FEATURE FRIDAY: Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISS of BC)February 2, 2024NewsI had the opportunity to engage in a recent conversation with the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISSofBC), an organization with a local office right here in downtown Squamish. Their mission is to assist newcomers in seamlessly integrating into our community. During our discussion, we delved into their core values, principles, and various activities that contribute to their impactful work.
What inspired the creation of your organization, and what mission or vision drives your work in the field of settlement, language support, and career development?
Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISSofBC) dates back to 1968 when Eleanor Strong started a volunteer initiative to support Asian Ugandans fleeing the regime of Idi Amin’s regime in Uganda.
Incorporated in 1972, ISSofBC has continued to grow and innovate, being the first newcomer-serving organization to provide English-language classes and dedicated refugee settlement support in the province.
Throughout its time as one of Canada’s largest newcomer-serving organizations, ISSofBC has been driven by a firm belief that Canada thrives when newcomers thrive, and that immigrants and refugees have a right to succeed in Canada. We always aim to support newcomers so that they feel welcome and settled in their communities, find jobs and build careers.
Could you elaborate on the core values and principles that serve as the foundation for your organization’s activities? How do these values guide your decision-making and programs?
All our work is led by our core values and guiding principles. These are:
- We work with purpose
- We aspire to improve
- We cultivate belonging
- We are genuine
These principles are underpinned by our focus on integrity, honesty, and integrity.
An example of how these values and principles have guided our work can be seen through our recently enhanced client feedback processes which help us understand the needs of our clients and resolve issues in a transparent and equitable way.
In practical terms, we have centralized the feedback process to ensure newcomers’ concerns are addressed faster and produced multi-lingual guides so that whatever their English level, our clients can inform us of issues or concerns they’ve experienced.
Constructive feedback is critical for us to improve and create a sense of belonging.
Compassion is mentioned as a core value. Can you provide examples of how compassion is incorporated into your interactions with the community you serve and the services you offer?
Many of our newcomer clients have faced major emotional and, sometimes, physical, hardships during their journey, whether it is a qualified engineer who struggles to rejoin his profession in Canada or a refugee family who has been forced to leave everything in their home country for their own safety.
This is why compassion is central to our work, and why we believe in creating a safe and welcoming environment for our clients. Examples include online support to reduce travel costs, all the way to providing multilingual support in their first language. Currently, we offer support in over 14 languages, including Korean, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Ukrainian and Spanish.
Compassion also comes through our work as many of our staff are current or former newcomers themselves so they have personally experienced many of the challenges like finding a job or learning English.
This inherent compassion through the diversity of our staff is one of our greatest strengths and enhances our ability to support newcomers from around the world.
Innovation plays a significant role in your organization. Could you share some recent innovative approaches or projects that have positively impacted your beneficiaries or the community as a whole?
We have a long history of innovation having been the first settlement organization to provide language and career services in the province. Our Vancouver Welcome Centre, opened in 2016, Is a world first. 35+ countries are studying its innovative approach to centralizing the services in one location, such as medical care, temporary accommodation, financial support, language classes and counseling.
More recently, we have expanded the curriculum of our free English language program, Learning Instructions for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), by launching our Reconciliation Awareness LINC Lessons (RALL). This new curriculum teaches newcomers about Canada’s Indigenous history and culture. The RALL curriculum and resources have been used across Canada to enhance newcomers’ knowledge of Indigenous communities and represent a key part of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
How does your organization tailor its services to meet the diverse needs of individuals who are seeking settlement support, language development, and career advancement opportunities in Squamish?
The LINC program is designed to cater to the needs of newcomers, coming from diverse countries and backgrounds, all who come with a variety of needs and expectations. Our Squamish LINC program currently has newcomers from Latin America, South East Asia, Middle East, Russia, and India.
The ISSofBC LINC program not only provides English language training from low beginner to advanced levels, but also introduces students to the Squamish community, to Canadian culture, Canadian workplace culture and supports them in meeting their citizenship, settlement, education and employment goals. Further the LINC program curriculum is designed to be responsive to learners’ present and future settlement needs. Students have input into the monthly settlement curriculum topics being taught to ensure that their needs and interests are being addressed. To have students actively involved and take responsibility for their English language learning, the LINC program uses Portfolio Based Language Assessment (PBLA). Students are also connected to resources in the Squamish community through guest speakers and field trips and are provided with referrals to services/programs that support their goals.
