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New to Canada

“Welcome to Canada!”

This section is for families who are new to Canada. Find free newcomer services near you.

Agencies that can provide services

Burnaby Pacific Grace Church

Burnaby Pacific Grace Church

Burnaby Pacific Grace’s Children Ministry provides a variety of programs and services that encourage parent-child bonding and supports children’s mental, spiritual, and physical growth through sharing the teachings of Christ. Children are led by teachers to sing songs, play games, listen to stories, and participate in teamwork activities.

MOSAIC BC

MOSAIC BC
MOSAIC is a registered charity serving immigrant, newcomer and refugee communities in Greater Vancouver for the past 40 years.

Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society

Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society

We are a non-profit organization offering free and confidential services to immigrant visible minority and refugee women and their families who are experiencing family violence. We are located in Burnaby but we serve clients in the entire Lower Mainland.

Burnaby Neighbourhood House

Burnaby Neighbourhood House

Burnaby Neighbourhood House provides a free family drop in for parents/caregivers and children 0-5.  The drop in includes free play time, a healthy snack and circle time.  Parents/caregivers can access information about early childhood development or attend parent information sessions.  Three locations.  Call Maheen at 604-431-0400 for more information.

Immigrant Services Society of BC

Immigrant Services Society of BC

Starting a new life in another country can be very hard, especially when you’re unfamiliar with the culture, language and laws. If you’re new to Canada, ISSofBC can help.

Since 1972, we’ve been providing a variety of support services for immigrants and refugees to help them get settled, find careers and learn all they need to know about starting their new lives in Canada. Through our dedicated staff, volunteers and community partners, we provide settlement, education and employment services for over 23,000 clients every year.

ISSofBC is the largest agency of its kind in Western Canada, with targeted programs for refugees, women, children and youth, plus support services in over 45 languages. Our programs and services are available throughout Metro Vancouver, Squamish and the Okanagan.

Burnaby Public Library

Burnaby Public Library

Nearly 6,000 people visit Burnaby Public Library every day. With four branches conveniently located throughout the city, Burnaby Public Library provides access to a rich array of the world’s stories, ideas and information. Our vision is a vibrant community where all people are informed, literate and entertained. BPL offers outstanding collections, programs and services for children from birth through Grade 7. Come and Explore!

Information for newcomer families in 25 different languages that includes:

  • Stories in many different languages and about various cultures
  • Listening to spoken English
  • Summer Reading Club
  • ESL – vocabulary, writing and grammar (for parents)
  • Learn about Canada (for parents)

Dixon Transition Society

Dixon Transition Society

Serving the community since 1973, Dixon Transition Society serves women and children survivors of domestic violence by providing a safe haven through our Transition House, Second Stage and Third Stage housing programs. Further support, including Family and Stopping the Violence Counselling as well as Housing Outreach, complete our continuum of services to empower families and provide them with the opportunity to lead safe, healthy and positive lives.

Cameray Child and Family Services

Cameray Child and Family Services

The Parent Support Program at Cameray Child and Family Services offers individual parenting support sessions for expecting parents and parents with children 0-5 years.  We also offer educational and interactive parenting groups Monday – Friday year-round.  Group topics include: Mother Goose, Nobody’s Perfect, Positive Discipline, Anger in Families, Songs and Stories, Attachment Parenting, and more!

Newcomers’ Centre

Newcomers’ Centre

This pilot project is an early childhood focused settlement service for refugee families in Burnaby. The project is based on the belief that the healthy growth and development of young refugee children occurs within the context of healthy families and requires the support of the whole community. The ultimate goal of the project is to integrate refugee children and their families into mainstream programs and services. There are nine service-activities in the Centre; The Welcoming Room, The Newcomers’ Group, Early Learning Program for the Newcomers’ Group, Adapted Preschool, Afternoon Activity – Information Sessions for Parents, Teaching Kitchen, Outreach Service Coordination – Community Bridging Support, Volunteer Program, and Community ECD/Settlement Training.

Family Services of Greater Vancouver

Family Services of Greater Vancouver

At some point in life, everyone gets stuck. Since 1928, people experiencing challenges have been turning to Family Services of Greater Vancouver—a community-based not-for-profit organization providing crucial social services to children, youth, adults, and families across Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Surrey. We offer support, provide hope, and present opportunities—helping people realize and create possibilities for themselves. All of our work is about building healthy, vibrant tomorrows.

Burnaby Family Life

Burnaby Family Life

The Burnaby Family Life (BFL) is an accredited, multi-service agency that provides a wide range of services to the whole community of Burnaby, in all its diversity.  BFL is a non profit, non partisan society governed by a Board of Directors, incorporated February 1971.  Our organization strives to support the successful settlement and integration of immigrants into Canadian society, to provide learning opportunities, emotional and practical supports, childcare and counselling services and to strengthen our community by empowering individuals and their families.  Our programs specialize in serving the vulnerable population.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

Established in 1973 and incorporated in 1974, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is one of the largest social service agencies in British Columbia, Canada. With the vision to create “A World of Multicultural Harmony”, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is well supported by its mission to Build Bridges, Harvest Diversity and Foster Integration.

Metro Vancouver Refugee Response Team

Refugee settlement information and planning. Click here. http://metrovanrrt.ca

Province-wide Information Online

NewToBC partners with libraries and immigrant service providers to develop, deliver, and promote services and resources that support immigrant settlement and integration in communities across the province. Click here. 

Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre

provides brochures in 13 different languages. Click here. 

Additional resources

THE LOWER MAINLAND PURPOSE SOCIETY

The Lower Mainland Purpose Society

The Purpose Society is committed to working with you and your family to meet your goals. The Purpose Society was established in 1983 and has provided social services to thousands of children, youth and families. Currently, they provide the following services or programs: Edmonds Youth Resource Center, Family Futures, Food Bags, Showers, and Laundry, HIV/AIDS Educational, Support Services and Resource Library, Kitchener Out of School Care, Madison Daycare, Pregnancy Support, Ready Set Grow Daycare for Young Parents, Rosser Daycare, Young Adult Learning Centre, Youth and Family Caseworkers, Youth Source and free Youth Medical Clinic, Yukon Crescent Daycare.