watching this game!" ~Mohammed Yacot

We are very thankful for Kids Up Front for such amazing tickets! We had a good time and also it was very interesting to learn something new about sport. I've never seen this game before and it was a great opportunity for me and my friends to watch this game. Moreover, Toronto's team "Rock" won the game!!!! Also that game inspired me to try to learn how to play lacrosse.  Who knows maybe in the future one of us will play for "Rock"  :)

Written by: Flyura Zakirova
Edited by: Young

"The game was so good .. My first time to watch a lacrosse game .. I wish we can try playing it in CultureLink 'cuz it seems like a very cool game!" ~ Angela

"I had fun, Thanks Kids Up Front!" ~Nic

Playing Captain's Ball

This is the first time I came to CultureLink. My friend recommended the Wintegration Youth Program at CultureLink to me, as she had been there a few times before. I decided to go there with her on February 6.

"My friend (Siran) recommended the Wintegration Program to me" ~ Betty

I met a lots of new friends here, they are from different countries and different schools, and Lynda, the program facilitator, was really nice.

Captain's Ball is a game similar to basketball

At the beginning ,we introduced ourselves, then we played a ball game,we threw the ball to someone and called that person’s name at the same time. It’s a good way to remember each other’s names. Then, we played Captain’s ball, which is a game that is similar to basketball. 




We were divided into two teams. I’m not athletic and I seldom play sports, so I was a little bit scared. Lynda encouraged me and I tried to participate more and to blend in with the others. It was really interesting!

"I am not atheletic (but) I tried to participate more and blend in with the others" ~Betty

I think CultureLink is a good place for me to practice my English, and it also provides opportunities for me to earn volunteer hours. The most important thing is that I can learn how to be more confident and have more experience here.

Written By: Betty Cao
Edited By: Lynda Young

London Road

           

    When I was first told that I could attend to a musical I was intrigued and excited, for I have never attended one before. The location, Bluma Appel Theatre, was also a new to me. These were good news, since I'm not the kind of person who ventures around the city on his own too often, so it seemed like a good way to refresh my mind from after the school exams.

            

Ticket and a preview of the play, London Road. 

    It was Tuesday, January 28th, when I departed from my home, in anticipation of the unknown experience. When I eventually got there, after the enjoyable struggle of navigating a new area, I met with the group, including a few new friends and Lynda. We had to wait for some members of the group, it gave us a nice chance to talk and socialise, something that I appreciated, for it was that day that I took my last two exams, and the day that the exam stress lingered around me the most. After the wait, it was time to venture into what I anticipated the most, the musical. It was called, "London Road". It should have given me a sign that the accent of the English used in the play would be a British accent, but it was still surprising to me. Although it was difficult to understand at first , it quickly became enjoyable. It was definitely something new and different! 

     The musical started on a low note, weird to say the least, but as it went on, it became quite vivid, funny, and deep with thought. The play had a dramatic, somewhat dark theme, yet it carried smiles and laughter. It was funny, while managing to get the seriousness of the theme into my thought. As the mid-break settled in, I was amazed and quite happy about the experience, but it wasn't over, was it? History repeats itself, especially here. The second part continued with the same excitement, laughter, thought. Then it ended with a soft, light, enjoyable note. Indeed something new, but even more, something great as it is new.

          

Culture Link and most of its members who attended, and enjoyed, the play!

              

               Overall, it was a experience that was good as it was new to me. It has opened my eyes to another form of entertainment --- quite good entertainment! I would love to go again, and I will, one day, I will. I must thank Kids Up Front for the opportunity for such an opportunity, for such an experience.

Written by: Jorge Tejeda
Edited by: Young

Ice-skating at Dufferin Grove Park

Every Wednesday in December 2013 and from January til March of 2014, we will be going to Dufferin Grove Park to ice-skate.

"... for many of us, it was the first time on ice!"

Our visit there on December 3rd was our first time there, and for many of us, it was also the first time on ice! Even so, everybody helped each other, so everybody could try it! We also had a small campfire and hot chocolate. Most of the time, we were skating in circles and we had a  great time!

"We had a small campfire and hot chocolate..."

We continue going ice-skating every Wednesday, so that we all can get better.

"We continue going ice-skating... so that we can all get better."
We even got to try out hockey!

In my opinion, it is a good idea to go ice-skating, because many of us cannot skate and it is hard to find a winter sport in the city to stay active in the cold weather. Ice-skating is possible in many cities and it is the perfect to stay active in the long wintertime.

Enjoying snacks and our growing friendship, at Dufferin Grove Park!

Thank you to the wonderfully helpful staff at Dufferin Grove Park!

Written by: Paula Russ

Edited by: Young

Skating Party with Youth Tell, Wintegration and Wintegration Club

On Dec 3, 2013, Youth Tell organised a Skating Party, together with Wintegration youths and the members of Wintegration Club!




Thank you, Playing for Keeps and Toronto Community Foundation for the opportunity, and Dufferin Grove Park for all the support and generosity!

Wintegration Club is a program offered by CultureLink offer welcoming and accessible opportunities for newcomers of all ages to participate in outdoor winter activities and to start developing a healthy habit of staying active year around from the onset of their settlement process. See here for more information on the fun activities!

Our First Ice Hockey Game

Wintegration youth got to watch our first Ice Hockey Game of the year! Thank you Kids Up Front for the opportunity!

Excited to head in to the game!

We got free hats for being early!

“I’m enjoying myself!” ~Matthew

“I had very much fun today! Thank you Kids Up Front!” ~Paula

Wei Ning and Ming Hao enjoying the game!

“The hockey game was cool. It was the first one I’ve seen. “ ~Brandon

“It’s fun watching hockey and I enjoy watching the Marlies win!” ~Kesha
“Thank you so much to Kids Up Front for the tickets to the games. Thanks!” ~Angela Marie