Priorities & Projects

#1 Immigrant Labour Market Integration

Results from community consultations show that immigrants rank their participation in the labour market as important to their integration in the community. Over 60% of newcomers to the Tri-Cities are skilled immigrants with years of experience and knowledge who are looking to apply their skills in the Canadian labour market. By building inclusive workplaces, employers are able to recognize immigrants’ credentials and develop inclusive and diverse teams that value individuals’ strengths and talents, thereby fostering innovation and growth.

Goals:

  • Employers will increase knowledge of immigration services & work to build more inclusive workplaces.
  • Newcomers can access programs & services that increase workplace language skills, soft skills & employability.

Growing Together: Inclusive Mentorship

Workplace Diversity & Inclusion Tools

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Canada’s growing diversity makes it essential for employers to build safer and inclusive workplaces. Here you can find tools and resources that would support your organization.

This article highlights how your organization can assess your practices, policies and structures for diversity and inclusion. Click here.

The Immigrant Employment Council of BC has developed tools and resources for employers on how to find, recruit and retain immigrant talent. Click here.

Be an equity champion by being a mentor to a newcomer today! Mentorship can support newcomers in better understanding the Canadian labour market and in connecting with others.

Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)

Email:
lenamcleod@shaw.ca
Phone Number:
Description:

Matches B.C.’s rising stars in the deal-making community with accomplished and respected leaders in a range of fields, including investment banking, legal advisory, commercial banking, private equity and corporate development. (postponed until further notice)

Cost:
Free for members

Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Mentoring Program

Email:
info@afpvancouver.org
Phone Number:
Description:

The Mentorship Program is designed to match a relatively junior fundraiser with someone in the industry who has more experience in an area or areas they would like to learn more about. For the mentee or apprentice, it provides an informal career pathway that addresses the pragmatic side of fundraising, rather than the more formal educational side that the CFRE course of study entails.

Cost:
Free for members

BC Council for International Education

Email:
mentorship@bccie.bc.ca
Phone Number:
Description:

The goal of the BCCIE International Education Mentorship Program is to enhance the BC tradition of the exchange of best practices between generations and cultures of international education professionals. The BCCIE International Education Mentorship Program is unique in that it offers mentoring across the international education sector (including K-12, Post-Secondary and Language) as opposed to within an organization or between professor and student.

Cost:
Free for members

BC Principals & Vice-Principals Association

Email:
https://bcpvpa.bc.ca/contact-us
Phone Number:
604.689.3399
Description:

The B.C. Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association (BCPVPA) is a voluntary professional association representing school leaders employed as Principals and Vice-Principals in BC’s public education system. The BCPVPA provides its members with the professional services and supports they need to provide exemplary leadership in public education.

Cost:
Free for members

British Columbia Library Association

Email:
admin@bcla.bc.ca
Phone Number:
Description:

The BCLA Mentorship Program exists to connect and empower Association members by fostering positive relationships in the library community. The program encourages sharing, and aims to promote leadership and commitment to the profession.

Cost:
Cost unlisted

Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

Email:
pducharme@ccab.com
Phone Number:
Philip Ducharme, Director, 416-961-8663 Ext. 230
Description:

CCAB delivers programs that facilitate the growth of Aboriginal business, build relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal business, and ensure life-long learning for Aboriginal entrepreneurs, and other Canadian business leaders. It runs the TFAB program (Tools & Financing for Aboriginal Business).

Cost:
Free for members

Career Mentoring for S.U.C.C.E.S.S

Email:
careermentoring@success.bc.ca
Phone Number:
604-468-6000
Description:

If you are a new immigrant, the Career Mentoring for SUCCESS Program will bridge you to career success by providing you with the information you need in your field of expertise. Your mentor will not find you a job, but they will provide you with information, support, and guidance to jumpstart your professional career in Canada.

Cost:
Free

Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) of British Columbia & Yukon

Email:
mentor@cphrbc.ca
Phone Number:
604.684.7228 
Description:

Whether you are a newcomer to the field of HR, a mid-level practitioner, or a senior level HR professional, the PMP can support you to expand, refine and build new skills. To accomplish that goal, CPHR BC & Yukon encourages interested members to complete the on-demand mentoring 101 preparation course before applying to the program to better prepare both proteges and mentors for what the PMP entails. Applications open August.

Cost:
$30 non-refundable processing fee

Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia

Email:
mentoring@egbc.ca
Phone Number:
604.430.8035
Description:

The Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia mentoring program allows experienced licensed professionals to transfer their skills and knowledge to aspiring and current professional members.

Cost:
Free for members

Forum For Women Entrepreneurs (FEW) Mentor Program

Email:
jessica@fwe.ca
Phone Number:
604-682-8115
Description:

The Mentor Program encourages women entrepreneurs to push their businesses to the next level and supports their growth by pairing them with experienced business leaders for 1:1 mentorship (one hour per month) for 12 months.

