July 30, 2024
Surrey & Fraser Valley Surrey & Fraser Valley
Surrey is the second largest city in British Columbia and on pace to become the largest city in Metro Vancouver by 2020. An estimated 800 new residents settle in Surrey a month. Surrey is young; 27% of residents are under the age of 19. It also has one of the fastest growing immigrant populations; an estimated 43% of residents are immigrants. Surrey has been nicknamed the "City of Parks" for its 6,000 acres of parks and green space. In 2015, Surrey was named one of the top intelligent communities by the Intelligent Community Form (ICF) for its innovative and progressive use of technology for economic and social development.
Neighbouring Surrey is the Fraser Valley, which is made up of several communities including the cities of Langley, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack. Although it is primarily a rural and agricultural community, there has been significant growth in its cities in recent years. Fraser Valley has a long history of settling immigrants; the oldest Sikh temple in North America, which is over 100 years old and a National Historic Site of Canada, is located in Abbotsford.
Services are offered in the following languages:
English, Korean, Tagalog, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Persian (Farsi), Dari, Russian, Ukrainian, Tigrinya, Amharic, Turkish, Pashto, Punjabi, Hindi, Vietnamese, Chaldean
Services Offered in Surrey & Fraser Valley
Surrey & Fraser Valley provides many FREE services for eligible immigrants and refugees. Services may vary in each region. Discover the services we can provide you in Surrey & Fraser Valley and how you can register to participate below:
Eligible immigrants, refugees and their families can make a FREE appointment with our friendly and professional settlement staff. Our settlement staff can provide you with orientation and information about living in Canada and information about employment in Canada.
We can provide you and your family with comprehensive and current information in many key settlement topics including:
- Housing and accommodation
- Transportation systems in British Columbia (BC)
- Health care in BC
- Child education
- Adult education (Universities, Colleges, Occupational training, etc.)
- English language training
- Finding employment in BC
- Foreign credential recognition in BC
- Supports for family
- Money and finance
- Canadian and BC law
- Volunteering and making new friends in the community
- And more
Private appointments for job seekers are available to provide you with information about local labour market trends, resume writing and interview skills, Canadian workplace culture, and job search resources.
Contact us to make an in-person one-to-one appointment.
We offer many FREE workshops to introduce settlement topics to eligible immigrants and refugees. These workshops introduce topics about integrating into Canadian life and learning about the Canadian labour market. Employment workshops also include employer engagement to introduce newcomers to job opportunities.
Workshops provide you and your family with comprehensive and current information in many key settlement topics including:
- Housing and accommodation
- Transportation systems in British Columbia (BC)
- Health care in BC
- Child education
- Adult education (Universities, Colleges, Occupational training, etc.)
- English language training
- Finding employment in BC
- Foreign credential recognition in BC
- Supports for family
- Money and finance
- Canadian and BC law
- Volunteering and making new friends in the community
- And more
Explore our upcoming workshops to discover more session topics and Contact us to register for our in-person workshops.
English Language training helps newcomers to settle into their communities, integrate into Canadian society and find employment.
Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) courses are FREE, government-funded English language classes for eligible immigrants and refugees. LINC instructors use settlement themes to teach reading, writing, listening and speaking skills within the framework of Canadian Language Benchmarks.
Surrey & Fraser Valley offers:
- Lit-LINC 7
- LINC Blended
Digital Literacy & English Language Skills Courses prepare Newcomers for online language leaning and the use of technology for home, school & work. Digital literacy helps clients to stay informed and connected to their local community and removes barriers to access settlement service and employment and community resources. Cybersecurity and data privacy awareness supports clients to increase digital footprint awareness, learn how to protect private information and to navigate online materials safely.
Contact us to find out more or register for specific in-person English language training courses.
Employment Skills Development for SUCCESS prepares eligible immigrants and refugees with job seeking skills and soft employment skills to access the Canadian labour market. The course provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to transition into a career in the Canadian labour market.
Contact us to ask us about Employment Skills Development for SUCCESS and to register.
The Career Mentoring for SUCCESS Program brings eligible immigrants and refugees and experienced mentors together to foster professional networks and connections. As a participant, Career Mentoring for SUCCESS will bridge you to career success by providing you with the information you need in your field of expertise. Your mentor will provide you with information, support, and guidance to jumpstart your professional career in Canada.
Contact us to participate in the Career Mentoring for SUCCESS.
Are you an aspiring leader? We are also looking for mentors for our Career Mentoring for SUCCESS in any occupational field. Mentoring is a great way to broaden your coaching skills, build inclusive environments, and demonstrate your leadership skills. Contact us to discover how you can showcase your leadership skills as a career mentor.
The Employer Engagement for SUCCESS Program provides eligible immigrants and refugees with the opportunity to access employers from specific industries through meeting employers or job fair events. As a participant, Employer Engagement for SUCCESS will provide you with information on industry trends and standards, basic skills and certification requirements and general information of specific workplaces and sectors.
Contact us to participate in the Employer Engagement for SUCCESS.
We work with Newcomer Women and Newcomer Seniors to advocate for improved access to culturally responsive healthcare. The focus of our health & wellness programming is on prevention and on the broad determinants of health. One-to-one support is provided with information and health care system navigation support, assisting clients to engage in local communities and to feel included in decisions related to their health. Virtual & in-person health & wellness drop-in support provides regular opportunities for Newcomer Women and Newcomer Seniors to engage in health-related conversations and to increase comfort in discussing health and wellness topics. Knowledge is shared through virtual and in person activities including guest speaker presentations by healthcare professionals on topics such as nutrition, healthy relationships and mindfulness-based stress management.
Contact us to participate in our fun and innovative Health & Wellness program.
Digital navigation services support access to online ISIP services in order to increase Newcomer digital literacy. 1-1 and group digital coaching sessions are available.
Contact us to participate in our exciting Digital Navigation program.
The We Live Here Program introduces eligible immigrants and refugees to their community. This innovative program will help you practice your English while building connections with community members and community organizations. Activities in the Surrey & Fraser Valley region include community tours, and knowing Canada-parenting program. Other ISIP regions may also Canadian and multicultural community celebrations, and recreation connect.
Contact us to participate in our fun and innovative We Live Here.
See how people are participating in We Live Here on our Immigrant Settlement & Integration Program Community page.
We Volunteer Here programs introduce eligible immigrants and refugees to volunteer opportunities with connections to organizations. As a volunteer, you will have opportunities to build social and professional networks, obtain Canadian work and volunteer experience, and practice your English in a safe environment facilitated by friendly and professional settlement staff.
Contact us to find out how you can volunteer and be an active part in your community.
See how people are volunteering in their communities on our Immigrant Settlement & Integration Program Community page.
Champions of SUCCESS showcases the contributions of outstanding Immigrant Settlement & Integration Program volunteers, newcomer clients, established Canadians, employers and community organizations in supporting newcomer integration into the community.
Discover our latest Champions of SUCCESS on our Immigrant Settlement & Integration Program Community page.
The Employer Engagement for SUCCESS Program provides eligible immigrants and refugees with the opportunity to access employers from specific industries through meeting employers or job fair events. As a participant, Employer Engagement for SUCCESS will provide you with information on industry trends and standards, basic skills and certification requirements and general information of specific workplaces and sectors.