About WelcomeBC

What is WelcomeBC.ca?

WelcomeBC.ca is a no-nonsense, one-stop website for newcomers, the agencies that serve them, and the communities they select as home. If you haven't arrived here yet, or are looking for ways to join us, this website can help you too. Anyone thinking of living, working, studying or investing in B.C. can find what they need from this reliable government website.

It is designed to help:

newcomers to move to B.C., and to live, work, invest or study here
communities to welcome other cultures and nationalities, and
service providers to connect with communities, funding and support

WelcomeBC.ca has been designed to assist prospective immigrants, newcomers, community leaders, and service providers. This web-site coordinates information available through a wide cross-section of B.C. government and federal ministries, providing our clients with direct access to the information they need, in the format they want it in.

The website helps clients to easily navigate a wide range of programs, resources to support newcomers in B.C.. These programs and services are administered under the Agreement for Canada-British Columbia Cooperation on Immigration, largely through a flagship initiative called WelcomeBC.

Funding for WelcomeBC.ca is provided by the Government of Canada.

Award Winning Website

IPAC Awards: August 25, 2009

The Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) awarded the 2009 Bronze Innovative Management Award to the WelcomeBC.ca site and its creators. The award was announced at the end of August during the national IPAC conference in New Brunswick. The theme of the 2009 competition was "Turn Around:" organizations, programs and individuals who have successfully "turned around" or dramatically improved a part of the public sector, going from low results to high outcomes.

The WelcomeBC.ca web site certainly "turned around" the experience of newcomers and prospective immigrants by consolidating information about BC – information that was previously scattered over more than a dozen hard-to-find locations and websites operated by more than a dozen provincial, federal and NGO organizations. WelcomeBC.ca has replaced all that with a well designed "one-stop-information-shopping" portal with program and service content from local governments, Crown Corporations, 16 B.C. ministries, and three Federal ministries.

Premier's Awards: March 26, 2009

Service Excellence Finalist
The team responsible for the WelcomeBC.ca website was recognized as a provincial finalist under the Premier’s Innovation and Excellence Awards Program. The Premier's Awards are an annual process to recognize excellence in the BC Public Service.

Earlier, in January 2009, WelcomeBC.ca was awarded a Regional Silver Award for Service Excellence.

Public Sector Information Technology Awards: September 10, 2008

The 2008 Public Sector Information Technology Awards recognize leadership, innovation and excellence in the management and use of information technologies within the public service of British Columbia. "Public service" includes Crown corporations, municipalities, and public educational and healthcare organizations.

WelcomeBC.ca received awards in the categories of Citizen Engagement and Team Work.

WelcomeBC

The government of B.C. recognizes the importance of immigrants in building the province. The Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development brings together the labour market, immigration and post-secondary education portfolios, and is working to ensure that new British Columbians have the information and training they need to join the workforce quickly and to enjoy the benfits of life in this province. Human capital is our competitive advantage, by helping newcomers to settle, gain employment, and become active members of their communities, we're helping them to make a long-term contribution to our society and economy.

WelcomeBC is a broad strategic framework led by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development. It has been designed to unite settlement, immigration and labour market services under a single service umbrella. Launched by Premier Gordon Campbell on June 13, 2007, WelcomeBC offers access to services for newcomers, and information about English language courses, employment, health, and education services. WelcomeBC also helps B.C. meet a critical labour market need by bringing immigrants and employers together. WelcomeBC works with employer associations and regulatory bodies to streamline the qualification assessment and recognition practices; and with employer associations to make them aware of the barriers immigrants can face. WelcomeBC provides employers with tools and resources to help them attract, hire and keep immigrants; and works with immigrants to help them overcome those barriers.

Much of B.C.'s growth and sustainability depends on the hard work, vision and passion of those who choose to join us. While their reasons for immigrating to B.C. may vary, newcomers are ultimately drawn here by the opportunity to build a new life in a friendly, healthy environment. Our spectacular natural surroundings, stable government, competitive economy and talented workforce combine to create exceptional professional and lifestyle opportunities for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, professionals, and their families.

Since its inception, WelcomeBC has continued to enhance its programs and launch new services and initiatives to help newcomers to settle into B.C.. This websites ensures newcomers, the communities they have selected to live in, and the service providers who support them in these communities, all have direct access to information on these services.

The website is divided into three gateways, mirroring the three client groups for WelcomeBC: newcomers, communities, and service providers.

Newcomers

Through WelcomeBC:

adults can learn how to use English in daily life and at work;
mentors and training programs can help immigrants find jobs;
volunteers and organizations can help newcomers meet new friends or join in community activities;
children can receive after-school tutoring or help from settlement workers at school; and
newcomers can receive counselling and support to adjust to life in B.C.

Communities

B.C. is changing and so are its communities – we are one of the most culturally rich and diverse jurisdictions in the world. WelcomeBC is working in partnership with local governments, municipalities, service providers and community members to ensure our communities continue to gather recognition as welcoming, safe and vibrant.

A welcoming and inclusive community embraces multiculturalism, offers resources and support for newcomers, and engages all sectors of the community in committing to the long-term social and economic prosperity of the community.

To assist our communities, WelcomeBC:

offers a wide range of programs to help communities attract, welcome and integrate immigrants and newcomers
works with communities to ensure that all benefits are available to every member of the community
emphasizes the importance of including First Nations and Aboriginal people in decisions that affect their communities

Find out more about how how WelcomeBC can help your community in its journey to becoming welcoming and inclusive.

Service Providers

Service Providers provide an intergral connection for immigrants in their new communities. They meet newcomers at the airport, help them in their search for jobs, help them to learn English and provide countless valuable services.

WelcomeBC recognizes the tireless efforts of service providers and their strong role in making this program a success.

If you are a service provider, use this site to find out about funding opportunities, sectoral resources and other opportunities.