A free workshop on immigration law for live-in caregivers sponsored by the Community Connections Society of Southeast B.C. will take place on Saturday, Sept. 25.

The presenter at the workshop is Chi Lee, who has a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Victoria and currently works as the legal advocate at the West Coast Domestic Workers Association, a non-profit organization that provides free immigration and employment advice and representation for live-in caregivers in B.C.

The workshop will take place from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. followed by a half hour question and answer period and then between 1 and 4 p.m. there will be private client consultation. The workshop will take place at Child Care Resource and Referral (20 12 Avenue North in the Safeway parking lot). To register or for more information call Mila at 250-426-2943.

As legal advocate, Lee assists live-in caregivers with correspondence to immigration on family misrepresentations, unauthorized work and re-entries in the Live-In Caregiver Program. She also provides travelling clinics and public legal education seminars for migrant workers in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna, Kamloops, throughout the Lower Mainland and now Cranbrook.

The Immigration Law for Live-in Caregivers free workshop is funded by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.

There is also a Settlement Services program locally for new immigrants to the East Kootenay. It aims to help newcomers learn about community services and receive information on housing, banking, library services, recreation, employment, volunteer opportunities, public transportation and schools.

Its services include document assistance, cross cultural awareness, basic interpretation and translation and support in various other categories.

The program is looking for volunteers to do English tutoring, interpreting/translating, special events and fundraising and host/friendship families.

Settlement Services is located at 32 13th Avenue South and its hours of operation 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and on Friday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information on Settlement Services, call 250-426-2943, or e-mail mila-cwrs@shaw.ca.