Immigrant Settlement Services are for immigrants and refugees who live in the Greater Victoria area.

Services are client-driven and enable newcomers to become independent and active members of the community. All services are confidential and culturally sensitive.

Our settlement workers provide assessment, orientation, information, referrals, adjustment support, service linking and bridging including accompaniment. Services are provided in individual, family and group settings.

Newcomers receive orientation with:

• Housing
• Education
• English Language training
• Health care
• Immigration & Citizenship
• Legal issues
• Financial Issues
• Translation & Interpretation
• Community Participation
• Understanding Canadian Culture

Regular group workshops provide information on issues related to immigrant needs. Contact one of our settlement workers to be added to the list serve.

VIRCS provides programs and services for immigrant children , youth and young adults and parents.   Programs include art therapy groups, weekly children’s group, homework clubs, weekly social and recreation nights, life skills workshops, English classes, conversation clubs, and summer camp.

Healthy Immigrant and Refugee Women is a series of three workshops repeated throughout the year on women’s health, nutrition and mammogram screening designed to increase awareness and prevention of breast cancer. Workshops run May 2009-February 2010. Please contact Haixia Liu haixia@vircs.bc.ca or 250-361-9433 x.241

Financial Well Being Project is a series of 10 workshops designed to increase newcomers’ financial capacity.  Workshops run May-December 2009. Please contact Linda Yeend Linda@vircs.bc.ca or 250-361-9433 x. 243

Bi-weekly Law Clinics on Monday afternoons provide free legal information on immigration issues. To book a free 15 minute consultation regarding you or your family members immigration issue contact VIRCS reception at 250-361-9433 x. 200

Contact VIRCS Settlement Workers:
Haixia  Liu (Mandarin, Cantonese) haixia@vircs.bc.ca 250-361-9433 x. 241
Robertina Saavedra (Spanish) robertina@vircs.bc.ca 250-361-9433 x. 240
Linda Yeend Linda@vircs.bc.ca 250-361-9433 x. 243