Priorities & Projects

#2 Access to Community Information & Services

Access to Community Information & Services
Community research findings indicate that newcomers in the Tri-Cities face challenges in learning about and accessing community information and services including settlement services. Service providers have also indicated the need for more opportunities to connect with other providers to strengthen their capacity to support newcomers’ needs.

Goals:

  • Community stakeholders are aware of barriers newcomers experience in their settlement journey & are engaged to support newcomers’ needs.
  • Community stakeholders are aware of settlement services in the Tri-Cities and are able to refer newcomers to access these immigration services.

Annual Forums

TCLIP invites community stakeholders to learn about immigrant settlement and integration.

Since 2015, TCLIP has organized an annual forum that invites community stakeholders to learn about immigrant settlement and integration and to identify opportunities for collaboration. TCLIP plays a key role in strengthening the community’s capacity to foster welcoming and inclusive communities through knowledge sharing, connection and collaboration.

Filing the Gap: TCLIP Community Forum
November 30th, 2023 |10:00am-2:30pm


Filling the Gaps: TCLIP Community Forum aimed to bring service providers and community members together to present findings from two research projects conducted by TCLIP in 2023. 

The event started with the first session sharing findings from Tri-Cities Community-Based Planning (CBP) Project. The project was funded by IRCC under the Service Delivery Improvement stream to explore the interest and need for a community-based funding (CBF) model, a novel approach that could lead to the development and delivery of more effective and responsive services within the local settlement sector, and the development of a community-led plan. The participants were able to learn about the project’s approach to develop the model and learnings so far. The session was followed by discussion where the participants were invited to share their feedback and thoughts on the community-based plan in the Tri-Cities. 

The second session of the forum presented findings from a research project called, Sense of Belonging, which was funded by IRCC to explore the service needs, usage and experiences of those who identify as newcomers belonging to gender or sexual minority in the Tri-Cities. It provided an opportunity for the event participants to learn about the unique needs and challenges of LGBTQIA+ newcomers and their sense of belonging in our community. After the presentation, an interactive dialogue was facilitated to explore how the results of Sense of Belonging Project can be used to improve settlement and community services and support development of more inclusive programs. 

The event also hosted booths with services and programs that provide support for LGBTQIA+ communities in Metro Vancouver to increase awareness of the available resources to better assist newcomers belonging to these groups.

Reimagine: TCLIP Community Forum (February 22nd, 2023)

February 22nd, 2023| 9:00am – 2:00pm

The Reimagine: TCLIP Community Forum aimed at bringing service providers and newcomers together to discuss ways to reimagine services that would cater to the diverse needs of the community. The participants attended Statistics Canada’s presentation that highlighted the trends in immigration and settlement between 2016-2021. The forum was organized in response to the identified need of service providers and newcomers who faced challenges in accessing and receiving services that met their specific needs. The event’s discussions were held through an anti-oppressive lens, which meant that the focus was on acknowledging and dismantling systems that create and perpetuate oppression, marginalization, and discrimination. Through this lens, participants explored the systemic barriers that newcomers face when trying to access services, such as lack of language support, cultural insensitivity, and systemic racism. They also examined how service providers can take steps to address these barriers and create more equitable and inclusive services. The anti-oppressive lens helped to ensure that the forum’s discussions were respectful and inclusive, creating a safe space for participants to share their experiences and ideas.

Service Providers’ Forum
February 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd, 2022 | 9:00am- 12:00pm

TCLIP organized a Service Providers’ Forum that was held once a week for the month of February, as a way to improve access and navigation of information, and as an answer to service providers’ request for a space where they could share information about their programs/projects, network, discuss topics relevant to their work and experiences, and best practices.

The topics discussed during the Forum included the ‘Impacts of COVID-19 on Newcomers in the Tri-Cities’, ‘The Benefits of Applying an Anti-Oppression Approach to Supporting Newcomer Communities’, ‘Housing & Legal Supports Available to Newcomers’, ‘Navigating the Healthcare System’, and ‘Newcomers’ Needs and Supports Available’ to them around employment and workplace inclusion. 

Path Forward: Transforming Priorities into Action

Path Forward: Transforming Priorities into Action
January 13th, 2021 | 1:00- 3:30pm

On January 13th, 2021 TCLIP presented the research findings on community needs and priorities with immigrant integration and inclusion.

Welcoming Neighbourhoods
On November 14th, 2018, the Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership and Tri-Cities Organizing against Racism & Hate Network (now known as Tri-Cities Together) hosted Welcoming Neighbourhoods. As our communities grow, there is a rising concern around the lack of social connection amongst residents. The lack of social connection can lead to social isolation, depression, anxiety, and the feeling of not belonging to one’s own community. Welcoming Neighbourhoods is an opportunity to connect with others, to hear of ways in which others have connected with their neighbours and to learn more about the importance of social connections.

The event welcomed 125 diverse attendees who were established residents, newcomers and community representatives.

Census Forum: Using Evidence to Enhance Collaborative Partnerships in the Tri-Cities

Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership (TCLIP) Welcoming Neighbourhoods

On January 22, 2018, TCLIP invited community stakeholders to learn about the 2016 Census data specific to the Tri-Cities, consider the effect of the data on their organizations’ activities for newcomers, and to enhance partnership opportunities and collaboration with other community stakeholders. Statistics Canada and Dr. Daniel Hiebert were invited to share how 2016 Census data can be used to enhance partnership opportunities and collaboration amongst community organizations.

TCLIP Community Forum
At the TCLIP Community Forum in early 2017, research findings on feasibility of various service coordination models in the context of Tri-Cities were shared with the community. The Input and feedback gathered from the community at the Forum served to inform the development of the TCLIP Action Plan.

TCLIP Refugee Support Forum
On November 2, 2016, TCLIP organized its first Refugee Support Forum, bringing together service providers whose services are directly or indirectly related to refugees. The objective of the Refugee Forum was to provide an opportunity for agencies to work together to enhance service supports for refugees. Over 100 participants representing the Tri-Cities service provider organizations (TC SPOs) actively dialogued to identify strengths, challenges and opportunities in providing services to refugees. Input on strengths, gaps, and opportunities were obtained from forum participants. The inputs were presented to the TCLIP Council and were addressed in the TCLIP Implementation Plan on the TCLIP priority area of increasing newcomers’ access to community information and immigration services.

Tri-Cities Community Forum
During a community forum held on March 24, 2015, participants were presented with the findings from the TCLIP Civic Engagement research. Attendees were asked to provide their input and perspectives on the findings with regard to addressing civic engagement needs of Tri-Cities newcomers. Input and feedback collected from participants at the forum informed the development of the TCLIP Strategic Plans’ strategic priorities, goals and objectives.