Online exhibition celebrates new citizen volunteers by sharing their experiences through videos, photos & short stories

The Institute for Canadian Citizenship & Manulife launch Citizens in Action

TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - To celebrate International Volunteer Day, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) and Manulife have launched Citizens in Action, an interactive online exhibition (citizensinaction.ca) showcasing the stories of 10 new citizen volunteers from across the country, each introduced through video, photographic portrait and short story.

The exhibition encourages all Canadians to join in by learning about these captivating individuals and then sharing their own volunteer stories, photos and videos through the site's interactive feature.

"The Institute for Canadian Citizenship works to be connectors to — and for — Canada's newest citizens," said Leith Bishop, Acting Executive Director, Institute for Canadian Citizenship. "Citizens in Action allows us to introduce Canada to its new citizen volunteers in an effort to create a better and broader understanding of community engagement and citizenship, and to positively shape our country's perception of new citizens."

The idea for this project came from the ICC's compelling interactions with new citizens who participate in the organization's community citizenship ceremonies and Cultural Access Pass program. The ICC wanted an outlet to connect even more people to Canada's newest citizens while promoting volunteerism — a practice Manulife supports through initiatives like GetVolunteering.

"At Manulife we strive to inspire, support and engage Canada's volunteers through forward-thinking initiatives like Citizens in Action," said Martha Hancock, Assistant Vice President, Philanthropy & Sponsorship, Branding & Communication, Manulife. "This online exhibition gives Canadians an opportunity to reconnect, celebrate our experiences and recognize the contributions we can all make as citizens to our country."

The new citizens featured are members of the ICC's Cultural Access Pass program. Each participant nominated themselves and was selected based on geographic location and the diversity of their volunteer story. From the president of a farmers' market in Creemore, Ontario, to a choir director in Montreal, a soccer coach and a LGBT youth mentor in Calgary, the stories told in Citizens in Action will resonate with all Canadians.

The Magenta Foundation played an important role in pulling together the project's creative team: videographers from Asterisk Media and emerging photographers Alyssa Bistonath, Alyssa Katherine Faoro, Alexi Hobbs, Eugen Sakhnenko and Daniel Wood.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP
Founded and co-chaired by the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson and John Ralston Saul, the Institute for Canadian Citizenship is a national, non-profit charity that helps accelerate new citizens' integration into Canadian life through original programs, collaborations and unique volunteer opportunities. While our focus is on encouraging new citizens to take their rightful place in Canada, we want all citizens – new or not – to embrace active citizenship in their daily life. For more information, visit icc-icc.ca. You can also follow us on Twitter (@ICCICC).

ABOUT MANULIFE
Manulife is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. We operate as John Hancock in the U.S. and as Manulife in other parts of the world. We provide strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for our customers' significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife and its subsidiaries were approximately C$663 billion (US$591 billion) as of September 30, 2014. Manulife Financial Corporation trades as 'MFC' on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under '945' on the SEHK. Manulife can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

SOURCE: Institute for Canadian Citizenship

For further information: Jess Duerden, Institute for Canadian Citizenship, [phone] ext.225, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.icc-icc.ca