VICTORIA IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE CENTRE SOCIETY

Newcomer Wraparound Support Program: Initiated in 2012 and originally funded by the province of B.C. the program has been federally funded since 2014. It continues to provide specialized settlement services to the most vulnerable newcomers under the NWSP. BC Settlement & Integration Services (BCSIS): Provincially funded since 2018 this program provides orientation information and referrals to community resources including housing healthcare social benefits income tax and legal and immigration-related settlement information to newcomers. Enable Program: Enable program supports vulnerable newcomer children and youth aged 6 to 19 addressing their academic social and emotional needs as they integrate into Canadian society. English as a Second Language (ESL): For more than twenty years ESL continues to offer training programs to newcomers and citizens who are seeking to improve their English language skills and increase their chances of gaining meaningful employment. Pathways to Professions and Trades Entrepreneurship (P2PTE): P2PTE is an employment program for youth newcomers designed to overcome employment barriers in Canada. Resilience BC Hub: provides tailored supports to members of the Resilience BC Anti-Racism Network operating in the province. They offer support while uniting communities across B.C. Newcomer Women’s Projects (NWP): collaborates with community partners to provide accessible information to newcomer women in Victoria on women's physical and mental health issues. They connect women with resources for safety well-being and legal rights as they navigate relationships with their spouses and children. Volunteer Program: is essential and tailored to the needs of individual immigrants and refugees. In 2019-2020 215 volunteers contributed 11 205 hours delivering over 35 types of services across six program areas and four volunteer service clinics. In 2021-2022 the program provided furniture to 40 clients. Welcome Gardens: connected local residents and newcomers in Victoria to grow food together in shared household and community gardens. Leading Change for Resilient Communities (LCRC) : The LCRC project's purpose is to support rural employers across the province by providing access to community-based trainers and workplace equity specialists. This will help address equity diversity and inclusion challenges in rural workplaces and attract and retain a diverse workforce.