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The initiative takes a proven, collaborative approach to build the capacity of settlement organizations and improve the economic prosperity of Canadian newcomers.
Vancouver, BC - LIFT Impact Partners, with funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, is pleased to announce the ten social purpose organizations (SPOs) selected to participate in its new Strategic Reinvention Initiative.
Meeting the Evolving Needs of the Settlement Sector
Settlement organizations are vital to a newcomer’s success in Canada. They support newcomers to obtain employment, find housing, and more broadly succeed in a new culture and community. With the global pandemic intensifying an already challenging experience of starting a new life in a new country, settlement services have never been more important. While the sector has swiftly pivoted to meet surging demands and evolving needs, more strategic approaches will be required to respond efficiently in the long term.
“We are excited to partner with ten organizations from across the country through the initiative,'' said Bruce Dewar, President & CEO, LIFT. “By combining LIFT’s capacity-building supports with the potential of each organization, we can have a real impact to ensure the SPOs not only continue to respond to the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, but are more resilient, responsive, and coordinated in delivering services that support newcomer’s full participation in the economy.”
The ten selected newcomer organizations are:
These ten organizations represent a portfolio of service providers that have demonstrated positive impact for newcomers to Canada and, importantly, want to do more.
Up to March 2024, LIFT will work with each SPO, both individually and as a cohort, to provide in-depth support and coaching in key areas that are foundational to high-performing organizations. Based on LIFT’s proven track record, it is anticipated that each SPO will have the right strategy, partnerships, program offering, funding, impact measurement, and communications frameworks in place to support newcomers to overcome the barriers to meaningful employment.
“The meaningful, successful, and timely integration of newcomers, immigrants and refugees into the Canadian labour market is foundational to the work at ICA. By being part of the LIFT cohort of like-minded settlement organizations, we will seek to create new pathways to employment for our client groups through capacity building and knowledge sharing – this is an invaluable opportunity and we look forward to strengthening our capacity to meet the changing needs of our sector,” says Shelly D’Mello, Chief Executive Officer, Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria.
“We are excited by this opportunity for ACCES to participate in the Strategic Reinvention Initiative with LIFT Impact Partners,” says Allison Pond, Chief Executive Officer, ACCES Employment. “Through this unique learning and growth opportunity, funded by IRCC, we will share our insights and our extensive experience in newcomer employment with other NPOs doing similar work across Canada. We believe the knowledge and collaboration generated through this LIFT initiative will prepare our sector to better integrate newcomer talent into the Canadian workforce. It will also allow us to play a critical role in building a strong, more inclusive Canadian labour market.”
“As immigration is a key driver for economic growth, innovative initiatives are key to improve retention, address labour market shortages, and stabilize Canada’s tax base,” says Enver Naidoo, Executive Director, Westman Immigrant Services. “WIS is extremely excited to be working with LIFT so that we can strategically increase impact for all stakeholders in the days ahead, and for generations to come.”
According to Statistics Canada's Census report, visible minorities made up almost a quarter (22.3%) of the Canadian population. Visible minority businesses were more likely to face obstacles such as attracting new or returning customers (31%), changing consumer demand (29.7%) and maintaining sufficient cash flow or debt management (28.3%). With this in mind, it is clear Black businesses face more challenges and need additional support to succeed. The Saint John Newcomers Centre would like to shed light on Black Businesses making an impact in Saint John.
2023 / 02 / 16
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According to Statistics Canada's Census report, visible minorities made up/ accounts for almost a quarter (22.3%) of the Canadian population. Visible minority businesses were more likely to face obstacles such as attracting new or returning customers (31%), changing consumer demand (29.7%) and maintaining sufficient cash flow or debt management (28.3%). With this in mind, it is clear Black businesses face more challenges and need additional support to succeed. The Saint John Newcomers Centre would like to shed light on Black Businesses making an impact in Saint John.
2023 / 02 / 24
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The Saint John Newcomers Centre is putting together a line-up of events to take its clients and Saint Johners on a through around the world through its Café Mieux Etre experiences.
2023 / 03 / 13
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Saint John Newcomers Centre: 75 Prince William Street, Suite 100, tel. +1.506.642.4242, email welcome@sjnewcomers.ca. Find us on Facebook, on Twitter, on LinkedIn. Subscribe to our newsletter. Check out our events.