The Squamish LINC program also offers flexible times and service delivery options that allow clients to choose from various schedules that work best for them given their work and personal situations. The Squamish LINC program offers in-person (am/eve), online, and blended (in-person and online).
Can you highlight any success stories or notable achievements that showcase the positive impact of your work on the lives of your beneficiaries?
Please see below 3 success stories that highlights the positive impact the LINC program has had on supporting learners in achieving their goals:
Denys Toderych joined the LINC program upon his arrival in Canada, as he was encountering challenges in effectively communicating in English. Recognizing the importance of enhancing his language skills, he saw the LINC program as a valuable opportunity to further his studies, overcome the language barriers he faced and find employment. He also found that the LINC classes provided a great opportunity for him to meet and connect with others in the class and community. Denys immigrated to Canada from Ukraine and has been in the LINC program for one year. Within 6 months of participating in the LINC program he was successfully able to find a full time job in Vancouver with Seaspan as a Business Analyst.
Virihei Peckett immigrated from Tahiti and registered for the LINC Program to improve his English language skills to find employment and to be able to socialize and connect with native English speakers. As a result of taking the LINC program, Virihei landed a full-time position as an Avalanche Technician for CP Rail managing railway safety in BC. Through participating in the LINC program Virihei also met his English language goal of being better able to communicate with native English speakers.
Joyce Malkomes immigrated from Brazil, where she was employed as a musician, singer, and artist. She joined the LINC program primarily to improve her English language skills. Through participating in the LINC program Joyce not only improved her English language skills but also gained new friends and connections in the community. After taking classes for less than 12 months she has successfully connected with and integrated into the performing arts scene in the Sea to Sky Corridor and the Lower Mainland through various community events as a singer. Most recently she sang the Canadian National Anthem at the Squamish Remembrance Day ceremony held on November 11, 2023.
Note: client consent was received before sharing their stories.
What partnerships or collaborations have you established with other organizations or stakeholders to enhance the support and resources available in Squamish?
The Squamish LINC program works closely with the Squamish Welcome Centre. The Squamish Welcome Centre refers clients to our LINC program and provides volunteer opportunities for our students, as well as opportunities for them to build connections within the Squamish community.
We also regularly collaborate with Squamish Newcomer Services (Capilano University). Clients are referred to us by Squamish Newcomer Services, and we refer our students to their Settlement Works to assist them with specific settlement services and support they require. Settlement Workers are also invited to the Squamish classes as guest speakers.
Students are made aware of and connected to programs and services available in Squamish and the Sea to Sky Corridor through a variety of field trips and guest speaker opportunities. Some of the community partners that the ISSofBC LINC Squamish program collaborates with are the RCMP, Vancouver Coastal Health, Services Canada, Canada Revenue Agency, District of Squamish, Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre and Storm Mountain Technical Services. Through participating in guest speakers and field trip activities, students learn about services and programs that can support their settlement, community, and employment goals and needs.
Can you share any upcoming initiatives or goals that your organization is working towards, particularly those aligned with your core values and principles?
Across our language, career, entrepreneur, and settlement services, we have multiple initiatives aimed at supporting the needs of newcomers arriving in BC.
For example, our new Skills Hub program focuses on supporting immigrants and refugees who face additional barriers in accessing services because of limited English, professional Canadian experiences, or caregiving responsibilities. By focusing on this underserved demographic, we hope to empower them and increase their inclusion in Canadian society.
We’ve also recently published new refugee research in partnership with York University, that, for the first time, captured changes in the mental, physical, economic, and social well-being of refugees living in BC in the years after their arrival in Canada. The report recommends how to provide long-term support for refugees to address their needs, and is a good example of our we continually strive to understand our clients and improve our services for them.
Finally, what can individuals or other organizations do to support your cause and get involved in furthering your mission?
You can donate directly to ISSofBC through CanadaHelps, or you can volunteer your time through our volunteer program.
By becoming a volunteer with ISSofBC you can make a direct and positive impact on newcomers’ lives by making them feel welcome in their new communities, helping them practice their English, and sharing details about life in Canada.
Individuals can also help our work by simply telling friends and family about our free settlement, language, and job support. In the coming years, Canada will welcome thousands of newcomers in need of support, so by introducing others to our services you can make it easier for newcomers to start building their lives in Canada. Please direct them to www.issbc.org.
Organizations can spread the word about what we do through their marketing and communications channels, or partner with us to provide services, and offer incentives to clients and staff.
To find out more, please visit https://issbc.org/get-involved/.
