Workshopping Confidence in the Age of AI
Workshopping Confidence in the Age of AI
An AI workshop series in Kelowna helping newcomers build confidence, skills, and connections
OKANAGAN VALLEY, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Located in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Kelowna is a growing, vibrant destination for newcomers settling in the province. With access to outdoor activities and a strong offering of urban amenities, it’s no surprise that immigration has played an important role in driving population growth in the region over the past two decades.
It’s also no surprise that, during a cold, rainy fall weekend in a city known for its mild climate, so many showed up in person for a free AI workshop series offered by the University of British Columbia in partnership with Kelowna Community Resources and the Okanagan Regional Library.
“And so many brought their kids! That was unexpected,” says Ying Zhu, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Management at the University of British Columbia-Okanagan and the Bridging Divides researcher leading the workshop.
“I was asking myself, how can we better equip newcomers with AI skills so they can integrate more confidently into Canadian society? To me, AI is not just a technical tool. It can help people overcome language barriers, better understand government policies and services, learn Canadian workplace culture, and build confidence as they navigate unfamiliar systems. It can support learning, communication, and cultural understanding in very practical ways.” The training series is part of one of the Bridging Divides projects Zhu is involved in, AI Empowerment Initiative, led by her University of British Columbia colleague, Annamma Joy.
Zhu, an expert in digital marketing, consumer behaviour, and strategy, knew from the outset that delivering a workshop series directly to immigrant communities would be ambitious. “If we wanted to do something meaningful, we needed to work closely with organizations already embedded in the community.” The series eventually took shape as four free sessions offered over two Saturdays in an open, accessible space, one described as the “last bastion of democracy” in the 2018 film The Public.
The room where it happens
At the downtown branch of the Okanagan Regional Library, Evan Burgess wears many hats: public services librarian, technology instructor, community outreach coordinator. “Basically, if somebody’s looking for something, whether it’s a book, a service, or a resource, my job is to help them find it,” he says. “And if I can’t, I’ll find someone who can.” That role has evolved over time. Increasingly, it means bringing people into the library not just to borrow materials, but to learn, connect, and participate.
“We put on educational classes, technology workshops, community events. And we collaborate with partners,” Burgess explains. When Zhu reached out, it was a natural fit. The library provided space, technology, and promotion, aligning closely with its mandate to serve the public.
"Libraries are increasingly one of the few free spaces where people can just be. There are no expectations, except to be respectful."
What makes libraries especially powerful in this context is not just infrastructure, but accessibility. “We’re increasingly one of the few free spaces where people can just be,” Burgess says. “There are no expectations, except to be respectful.” For newcomers, that matters. Some come to use computers or print documents, others attend language exchange programs or conversation circles, and many are simply looking for a place to start. “Libraries are often one of the first places people go. When you host something here, you’re reaching people in their own community.”
Hosting an event in a public library also brings a different kind of audience. “We’re very central, very downtown, so we see a different demographic than you might on a university campus,” he adds. And, as Zhu quickly noticed, that includes families. “Yes,” he continues, “you’re going to be reaching families. A lot of families use the library, we have parents with their kids here all the time. You are definitely getting that.”
On October 18 and October 25, the UBC and Bridging Divides AI Workshops for immigrants to Canada workshops were hosted at the Okanagan Regional Library, downtown Kelowna branch. Image credit: Ying Zhu.
Training newcomers where they are
Not everyone, however, feels ready to walk into a library workshop. For some newcomers, especially youth, confidence, language, and familiarity can all be barriers. That is where organizations like Kelowna Community Resources (KCR) come in. They helped Zhu connect directly with immigrant communities, shared the workshops through their networks, and provided hands-on support. They also helped her reach an untapped audience.
“My role is to support newcomer youth in finding employment,” says Yana Pavlova, an employment specialist working with participants aged 15 to 30. “We create individual plans based on their skills, their goals, and their background.” A key part of that work is creating opportunities for connection, something she sees as essential for young newcomers trying to find their footing.
“For many of them, especially refugees, networking is the biggest challenge,” she explains. “They don’t have family here. They don’t have connections. Even going to a workshop can feel intimidating.” So, instead of expecting youth to go out into the community, Pavlova brought the community to them. She invited Zhu to lead an AI session at a summer youth employment boot camp organized by KCR.
The need was clear. Some participants had very limited experience with technology, to the point that even using a laptop or email was new. At the same time, the employment landscape is shifting quickly, and understanding digital tools, including AI, is becoming essential. The session also emphasized how to use the tools responsibly.
"We talked about safety and trust when using AI. Many newcomers arrive with a high level of trust. We try to remind them to stay aware and protect themselves."
“We talked about safety and trust,” Pavlova says. “How to protect your personal data when applying for jobs online, and how to use AI in a smart way. It’s important, especially for newcomers, because many arrive with a high level of trust. We try to remind them to stay aware and protect themselves.”
Interestingly, for her, one of the most memorable parts of this very practical workshop was the human factor: Zhu. “You could feel that she is passionate about what she does,” Pavlova says. “It was not just a presentation. She asked questions, she adapted to the group, she made it relevant to their needs.” For many participants, it was their first time thinking critically about AI. “We only had one session, so we couldn’t go too deep,” she adds. “But it gave them ideas. It made them curious. It made them reflect.”
Over 16 participants joined the AI Workshop, as part of their Youth Employment Bootcamp with Kelowna Community Resources (KCR) in July 2025. Image credit: Ying Zhu.
Turning one workshop into a model that works
It’s easy to assume that people who move to a new country and rebuild their lives are inherently confident and resilient. And often, they are. But confidence doesn’t always translate in the same way when it comes to navigating new systems, new tools, and new expectations.
That’s where the impact of this kind of work becomes visible, not in a single outcome, but in the way people begin to engage. “You can feel the energy in the room,” Zhu says. “People are curious. They are asking questions. They are learning from each other.” At the end of the last session, several participants approached her with the same question: what’s next? “That stayed with me,” she says.
None of this would have been possible without collaboration. “Our most successful programs are always the ones we collaborate on,” Burgess says. “We can only reach so far on our own. Partners extend that reach.” For organizations like KCR, those partnerships also open up something less tangible, but just as important.
“When people come to a new country, they need to have hope,” Pavlova says. “They can meet people from universities, from different careers, and think, maybe this is possible for me too.” That sense of possibility, of knowing where to go next and feeling confident enough to take that step, is at the core of the work.
“AI is going to stay. The demand for accessible, practical learning opportunities will only continue to grow.”
The workshops themselves may have been short-term, but the need they respond to is not. “AI is going to stay,” Zhu says. “The demand for accessible, practical learning opportunities will only continue to grow.” Her advice to other researchers is to start building relationships early, reach out to libraries and community organizations, and treat collaboration as long-term commitment rather than a one-time exchange. “When you collaborate meaningfully, the impact is far greater than what you could achieve alone.”
In Kelowna, that collaboration turned a research idea into a room full of people learning together, forming connections, and starting to dwell on possibility. Sometimes, it’s worth pausing there for a moment to reflect on that very question: what’s next?
