December 15, 2011
NEWCOMERS TO MAPLE RIDGE TO RECEIVE SETTLEMENT SERVICES

MAPLE RIDGE – Newcomers to Maple Ridge will receive enhanced immigrant settlement services to help them settle into their new lives and gain employment through $142,708 in funding for the Immigrant Services Society of BC. This funding is part of a $20.3 million annual budget for the Settlement and Integration Program under WelcomeBC.

Why this matters:
• Funding goes towards orientation classes and workshops on a wide variety of topics such as: how to find a job, find a place to live, navigate the local transit system and learn banking basics. 
• B.C. continues to be one of Canada’s most popular destinations for new immigrants, welcoming more than 40,000 newcomers each year.
• Services through WelcomeBC are provided to more than 100,000 newcomers in 66 communities across the province, by more than 100 service providers.

Quotes:
“I’m very pleased we are funding important services for new immigrants in Maple Ridge. Helping them find jobs and homes means they will be able to become a part of our community more quickly.”  
-Maple Ridge-Mission MLA Marc Dalton

Quick Facts:
• WelcomeBC’s award-winning website helps approximately 600,000 clients each year from B.C. and around the world, offers information accessible in several languages and makes it easier for immigrants to access vital information.
• By 2019, it’s expected that there will be over a million job openings in the province, and skilled immigrants will play a vital role in filling many of those positions.

Learn More:
Watch the newcomers’ videos here: http://www.welcomebc.ca/wbc/immigration/settle/newcomersguide
• Users can mix and match the language the host speaks in with the subtitle; for example viewers can watch the videos in Punjabi with English subtitles.
• Once the host’s language is selected, all the information on the screen will convert automatically.
• Clients can download the video scripts in any of the eleven languages to keep the instructions/lessons close at hand.
• The technical sophistication of these web videos/mobile offering is a first for any jurisdiction in Canada.

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