United Nations Ambassadors from 11 countries including Canadian Ambassador Marc‐André Blanchard visited ISSofBC Welcome Centre this morning to learn about Canada’s response to the global migration issues and the programs and services offered to refugees and immigrants.
Ambassadors from Colombia, Ghana, Guatemala, Jordan, Mali, Mauritania, Peru, United Republic of Tanzania and Viet Nam had the opportunity to tour the centre’s temporary housing units, one of the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) classes, the ISSofBC Preschool, and the Youth Hub led by ISSofBC Director of Settlement Services and Chris Friesen and Director of Language and Career Services Carla Morales.
“We are honoured that you have carved out time from your busy schedule to visit us and learn about our organization, in particular, about what we do to support people who come to Canada whether by design or by circumstance,” said ISSofBC Board of Directors President Jim Tallman during opening remarks of the visit.
The Ambassadors are in Vancouver as part of a two-day summit on peacekeeping that kicked off at the Vancouver Convention Centre today.
The conference is expected to draw over 500 delegates from over 70 countries, including defence ministers and representatives from the African Union, European Union, NATO, and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.
