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Your B.C. Government

WelcomeBC

WelcomeBC is a comprehensive approach to enhance settlement and integration services to help newcomers better adapt to life in their new communities and assist communities to be more welcoming.

What your B.C. Government is doing for WelcomeBC:

  • In 2007, the Province created WelcomeBC, an initiative that invests in projects that support welcoming and inclusive communities and provides newcomers with coordinated access to information services, employment services, English-language training and foreign credential recognition services - $272 million has been invested by the federal and provincial governments.
  • The $25-million Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program is a three-year initiative developed to strengthen community capacity to support immigrant settlement and integration, eliminate racism, and value and respect multiculturalism by setting the strategic direction for BC through research, local government engagement, and piloting promising practices at the provincial level.
  • The B.C. and federal governments are investing $12 million for the continued delivery of the Skills Connect program that helps immigrants who have the qualifications that are needed now in B.C. overcome barriers to employment, such as language and lack of Canadian workplace experience.
  • The $8.9 million per year Settlement Workers in Schools program ensures that all newcomer children, youth and their families have the information and support they need to integrate into the B.C. school system.
  • $66 million will be available for basic English-language training services and labour market access language training services for immigrant adults who have low levels of English language proficiency.
  • The Province is investing $4.7 million in partnership with the federal government to support foreign qualifications recognition initiatives.
  • The Province also created the Early Childhood Development Refugee Pilot Program to better provide referral and outreach to immigrant and Government-assisted refugee families not currently using existing services.
  • Your B.C. Government expanded the Community Adult Literacy Program, training volunteers to provide language skills to immigrants in communities outside the Lower Mainland.
  • Waitlists have been reduced for beginning to lower-intermediate English language services for adults by investing $9 million since 2007.
  • Your B.C. Government launched WelcomeBC.ca in April 2008, to provide a single online source for information on how to immigrate to B.C., settle into a new community and join the provincial labour market.
  • In June 2008, the government announced funding of $2.3 million over three years, provided to the Association of Neighbourhood Houses for the building welcoming and inclusive neighbourhoods pilot project.
  • Your B.C. Government invested $400,000 over two years to pen the Connection Centre for Francophone Immigrants in Vancouver to help French-speaking newcomers access services and programs.
  • In February 2009, $3 million was invested to help new British Columbians improve their English skills and succeed in the labour market and the workplace.

For more information:

WelcomeBC