Kerry Neil, Executive Director
I had the opportunity to engage in a recent conversation with the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISSofBC), an organization with a local office right here in downtown Squamish. Their mission is to assist newcomers in seamlessly integrating into our community. During our discussion, we delved into their core values, principles, and various activities that contribute to their impactful work.
What inspired the creation of your organization, and what mission or vision drives your work in the field of settlement, language support, and career development?
Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISSofBC) dates back to 1968 when Eleanor Strong started a volunteer initiative to support Asian Ugandans fleeing the regime of Idi Amin’s regime in Uganda.
Incorporated in 1972, ISSofBC has continued to grow and innovate, being the first newcomer-serving organization to provide English-language classes and dedicated refugee settlement support in the province.
Throughout its time as one of Canada’s largest newcomer-serving organizations, ISSofBC has been driven by a firm belief that Canada thrives when newcomers thrive, and that immigrants and refugees have a right to succeed in Canada. We always aim to support newcomers so that they feel welcome and settled in their communities, find jobs and build careers.
Could you elaborate on the core values and principles that serve as the foundation for your organization’s activities? How do these values guide your decision-making and programs?
All our work is led by our core values and guiding principles. These are:
- We work with purpose
- We aspire to improve
- We cultivate belonging
- We are genuine
These principles are underpinned by our focus on integrity, honesty, and integrity.
An example of how these values and principles have guided our work can be seen through our recently enhanced client feedback processes which help us understand the needs of our clients and resolve issues in a transparent and equitable way.
In practical terms, we have centralized the feedback process to ensure newcomers’ concerns are addressed faster and produced multi-lingual guides so that whatever their English level, our clients can inform us of issues or concerns they’ve experienced.
Constructive feedback is critical for us to improve and create a sense of belonging.
Compassion is mentioned as a core value. Can you provide examples of how compassion is incorporated into your interactions with the community you serve and the services you offer?
Many of our newcomer clients have faced major emotional and, sometimes, physical, hardships during their journey, whether it is a qualified engineer who struggles to rejoin his profession in Canada or a refugee family who has been forced to leave everything in their home country for their own safety.
This is why compassion is central to our work, and why we believe in creating a safe and welcoming environment for our clients. Examples include online support to reduce travel costs, all the way to providing multilingual support in their first language. Currently, we offer support in over 14 languages, including Korean, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Arabic, Ukrainian and Spanish.
Compassion also comes through our work as many of our staff are current or former newcomers themselves so they have personally experienced many of the challenges like finding a job or learning English.
This inherent compassion through the diversity of our staff is one of our greatest strengths and enhances our ability to support newcomers from around the world.
Innovation plays a significant role in your organization. Could you share some recent innovative approaches or projects that have positively impacted your beneficiaries or the community as a whole?
We have a long history of innovation having been the first settlement organization to provide language and career services in the province. Our Vancouver Welcome Centre, opened in 2016, Is a world first. 35+ countries are studying its innovative approach to centralizing the services in one location, such as medical care, temporary accommodation, financial support, language classes and counseling.
More recently, we have expanded the curriculum of our free English language program, Learning Instructions for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), by launching our Reconciliation Awareness LINC Lessons (RALL). This new curriculum teaches newcomers about Canada’s Indigenous history and culture. The RALL curriculum and resources have been used across Canada to enhance newcomers’ knowledge of Indigenous communities and represent a key part of our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.
How does your organization tailor its services to meet the diverse needs of individuals who are seeking settlement support, language development, and career advancement opportunities in Squamish?
The LINC program is designed to cater to the needs of newcomers, coming from diverse countries and backgrounds, all who come with a variety of needs and expectations. Our Squamish LINC program currently has newcomers from Latin America, South East Asia, Middle East, Russia, and India.
The ISSofBC LINC program not only provides English language training from low beginner to advanced levels, but also introduces students to the Squamish community, to Canadian culture, Canadian workplace culture and supports them in meeting their citizenship, settlement, education and employment goals. Further the LINC program curriculum is designed to be responsive to learners’ present and future settlement needs. Students have input into the monthly settlement curriculum topics being taught to ensure that their needs and interests are being addressed. To have students actively involved and take responsibility for their English language learning, the LINC program uses Portfolio Based Language Assessment (PBLA). Students are also connected to resources in the Squamish community through guest speakers and field trips and are provided with referrals to services/programs that support their goals.
