Victoria Immigrant
and Refugee Centre
Building a Welcoming and Prosperous Community
VIRCS: Empowering Newcomers in Victoria
As a leading organization in the Greater Victoria Region, the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society, is dedicated to supporting immigrants and refugees. Our comprehensive settlement, integration and anti-racism services are designed to help newcomers integrate, thrive and build a successful future in Canada. Through our diverse programs, we empower individuals and families to navigate their new lives with confidence and hope.
The Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) is a community-based settlement and integration organization serving newcomers, immigrants, and refugees on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Peoples, today known as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.
We support more than 3,000 individuals each year—including immigrants, refugees, new Canadian citizens, and visible minority communities—through programs that strengthen belonging, economic participation, anti-racism, and community well-being.
Our work is carried out by a committed, caring team of staff and enthusiastic volunteers who are dedicated to supporting our community.
BC Newcomer Services Program
English As a Second Language
Inclusion, Belonging &
Anti-Racism Initiatives
Volunteer Program
Newcomer Women’s Project
Enable for Children
& Youth Program
CELPIP Testing Centre
Pathways to Professions,
Trades, & Entrepreneurship
Welcome Gardens
Digital Literacy for BIPOC Seniors
Territorial Acknowledgement
We acknowledge with respect that our work at VIRCS takes place on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) Peoples known today as the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. These lands, located in Greater Victoria, have long been a place of gathering and home to the original families who made their home a long time ago. As we continue our mission to assist those new to this region, we recognize the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge of the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) traditional families' territory.
We are committed to learning from and respecting Indigenous peoples' rich history, culture, and wisdom as we support our staff to provide services and help clients build their new lives as guests on these unceded lands. We are also committed to respectfully contributing to the ongoing mutual learning and healing process needed by acknowledging Indigenous peoples' suffering under colonization and its devastating effects to date.
