ImmigrantLegal.ca

Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC), incorporated in 1972, is the largest, multicultural, immigrant-serving agency in western Canada. The society provides a full range of settlement and integration services to Lower Mainland immigrant and refugee communities, and works with over 23,000 clients per year. ISSofBC has a volunteer Board of Directors, a paid staff of over 300 and over 600 active volunteers. Mission statement: Helping immigrants build a future in Canada.

ISSofBC provides programs and services through two divisions. First, the Language College and Career Services, headquartered at 333 Terminal Avenue in East Vancouver, provides a wide range of government-funded and fee-for-service language training programs and employment services in Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster and Coquitlam. The institute's complementary programs provide a positive educational learning environment for individuals from a wide variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Second, the Settlement Section, headquartered at 530 Drake Street in Downtown South, is the focal point for ISSofBC's immigrant and refugee settlement programming throughout the Lower Mainland. The department provides assistance to immigrants and refugees through a variety of programs and services.

Programs include the following:
- Community Settlement Services for Refugees & New Immigrants provides information and referral services, assistance with completing various applications, interpretation and translations, information sessions and workshops, and assistance in accessing community services;
- Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) Orientation Services provides first language para-counselling and orientation services to government-assisted refugees within their first six weeks in Canada;
- Cross-cultural Peer Support Group Program provides mental, physical and social support to marginalized immigrant and refugee women;
- Health Settlement Counselling for refugees and refugee claimants who are accessing primary health care services at the Bridge Community Health Clinic;
- Host Program matches Canadian volunteers with newly arrived immigrants and refugees;
- Multicultural Youth (MY) Circle uses peer support to assist immigrant and refugee youth between the ages of 14 to 24 with adjustment and integration;
- Step Ahead assists refugees and immigrants who are facing multiple challenges to their settlement;
- Youth Connexion Program assists immigrant and refugee youth and young adults aged 16-25 transition towards identified goals and career plans;
- Settlement Orientation Services provides pre-settlement and health promotion programs to Spanish and Chinese speaking refugee claimants;
- Welcome House provides fee temporary accommodations for all government-assisted and joint-assisted refugees destined to British Columbia; and
- Volunteer Program provides opportunities for individuals, particularly newcomers to Canada, to learn, practice and utilize their skills and knowledge in a variety of areas by placing them in volunteer roles at ISS and external programs.