For Public Service Pride Week in British Columbia for 2025, we wanted to highlight the work of our Moving Ahead Program (MAP), which offers specialized support for LGBTQ+ newcomers in British Columbia.
For many LGBTQ+ newcomers, the journey to Canada begins with both hope and uncertainty, as Roy, a current MAP refugee client, explains:
“In the beginning, I was filled with tension and uncertainty about the future… When I arrived in Canada, I went to ISSofBC’s Welcome Centre, where I received a note in Arabic from my RAP case manager…which helped me feel more at ease.”
Settling in a new country brings challenges such as learning a new language, finding work, and adjusting to unfamiliar ways of life, such as schools or medical care.
For LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees, these challenges are often more complex because of the risks of discrimination, isolation, or not being understood.
In Roy’s experience, learning to live alongside more conservative people in his community has been a challenge, but he has found support from other people in the LGBTQ+ community.
“As a newcomer and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have faced challenges when interacting with conservative families, which made me feel uncomfortable. However, within the LGBTQ+ community itself, I have felt truly welcomed and supported. For me, being part of the LGBTQ+ community is a source of pride here in Canada. It means having the freedom to live authentically, without judgment, and to express myself fully.”
The power of specialized LGBTQ+ support
The MAP was designed to support newcomers experiencing additional difficulties in their settlement journey. For LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees, it provides confidential case management, advocacy, and accompaniment.
Services include support in accessing safe housing, health care, education, and legal guidance, as well as one-on-one support.
By reducing isolation and connecting clients to LGBTQ+-specific supports, MAP empowers newcomers to feel seen, respected, and valued.
“Being part of the LGBTQ+ community is a source of pride here in Canada. It means having the freedom to live authentically, without judgment, and to express myself fully.”
– ROY, MAP LGTBQ+ client
A program built from personal experience
What makes MAP especially meaningful is the fact that many MAP staff understand the journey of LGBTQ+ newcomers personally.
Daroo Karajoul, themselves a former refugee from Syria, is now the LGBTQ+ case manager in MAP. They know how vital community support can be in a newcomer’s journey.
“I also came to Canada as an LGBTQ+ refugee and faced many of the same challenges my clients are now going through. This makes the program not only a professional role for me, but also a personal mission to give back and help others feel safe, supported, and empowered.”
Looking towards the future
With the support MAP provides, LGBTQ+ newcomers in British Columbia can build their confidence, feel safe, and be welcomed into life in Canada.
For Roy, this means following his ambition of a healthcare career; “Looking to the future, my ambitions are endless. I plan to continue my adult education, attend university, and become a nurse.”
Programs like MAP highlight the importance of safe, inclusive services for LGBTQ+ immigrants and refugees.
By offering community, advocacy, and belonging, MAP supports newcomers in rebuilding their lives and enriching Canada as a whole.
Want to join MAP and start receiving support?
MAP supports immigrants, refugees, and refugee claimants in British Columbia who are facing multiple challenges in their settlement journey—including LGBTQ+ newcomers, youth, seniors, and families. With four accessible locations across Metro Vancouver (Vancouver, New Westminster, and Tri-Cities), MAP provides:
- Confidential, multilingual support (services available in English, Arabic, Farsi, Dari, Pashto, Tigrinya, Spanish, and more)
- One-on-one and group meetings tailored to individual needs
- Accompaniment to essential appointments, such as accessing and advocacy
- Information and referrals on schools, healthcare, housing, recreation, and legal services
- Crisis intervention and trauma-informed care
- Life skills support and individualized action plans
- Specialized LGBTQ+ services that create a safe, affirming space
How to join MAP:
If you are an LGBTQ+ newcomer—or a newcomer facing challenges with language, housing, or integration—MAP is here to help. Services are flexible and can be delivered in person, over the phone, or online.
📧 Email: MAP@issbc.org
📞 Call: 778-372-6565
🌐 Learn more & find a location near you: issbc.org/locations
No one should navigate their settlement journey alone. MAP provides the tools, support, and community you need to feel safe, thrive, and truly belong in Canada.
