What’s New

August 1, 2020

PICS & IKEA Kits for South Van Clients

PICS and IKEA have teamed up to provide care and assistance to those in need during this pandemic. Access the poster for more information and who […]
July 31, 2020

Purpose Society Summer Food Hamper Program

The Lower Mainland Purpose Society provides social, health and education programs for the lower mainland community. The agency is a community-based multi-service organization that delivers a […]
July 26, 2020

Canadian Women’s Foundation: The Violence at Home Signal for Help – Video and Toolkit

There’s ample evidence that disaster situations can lead to a surge in gender-based violence. Public health directives on home isolation might increase danger and risk for people in […]
July 26, 2020

Burnaby Neighbourhood House: Services for Refugees

BNH Settlement Program provides free services and practical guidance to help newcomers refugees with their everyday living needs and the resources available to help you get […]
July 26, 2020

UBC Migration – Podcast: Refugee Settlement Experience in BC

UBC Migration – Podcast: Refugee Settlement Experience in BC What happens when refugees make it across the border and begin to rebuild their lives? In this […]
July 25, 2020

IRCC – COVID-19 Update: New public policy on biometrics collection

The Government of Canada has announced a new public policy on biometrics collection exemption for temporary residence applicants from within Canada (in effect until further notice). […]
July 25, 2020

RSTP: The latest news on Canada’s Refugee Sponsorship and Resettlement Programs

The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) provides training and support to Canadian refugee sponsorship groups, Sponsorship Agreement Holders and sponsored refugees. The latest RSTP Bulletin has […]
July 25, 2020

CCR Media Release: Organizations welcome Court ruling on Safe Third Country

22 July 2020 Organizations welcome Federal Court decision confirming that sending refugee claimants back to the U.S. breaks Canadian law The Canadian Council for Refugees (CCR), […]
July 18, 2020

DIVERSEcity: H.E.A.L. for Work Program for Women

Empowering survivors of violence and trauma getting into the labour market Gain new skills and work experience to build the life you want in Canada with […]
July 17, 2020

COVID-19 update: IRCC resuming processing of online applications for visitor visas and eTAs

Ottawa, June 30, 2020 – As of July 1, 2020, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will once again process online applications for visitor visas (including transit visas) and electronic […]
July 14, 2020

Immigration Division: Practice Notice on the resumption of in-person hearings

​​​The purpose of this Practice Notice is to communicate the Immigration Division’s (ID) intention to resume in-person hearings on September 14, 2020. It also serves to […]
July 3, 2020

IRB: Update from Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada’s (IRB) expanded use of epost Connect

Following the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada’s (IRB) recent notice on its expanded use of epost Connect, it is with regret that we need to […]
July 3, 2020

Report – ISSofBC: Journeys to Integration – Government Assisted Refugees in BC

This report focuses on the integration experiences of government-assisted refugees (GARs) who settled in British Columbia between January 2007 and December 2016. After briefly summarizing literature […]
July 3, 2020

AMSSA: Improving Service Delivery in BC

This edition of Migration Matters provides an overview of IRCC’s Service Delivery Improvement (SDI) funding stream and showcases projects in order to highlight current research, best […]
July 3, 2020

IRB: Business resumption measures related to COVID-19

As of June 15, 2020, the Vancouver office of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) resumed mail and registry support functions critical for the […]
July 1, 2020

Toolkit – ISSofBC: Welcome to Our Homelands – A greeting from Canada’s First Peoples to newcomers

ISSofBC is very pleased to announce the formal launch of the Welcome to our Homelands in celebration of National Indigenous Day (June 21, 2020).   This […]
June 24, 2020

Report – ISSofBC: Needs Assessment – RAP Arrivals January 2019 to March 2020

Needs Assessment – RAP (Arrivals January 2019 to March 2020)   ISSofBC Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) staff surveyed 949 Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) arriving in the […]
June 24, 2020

Ni Wakati – Support for African immigrants and refugee women

Ni Wakati supports African immigrant and refugee women in making informed choices about their health and social needs.Navigating a new healthcare system as an African newcomer […]
June 24, 2020

Report – NRC: The World’s Most Neglected Displacement Crises

The Norwegian Refugee Council is an independent humanitarian organization helping people forced to flee. Every day, millions of children, women and men are trapped in forgotten […]
June 15, 2020

Metropolis: The Economic and Social Impacts of COVID-19 on Newcomers to Canada

Chaired by Jack Jedwab, the Chair of the COVID-19 Social Impacts Network, the May 1st Metropolis online conference will consist of two feature sessions. The first will […]