Government-Assisted Refugee arrivals to British Columbia increased significantly between April 1 and June 30, 2026.
During the quarter, 471 people arrived in or relocated within BC, including 396 refugees who arrived directly through Canada’s Resettlement Assistance Program. Direct arrivals more than doubled compared with the previous quarter.
The latest GAR_Q2 Newsletter_2026_draft_Aug21.pdf explores what these changing arrival patterns mean for refugee reception and settlement services across the province.
The bulletin includes information about:
- the countries people arrived from
- the languages spoken by new arrivals
- age and household trends
- the BC communities where people settled
- secondary migration from other provinces
- the changing demand for housing, language, employment and community support
Surrey remained the leading destination, welcoming more than half of all arrivals recorded during the quarter. The bulletin also shows growing cultural and linguistic diversity among refugees beginning their lives in BC.
Understanding these trends supports stronger planning and more responsive services for refugees, families and the communities welcoming them.
Explore the latest data and settlement trends in the full bulletin.
Read the Q2 2026 GAR Arrivals Bulletin
