Program Overview
For immigrants, it is always a challenge to successfully settle at a place they choose to be their new abode and a smooth and timely integration into the new system is of vital significance for their successful transition into the new environment. The Settlement Program works with the eligible immigrant population to address the transitional issues faced by them and assists them overcome the barriers arising out of lack of necessary skills and/or limited knowledge about Canada. This program aims at ensuring adequate participation by the immigrants in social, cultural, civic and economic life in Canada; the main areas of focus being information and orientation, language training, skills development and welcoming communities, health care benefits, and a range of other services.
Client Eligibility
The following persons are eligible to receive settlement services under the program:
- Permanent Residents of Canada;
- Protected persons as defined in section 95 of the IRPA;
- Individuals who have been selected, in Canada, to become permanent residents (pending medical, security and criminal verifications) and who have been informed of this by a letter from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC);
- Naturalized Citizens;
- Individuals in British Columbia who have a valid nomination certificate from British Columbia under the Provincial Nominee Program;
- Temporary Foreign Workers
Program Access
The program can be accessed by phone, email or personal visit to the location. The order of acceptance is first come first serve basis by appointment and/or by walking in to be prioritized on the basis of urgency and staff availability. There is no fee for any of the services provided under the Settlement Program.
Service Locations and Timings
Service location offices will remain closed on Saturdays, Sundays and Statutory Holidays
Surrey
PICS Head Office
08:30AM – 4:30PM
Monday – Friday
#205 – 12725 80th Avenue
Surrey, BC V3W 3A6
Tel: (604) 596 7722 ext 145
Fleetwood Community Centre
Mondays only
3:00PM to 7:00PM
15996 84 Avenue
Surrey, BC V4N 0W1
Tel: (604) 501-5030
Cloverdale Recreation Centre
Tuesdays only
10:00AM – 2:00PM
6188 176 Street
Surrey, BC V3S 4E7
Tel: (604) 598-7960
Guildford Recreation Centre
Thursdays only (Arabic and English)
09:00AM – 1:00PM
15105 105 Avenue,
Surrey, BC V3R 7G8
Tel: (604) 502-6360
Delta
George Mackie Library
Every other Tuesday
1:00PM – 5:00PM
8440 112 Street
Delta, BC V4C 4W9
Tel: (604) 594-8155
Vancouver
Settlement Office
08:30AM – 4:30PM
Monday – Friday
#102 – 8153 Main Street
Vancouver, BC V5X 3A7
Tel: (778) 371 8552
At the time of service intake, the client is required to produce one of the following documents as an evidence of their status in Canada in order to avail themselves of the services;
For Permanent Residents
- Permanent Resident Card or
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CPR)
- Letter from IRCC for those selected in Canada to become permanent residents
For Naturalized Citizens
- Certificate of Citizenship
Temporary Foreign Workers
- Valid Work Permit
Provincial Nominees
- Valid nomination certificate from British Columbia
These documents are required to feed information into a funder provided electronic data system for validation and establish eligibility. The eligible client will also be required to provide personal information such as name, address, contact number, date of birth. Client information confidentiality and privacy are the highest priority with no access to unauthorized person.
Brief Overview of the Services
Quick Information & Referral
Quick information and referral services are responses to client enquiry, which do not require establishment of trust or complexity of issue. This service is usually delivered over the phone, and does not require much probing or counselling.
Needs Assessment
Through a detailed discussion and probing, the client needs are assessed to determine the extent and duration of the service requirement in which the person served is also encouraged to play an active role.
Orientation
These services provide clients with information both in group settings as well as on one-on-one basis about service systems and society in BC to buttress the foundation of their settlement.
Counselling
Support is provided to all eligible clientele facing settlement issues that includes navigation of basic needs to complex issues involving migration and transition. It is not clinical counselling, but is limited to providing counselling on settlement related issues. The clientele requiring clinical counselling can be referred to external resources.
Employment Support
Employment Support services are intended to address clients’ needs regarding the most common and primary concerns of securing employment by providing them support to overcome any barriers by equipping them with the skills, information and appropriate referrals to facilitate their entry into the labour market through services such as job search skills, networking, internships, mentorship and interview skills etc.
Community Connections
Eligible clientele and their families are provided with access to support from the existent long-term residents within their community, relevant events and other community resources into order to help them benefit from opportunities by indulging in social and professional exchange with long-term residents who are, perhaps, well-acquainted with the process of settlement themselves.
Workshops
The objective of this activity is to promote a contextual understanding of life in Canada, including laws, rights, responsibilities and other systems among the eligible immigrants with the purpose of making them self dependent in system navigation. To fulfill this objective, a series of 1-2 hour interactive workshops/information sessions are delivered using modern technology. The eligibility criteria to participate in these workshops are the same as for accessing settlement services in general. Pre-registration is preferred but not mandatory.
Settlement Plan
The purpose of this activity is to render clients independent of secondary and tertiary assistance, and hence, lead them to actively participate in Canadian life and society. Clients with long-term issues or settlement challenges are supported by a Settlement Plan, wherein cooperating clientele are provided with a mutually established plan to achieve professional and personal settlement goals over a relatively longer duration – this plan is broken into shorter segments or milestones and each such milestone is worked on or executed on the foundation of the previous one. A file is maintained to follow up and document the progress of the plan.
Child Care Support
Free Child Minding services are available for eligible clients while accessing settlement services in Surrey at the PICS Head Office location.