Cost:
$280 for new pairings

Futurpreneur Canada

Email:
info@futurpreneur.ca
Phone Number:
604 598 2923
Description:

Futurpreneur Canada supports young entrepreneurs ages 18-39 with up to $60,000* in financing, an expert business mentor for up to two years, and resources to help you plan, manage and grow your business.

Cost:
Free for members

GLOBE Mentorship Program

Email:
mentor@globe.ca
Phone Number:
Description:

GLOBE Advisors  manages the GLOBE  Mentorship Program for pre-commercial entrepreneurs operating primarily in the environmental, clean technology and renewable energy sectors.

Cost:
$3600 for companies

Intercultural Association of Greater Victoria

Email:
https://www.icavictoria.org/contact-us/
Phone Number:
250-388-4728
Description:

Mentoring Services connects internationally trained professionals with qualified local mentors to help guide newcomers along their career development path. It allows for a safe environment for immigrant professionals to explore the local labour market, the “unspoken rules” of the Canadian workforce, and much more. It is a relationship based on mutual learning and sharing of knowledge. Mentoring Services is government-funded and free for all participants.

Cost:
Free

Learning Journeys Mentorship Program

Email:
Sandrine Espie at sespie@pirs.bc.ca
Phone Number:
Description:

Pacific Immigrant Resources Society’s Learning Journeys has a mentorship component that identifies key elements of culturally responsive mentorship models to help immigrant women access meaningful professional information and experiences.

Cost:
Free

Lighthouse Visionary

Email:
shine@lighthousevisionary.com
Phone Number:
604-905-8660
Description:

Since 2011, over 100 women have participated in Lighthouse’s mentor program.  That is to say, linking dynamic, insightful people together in a safe environment to share their own unique business wisdom and life lessons with each other.

Cost:
Cost unlisted

MentorAbility

Email:
jbradley@inclusionbc.org
Phone Number:
604-777-9100
Description:

MentorAbility is a national initiative which promotes the employment of people with disabilities in communities large and small throughout all Canadian provinces and territories.

Cost:
Free

MentorConnect

Email:
https://iecbc.ca/contact/
Phone Number:
604-629-5364
Description:

Immigrant Employment Council of BC runs the MentorConnect program, which brings together skilled immigrants and established professionals in occupation-specific mentoring relationships.

Cost:
Free

Society of Punjabi Engineers & Technologists (SPEATBC)

Email:
https://speatbc.org/contact/
Phone Number:
Description:

The SPEATBC mentoring program allows experienced professionals to transfer their skills and knowledge to aspiring professional members.

Cost:
Free

SUCCESS Self-Employment Training

Email:
BizSupport@success.bc.ca
Phone Number:
236-317-4188 Ext. 2103, 2105, 2106
Description:

SET’s professional business coaches will do a thorough analysis of your startup plans and guide you through the creation of self-employment action plans! Services include coaching, mentoring, networking, business workshops, business pitch preparation, business shadowing.

Cost:
Free

Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) Mentorship Program

Email:
info@viff.org
Phone Number:
Description:

The VIFF Mentorship Program is designed to open doors and eliminate barriers for up-and-coming filmmakers to experience an International film festival first-hand and to build relationships with peers and mentors from Vancouver and beyond. Open to emerging filmmakers age 19-30.

Cost:
Free for members

Women in biz network

Email:
info@womeninbiznetwork.com
Phone Number:
Description:

Women in Biz Members can speak live to a variety of mentors who will help with the challenges you have indicated on your membership application form and on our Members Only Facebook forum. The calls take place once a month for 1 hour via our live webinar. These calls are also recorded and cataloged in the “Members Only Tools Area” as well for listening for future reference.

Cost:
Free for members

Women’s Enterprise Centre

Email:
inquiry@womensenterprise.ca
Phone Number:
1.800.643.7014
Description:

Women’s Enterprise Centre is a non-profit organization devoted to helping BC women start, lead and grow their own businesses. Fueling the success of BC women entrepreneurs since 1995, our full range of services includes business loans up to $150K, plus access to additional financing through a partnership with BDC, business skills training, personalized business advice, mentoring, practical resources and a supportive community.

Cost:
$150 per person

Workplace Connections Mentoring Program

Email:
mentors@mosaicbc.org
Phone Number:
Description:

MOSAIC runs the Workplace Connections Mentoring Program, which introduces newcomers to local professionals in a variety of fields including: Accounting, Architecture, Human Resources, Engineering, IT, Marketing, Business, Banking and Logistics.

Cost:
Free

Young Women in Business

Email:
https://ywib.ca/vancouver/contact-us
Phone Number:
Description:

Based on mentee applications, we seek out women in the Vancouver business community who align with your career aspirations and will help to inspire and guide you in achieving your goals. Mentorship pairings begin in November, and the program kicks off the following January and runs through to May.

Cost:
Cost unlisted

YWCA Elevate Skills

Email:
elevateskills@ywcavan.org
Phone Number:
778 222 2352
Description:

YWCA Elevate Skills is a FREE employment program that assists immigrant women in navigating the Canadian labour market and securing meaningful careers.

Cost:
Free