Since 1972, ISSofBC has supported newcomers as they settle in British Columbia. We are happy to continue these services in many locations, offering settlement, language, and career services to newcomers throughout BC.
However, some locations and programs will change by March 31, 2025 due to changes in funding across the settlement/immigration sector nationwide. Please see below for all the latest updates as they are announced.
Please note our English Language LINC classes are continuing as usual across all our locations.
Thank you for your patience during this time. If you have any questions about these upcoming changes, please submit them through our feedback form.
Change to our English language (LINC) program
Starting April 1, 2025:
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There will be no classes for Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or CLB 8 students in LINC at ISSofBC.
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All CLB 5 and 6 classes will be online only. Space in these classes will be limited.
ISSofBC is here to support as you navigate these changes.
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ISSofBC Language and Career College (LCC) offers paid English classes. Visit LCC for more information.
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For employment support visit:
Permanent closure of our Langley office
Our Langley office will close all services on March 21 2025.
For clients living in Langley, settlement services are available at:
Change of services in Burnaby
From 22 March 2025 onwards, we will continue to offer:
- BC SAFE HAVEN
- BC Newcomer Support Program (NSP)
- Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants.
The following programs will close due to funding reductions affecting the immigration sector:
- Settlement Support Services
- Moving Ahead Program (MAP)
- Connecting Seniors
- Immigrant Women Peer Support Program (IWSP)
- Volunteer Community Connections.
These programs may still be available at other ISSofBC locations, so please check our website http://www.issbc.org for more information in your language.
In Burnaby, the following service providers may still be able to support you:
MOSAIC
Burnaby Neighbourhood House
End of all Entrepreneur and ‘Start a Business’ programs
Our Business Quest, Spark, and Ignite programs will all end on 31 March 2025.
Since their start, these programs have supported over 500 newcomer entrepreneurs in finding and building their businesses in BC. We thank all the staff and clients who have worked to make them such a success.
End of Job Quest
Applications for the Job Quest program are now closed.
A new IRCC-funded employment program will launch in April 2025 in Maple Ridge, Coquitlam, New Westminster, and Vancouver. More information to follow soon.
End of the Gateway to Tourism and Hospitality Program
This program will also end on 31 March 2025.
The Gateway program has supported over 400 newcomers and worked with 150 corporate partners to discover and develop careers in hospitality and tourism.
End of support for CUAET visa holders
After March 31, 2025, holders of Canada-Ukraine Authorisation for Emergency Travel (CUAET) visas, Ukrainian nationals with temporary resident status in Canada, and their dependents will no longer be eligible for all IRCC-funded settlement or language programs.
Since the start of the CUAET program in 2022, we have supported over 800 Ukrainian newcomers as they settled, learned English, and found work.
Ukrainian visa holders may also be eligible for provincially funded programs, like the BC Newcomer Support Program (NSP).
Our Language and Career College (LCC) also offers a 50% discount on English classes.
Additional key change:
Relocation of Vancouver Health Clinic to Victoria Drive
A Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) clinic relocated to Victoria Drive on February 3, 2025.
This clinic is only for Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) referred by our LCC The clinic will provide post-arrival health assessments, follow-ups, and vaccinations.