The Squamish LINC program also offers flexible times and service delivery options that allow clients to choose from various schedules that work best for them given their work and personal situations. The Squamish LINC program offers in-person (am/eve), online, and blended (in-person and online).
Can you highlight any success stories or notable achievements that showcase the positive impact of your work on the lives of your beneficiaries?
Please see below 3 success stories that highlights the positive impact the LINC program has had on supporting learners in achieving their goals:
Denys Toderych joined the LINC program upon his arrival in Canada, as he was encountering challenges in effectively communicating in English. Recognizing the importance of enhancing his language skills, he saw the LINC program as a valuable opportunity to further his studies, overcome the language barriers he faced and find employment. He also found that the LINC classes provided a great opportunity for him to meet and connect with others in the class and community. Denys immigrated to Canada from Ukraine and has been in the LINC program for one year. Within 6 months of participating in the LINC program he was successfully able to find a full time job in Vancouver with Seaspan as a Business Analyst.
Virihei Peckett immigrated from Tahiti and registered for the LINC Program to improve his English language skills to find employment and to be able to socialize and connect with native English speakers. As a result of taking the LINC program, Virihei landed a full-time position as an Avalanche Technician for CP Rail managing railway safety in BC. Through participating in the LINC program Virihei also met his English language goal of being better able to communicate with native English speakers.
Joyce Malkomes immigrated from Brazil, where she was employed as a musician, singer, and artist. She joined the LINC program primarily to improve her English language skills. Through participating in the LINC program Joyce not only improved her English language skills but also gained new friends and connections in the community. After taking classes for less than 12 months she has successfully connected with and integrated into the performing arts scene in the Sea to Sky Corridor and the Lower Mainland through various community events as a singer. Most recently she sang the Canadian National Anthem at the Squamish Remembrance Day ceremony held on November 11, 2023.
Note: client consent was received before sharing their stories.
What partnerships or collaborations have you established with other organizations or stakeholders to enhance the support and resources available in Squamish?
The Squamish LINC program works closely with the Squamish Welcome Centre. The Squamish Welcome Centre refers clients to our LINC program and provides volunteer opportunities for our students, as well as opportunities for them to build connections within the Squamish community.
We also regularly collaborate with Squamish Newcomer Services (Capilano University). Clients are referred to us by Squamish Newcomer Services, and we refer our students to their Settlement Works to assist them with specific settlement services and support they require. Settlement Workers are also invited to the Squamish classes as guest speakers.
Students are made aware of and connected to programs and services available in Squamish and the Sea to Sky Corridor through a variety of field trips and guest speaker opportunities. Some of the community partners that the ISSofBC LINC Squamish program collaborates with are the RCMP, Vancouver Coastal Health, Services Canada, Canada Revenue Agency, District of Squamish, Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre and Storm Mountain Technical Services. Through participating in guest speakers and field trip activities, students learn about services and programs that can support their settlement, community, and employment goals and needs.
Can you share any upcoming initiatives or goals that your organization is working towards, particularly those aligned with your core values and principles?
Across our language, career, entrepreneur, and settlement services, we have multiple initiatives aimed at supporting the needs of newcomers arriving in BC.
For example, our new Skills Hub program focuses on supporting immigrants and refugees who face additional barriers in accessing services because of limited English, professional Canadian experiences, or caregiving responsibilities. By focusing on this underserved demographic, we hope to empower them and increase their inclusion in Canadian society.
We’ve also recently published new refugee research in partnership with York University, that, for the first time, captured changes in the mental, physical, economic, and social well-being of refugees living in BC in the years after their arrival in Canada. The report recommends how to provide long-term support for refugees to address their needs, and is a good example of our we continually strive to understand our clients and improve our services for them.
Finally, what can individuals or other organizations do to support your cause and get involved in furthering your mission?
You can donate directly to ISSofBC through CanadaHelps, or you can volunteer your time through our volunteer program.
By becoming a volunteer with ISSofBC you can make a direct and positive impact on newcomers’ lives by making them feel welcome in their new communities, helping them practice their English, and sharing details about life in Canada.
Individuals can also help our work by simply telling friends and family about our free settlement, language, and job support. In the coming years, Canada will welcome thousands of newcomers in need of support, so by introducing others to our services you can make it easier for newcomers to start building their lives in Canada. Please direct them to www.issbc.org.
Organizations can spread the word about what we do through their marketing and communications channels, or partner with us to provide services, and offer incentives to clients and staff.
To find out more, please visit https://issbc.org/get-involved/.
Kerry Neil, Executive Director
