As a permanent resident, you have access to many free services and programs offered by different settlement organizations and neighbourhood houses. These programs are funded by the province and by the federal government to help newcomers settle in their new life in Canada.
SETTLEMENT SERVICES
Settlement Services
- Settlement services cover a variety of areas of concern that newcomers (less than 5 years of permanent residency) and longtime permanent residents may have. Settlement Workers assess your short-term and long-term settlement needs, provide information, and/or give appropriate referrals to other programs within their organization, other settlement organizations, and government agencies as deemed fit.
- You can set up individual appointments or attend group information sessions and workshops to get the information that you need. With the pandemic, most services are delivered online, by phone, with limited in-person services. Here are some of the key settlement concerns that comprise Settlement Services:
- Housing and Accommodation in B.C.
- Health Care and Health Promotion Services in B.C.
- Foreign Credential Recognition for Employment and Continuing Education
- Language Training and Skills Development for Employment and Community Integration
- Education (Child, Adult and Post-Secondary)
- Personal Finance Management and the Canadian Banking System
- Financial Management
- Transportation Systems in B.C.
- Canadian and BC Law & Justice
- Immigration and Citizenship
- Community Connection Programs
- Services and Support Groups for Seniors, Youth, and LGBTQ2S+
- School-based settlement services are also offered to school-aged kids and their families in the K-12 school districts in Metro Vancouver such as Burnaby, Coquitlam, Langley, New Westminster, Surrey, and Vancouver under the Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) program. They provide general settlement information, workshops as well as support groups for the kids and their families as they adjust to life in Canada and navigate the B.C. school system.
Learning English
- English Language training helps newcomers to settle into their communities, integrate into Canadian society and find employment.
- Language Instructions for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programs are FREE, government-funded English language classes for eligible immigrants and refugees. They are delivered by different settlement organizations, neighbourhood houses, and community colleges all over the province. LINC instructors use settlement themes to teach reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills within the framework of Canadian Language Benchmarks. Moreover, the classes provide information about living and working in Canada and making friends in the community.
- Classes are offered in-person, online, and blended (a combination of in-person and online instruction) modes. Given the ongoing pandemic, most services are done online.
- To participate in LINC, you must complete an assessment at one of the assessment centers in B.C.
EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Different settlement organizations, neighbourhood houses, and community colleges offer a variety of employment services through needs-based or industry-based programs. These programs are funded by the federal and provincial governments and are free for eligible permanent residents (refugees and Canadian citizens).
Employment Counsellors or Employment Specialists assess your needs and help you draw up a plan to get you started on your employment journey. Employment services include but are not limited to:
- Case Management
- Career Exploration (for those who are thinking of changing professions)
- Career Planning
- Job Readiness Training and Support
- Job Search Skills Training and Support
- Career Mentoring and Employer Connection
- Networking Events and Job Fairs
Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants
- Career Paths is a specific employment training program for immigrant professionals. The program has three streams for in-demand, regulated, and non-regulated occupations in British Columbia.
- Occupation-specific support is given to the program participants including related language training. It also connects the participants to potential employers in the related stream. The goal of the program is to help skilled immigrants find skilled work in the same profession or field that they brought to Canada.
Career Mentorship/Coaching and Workplace Connections
- These programs eligible permanent residents newcomers to professionals and employers in the industry or field that they brought to Canada. Mentors give industry-specific and/or profession-specific advice, explore the career and its alternatives, and help manage expectations during the process of credential recognition, upgrade, and job search. The programs also organize networking events for mentees to expand their work network, meet potential employers, and improve their English communication skills.
Job Search/Employment-Readiness Training
- In these programs, permanent residents participants receive employment counselling and attend scheduled training workshops on job readiness, understanding the B.C. labour market, and how to effectively engage in job search.
Project-Based Labour Market Training (PBLMT)
- These training programs run for 12 weeks. Eligible permanent residents are assisted in upgrading their employability skills. Different supporting activities are also provided such as career counselling, vocational and/or learning assessments, work experience, job search skills, mentorship, referral to community resources, and post-project follow up. Participating organizations offer a profession-specific training program such as Health Care Assistant, Multicultural Worker, and Information Technology.
WorkBC Employment Services
- WorkBC Employment services help eligible individuals (newcomers, refugees, and Canadian citizens) find a job and keep it. They provide employment counselling, career exploration, job search skills workshops, job fairs, and job start & job maintenance supports. There are different WorkBC Centres all over the Lower Mainland. Find a WorkBC centre near where you live.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS PROGRAMS
Conversation Circles
- Newcomersand longtime permanent residents practice their English communication skills in an informal and less-structured environment versus the Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) which focus on English instruction and assessment of language skills. Topics focus on Canadian culture, icons, traditions, and other topics about everyday Canadian life.
Community Kitchens
- Make new friends in a fun and delicious way through the Community Kitchen. Newcomers come together with longtime residents and Canadian citizens to learn about Canadian culture through cooking and conversation.
Culture Connections
- Eligible permanent residents are matched with a longtime-resident or Canadian citizen who would serve as a culture mentor. During one-on-one and group sessions, the culture mentor helps the mentee explore their community, make new friends, volunteer in the community, and understand the Canadian way of life.
Interested in any of these programs? Contact us for more details! Reach out to a FilNet member now!
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