Since 2016, ISSofBC has been a Sponsorship Agreement Holder working with refugee clients and corporate partners to help reunite extended family members and close friends through the PSR program. This year we renewed our agreement with IRCC for another five years, until 2028.
In 2023 – 2024, we welcomed 19 PSR arrivals, including families and individuals. Our hope is to unite families to overcome integration barriers, contributing to overall mental health and wellbeing. Vancity remained one of our ongoing private sector partners.
The ICC works to unlock Canada for newcomers, facilitating and encouraging the journey towards full and active Canadian citizenship. Launched in 2023, our ongoing partnership provides free access to all newcomers to over 2000 attractions and events through ICC’s Canoo app, the opportunity to speak at their enhanced citizenship ceremonies in Vancouver, and the promotion of all our workshops and events through their app to all BC newcomers. Our communications team also joins regular conversations with sector partners to share best practices and raise brand awareness.
Under Career Services, we partnered with Vitro Online Job Service, a platform enhancing job search and recruitment processes through advanced technology. It provides job seekers with seamless access to diverse opportunities and offers employers powerful recruitment tools such as job posting, candidate profile reviews, and analytics for refined hiring strategies.
We also used Vitro’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) interview simulation to offer newcomers tailored virtual interview practice, enhancing readiness through metrics like speech rate and response length. This aimed to optimize interview skill development and job matching, leveraging advanced technology to enhance program effectiveness and participant outcomes.
Under Career Services, we collaborated with SkyHive that specializes in workforce intelligence and reskilling solutions using AI. SkyHive’s platform analyzes workforce data to identify skill gaps, supports reskilling with personalized learning pathways, and matches newcomers’ skills with small business job openings through AI-driven competency matching, thus enhancing employment opportunities and workforce agility.
Hotel Management International (HMI) offers hotel sourcing and contract negotiation at no cost to ISSofBC. OurResettlement Assistance Program (RAP) works closely with them to provide temporary accommodation for newly arrived Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) in addition to those units provided directly at our Vancouver Welcome Centre.
In 2023, HMI rolled out proprietary software ‘HMI reservations’ to ISSofBC, enabling quick access to all information, including arrivals, in-house guests, departures, and reporting.
From 2023 – 2024, HMI has been invaluable in controlling costs of this publicly funded program and managing variable levels of arrivals and therefore demand for rooms, all while upholding high standards of accommodation for newcomers to Canada.
SSI is an Australian non-profit dedicated to aiding immigrants and newcomers with settling. Under our entrepreneurship services, we partnered with them to run the Ignite Small Business Start-Ups program, which fosters small business growth for refugees and migrants, empowering them to start their own businesses and create employment opportunities.
Using SSI’s model, we offer personalized support to newcomer entrepreneurs, connecting them with volunteers, mentors, and industry experts for crucial business development needs like website development, digital marketing, and financial guidance. One challenge is sourcing volunteers and mentors for niche industries like biodegradable products and cosmetics importation, addressed through active participation in relevant industry events.
