Who we are?
The Venezuelan Canadian Association of Calgary (VCAC) is, a volunteer-based charity organization. We are devoted to serving our community.
To fulfill its purposes and objective, the VCAC undertakes advancement of education activities, humanitarian activities by providing basic necessities of life for people in need, and also provide advancing the Public‘s appreciation of the arts by organizing cultural events to enrich the lives of all the members of the Calgarian community.
Mission
To contribute, build, and develop educational, charitable and social programs and cultural events to promote the union and growth of ours communities.
Vision
To continue assisting the Hispanic and Venezuelan community in Calgary and the surrounding area, as well as to become known as the organisation that provides the best service to the neighbourhood by implementing programmes for education, integration, and culture to improve the lives of all Calgary residents.
Mandate
The Venezuelan Canadian Association of Calgary (VCAC) was established on May 31, 2000, under Alberta’s non-profit legislation to support the Hispanic community, with special emphasis on newcomers. Twenty-one years later, on October 27, 2021, VCAC obtained charitable status under the Charities Registration Act.
As a charitable organization, we are determined to continue supporting our community and collaborating with other private and governmental entities. In this regard, we continue to work towards our goal of improving and expanding our current programs, such as English Classes for Seniors, English Classes for Adults, Spanish Classes for English Speakers, Parents and Grandparents Club, Excellence in Education Scholarships, Pasos de Venezuela, and the Mentorship Program.
We also promote our Hispanic folklore with two annual events, such as Picnic con Los Panas, the Venezuelan Festival, the Venezuelan Culture Days, and our Bazar Navideno Arts and Crafts Festival.
Purposes/Objectives
Purposes/Objectives
Relief of Poverty
- The VCAC association’s purpose is to focus on providing help to people who have little or no income. Relieving poverty in countries in need by providing medicines, medical and surgical material, food, and monetary support to those requiring expensive medical tests or treatments. It is possible through the Humanitarian Program: Together We Can Help
- Helping newcomers and community members in need by providing mattresses, kitchen items, dining furniture, living furniture, winter clothes, winter boots, children’s clothes. The VCAC has a humanitarian program called One Help for One Necessity.
Advancement of Education
- Providing English Classes for Seniors is part of the VCAC educational program. The English classes for seniors have been designed to teach the vocabulary required to overcome the English language barrier.
- Providing English classes to help refugees to settle in Canada.
- To advance education by teaching Spanish classes to the Calgarian Community interested in learning the Spanish language.
- Supporting new immigrants and refugees with job-readiness and life skills training through our Professional Mentorship Program, employment-related skills, workshops, and personal tutorials to learn the techniques required to find a job in their area of expertise.
- The VCAC is helping the Latin senior community through the Parents and Grandparents Club who face disadvantages with social isolation and support them to become established in Canada due to their lack of English skills.
- The VCAC provides educational awards(scholarship) to encourage academic excellence.
- To advance the public’s appreciation of the arts:
- Providing instructional dance classes of the Venezuelan Folklore through Pasos de Venezuela Dance Group to educate the public about the Venezuelan culture.
- Producing: “The Venezuelan Culture Days” consists of educating the public by showing multiple Venezuelan culture expressions.