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Who We Are

Our Co-Founder

Our Team

On September 22, 2024, a special event was held in Victoria, BC to recognize the legacy of work done by VICCIR's co-founder, Adrienne Carter.

To view photos from the event, please click on the button below.

Meet The Team

VICCIR Counsellors, Interpreters, & Volunteers

VICCIR has more than 20 counsellors, all of whom are experienced Master's level members of their professional associations. They are from diverse backgrounds, speak several languages, and are specially trained and supervised to meet the specific needs of VICCIR clientele.

 

We also have a team of trained and supervised clinical interpreters, many of whom have lived experience of the issues facing our clients.

 

In addition, we have a growing number of volunteers who assist our clients with a wide range of issues and facilitate the smooth running of the organization.

Board of Directors

Ben Ingham, Chair
Len Wechsler, Treasurer
Adrienne Carter
Robin Pike
Zainab Ibrahim
John Campos
Sarah Hall

VICCIR Counsellors, Interpreters, & Volunteers

VICCIR has more than 20 counsellors, all of whom are experienced Master's level members of their professional associations. They are from diverse backgrounds, speak several languages, and are specially trained and supervised to meet the specific needs of VICCIR clientele.

 

We also have a team of trained and supervised clinical interpreters, many of whom have lived experience of the issues facing our clients.

 

In addition, we have a growing number of volunteers who assist our clients with a wide range of issues and facilitate the smooth running of the organization.

Counsellors, Interpreters
Board of Directors

Rewa Grewal MA, RCC, Counsellor

Paola Soto Flores MSW, RCC, Counsellor

Vahini Govender MC:AT, DVATI, RCC Counsellor and Art Therapist

Panida Pongpanich RCC, Counsellor

Xi Yao Associate Member STIBC Mandarin interpreter

Michael Isaac Tigrinya interpreter

Victoria Grando Ukrainian/Russian Interpreter

Ward Murray CCC, Counsellor

Ward Murray MA, CCC, Counsellor

Gehad Khadr RCC Counsellor

Yiana Belcher RCC, Counsellor

Spohzmay Oriya Dari, Pashto, Farsi Interpreter

Besmillah Sultani Farsi/Dari Interpreter

Ingrid Haagmans MSc, MA, RCC, Counsellor

Miriam Beechey, Spanish Interpreter

Christine Alevizakis, MA, RCC, Counsellor

Lee McLeod RCC Counsellor

Samuel Oweis Arabic interpreter

Anastasiia Khromova, RCC Counsellor

Manasi Shaha Hindi and Punjabi interpreter

Kaveh Sarmast Persian and Serbo-Croatian interpreter

Nelio Buongermino Portuguese interpreter

Jasmin Gerwien Supervisor and Trainer for Interpreters

Barb Imlach MA, RCC Counsellor

Latifa Elalaoui Arabic interpreter

Jean Ellis BEd, MEd, SEP, CAIET Counsellor

Jasroop Chauhan Hindi and Punjabi Interpreter

Sonya Boya MSc, RCC Clinical Supervisor

Iana Zavaloka Russian Interpreter

Macayla Yan, Counsellor

Macayla Yan MA, RCC Counsellor

Doina Florina MA, RCC Counsellor

Kim Chi Nguyen Vietnamese interpreter

Jaswant Guzder MD Consultant Psychiatrist and Trainer

Alannah McPhail DVATI Art Therapist

Dulcie Cardinal, MA Counsellor

Alison Miller PhD Clinical Supervisor and originator of Parenting Workshops

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OUR MISSION

VICCIR's mission is to provide specialized counselling and training services to:

 

Assist refugees and immigrants who suffer from the effects of trauma and torture to the extent that their daily living is compromised.
 

Train professional counsellors in the treatment of trauma and torture and provide ongoing training and support to VICCIR interpreters. 
 

Educate, train and counsel sponsorship groups, teachers, school board personnel, public health workers, first responders, and the general public to address and resolve vicarious trauma they experience and to assist them to better meet the unique needs of migrants to Canada. 

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OUR VALUES

Inclusiveness: we serve immigrants and refugees of all ages from all countries in the world who reside on Vancouver Island. Although clients are encouraged to financially contribute towards their treatment, no client is refused treatment and all clients are provided care regardless of their financial circumstances with the most traumatized clients given priority counselling. 

Confidentiality is essential to building the necessary trusting relationships between the counsellors and the clients, so information can be freely shared knowing that it will be held in the strictest confidence. 

Respect for the personal, religious and cultural diversity of our clients is accomplished by ensuring the appropriate counsellors and interpreters are assigned to meet the ethnic and language needs of our clients. 

Service Quality is of utmost importance to ensure the best possible results for our clients through the use of professional counsellors and trained interpreters who receive ongoing trauma treatment training and guidance provided by the Director of Services and a professional interpreter including regular debriefing with counsellors and interpreters after counselling sessions. 

Welcoming people through our interactions and training of individuals and agencies involved with immigrants and refugees, we help facilitate the positive integration of immigrants and refugees into Canadian society, which is the ultimate outcome of our services.

Our Mission & Values

At VICCIR we value inclusiveness, confidentiality, respect, a high quality of service, and extending a welcome to all.

We Need Your Support Today!

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