/June 09, 2021
CKPG News: The family, from London Ontario, was struck by a car as they walked along the sidewalk. Police believe that the family was targeted because they were Muslim.
Four family members are dead and a nine-year-old is fighting for his life after a suspected targeted attack on Sunday.
/May 31, 2021
The office is now open for in-person/virtual services starting today Monday, May 31st, 2021. Clients can now access all settlement services in-person.
/November 25, 2020
IMSS is providing in-person / virtual services from November 30th, 2020
Due to the recent increase in COVID-19 cases , IMSS will be providing settlement services in-person/virtual, starting from November 30th, 2020, until January 18th, 2021. Clients can access our services and connect with settlement staff by phone, email, virtual tool or in-person.
We encourage everyone to follow all health and safety measures that have been put in place by health officials.
Please find below note to that effect.
/November 19, 2020
Province-wide restrictions
(The order is in effect from November 19, 2020 at midnight to December 7, 2020 at midnight).
By order and direction of the PHO, all individuals, places of work and businesses in B.C. must significantly reduce social interactions and travel.
No social gatherings of any size with anyone other than your household or core bubble.
Masks are now required for everyone in all public indoor settings and workplaces. People who cannot put on or remove a mask on their own are exempt.
More information: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/restrictions
/September 15, 2020
/May 12, 2020
Prime Minister announces additional support for Canadian Seniors
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced a series of additional measures to help Canadian seniors and provide them with greater financial security in this time of crisis.
/May 12, 2020
Government announces help for employers to meet their labor needs
The Government is announcing, effective immediately, a new, temporary policy that will drastically reduce the time it takes for a temporary foreign worker to start a new job.
/May 8, 2020
How the corona virus disease (COVID-19) is affecting immigration, refugees, citizenship and passport services
The government offers information for your own situation.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/coronavirus-covid19.html
/May 1, 2020
COVID-19 FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL SUPPORT (UPDATED 5/1/2020)
It is a complete list of Federal and Provincial financial benefits that is updated on ongoing basis. (Last update on May 1, 2020)
/April 28, 2020
COVID-19 24/7 PARENTING RESOURCES IN 70 LANGUAGES
Proven parenting tips and activities for all ages in worldwide languages. Parenting for Lifelong provides open-access online parenting resources during COVID-19.
https://www.covid19parenting.com/englishtips
/April 22, 2020
REMOVING BARRIERS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WORKING IN ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO FIGHT COVID-19 – CANADA CA
Effective immediately, international students in Canada are able to work more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session if they are working in an essential service or function such as health care, the supply of food or other critical goods.
https://www.canada.ca/…/removing-barriers-for-international…
/April 22, 2020
COVID-19 PROVINCIAL SUPPORT AND INFORMATION NEW WEBSITE
(Page updated 2020-04-22)
The Minister of Citizen Service has launched a new website where you can find all government information on COVID-19 that is made available in eight languages. This includes: Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Punjabi, French, Farsi, Arabic, Tagalog, and Korean.
This site contains the latest direction from the Provincial Health Officer as well as details on the BC COVID-19 Action Plan. This plan offers help to people such as targeted relief on hydro bills and ICBC payments, helping essential workers find the childcare they need, providing emergency financial assistance for students and freezing rents, halting evictions and providing a $500 rental supplement to make sure people can stay in their homes.
In addition, people who have had their income affected by the outbreak will soon be able to apply for the BC Emergency Benefit for Workers for a tax-free one-time payment of $1,000. This payment is in addition to the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
/April 8,2020
PROVINCE OF BC’S COVID-19 INCLUDES TRANSLATION SITES IN PUNJABI, SIMPLIFIED CHINESE, AND TRADITIONAL CHINESE
the Province of BC’s COVID-19 homepage now includes translated sites in Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. These sites include essential information, news releases, and images that can be shared on social platforms to promote best practices and important messages during the pandemic.
Punjabi: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/pun
Sim. Chinese: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/sc
Trad. Chinese: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/covid-19-provincial-support/tc
This is in addition to their ongoing translation of news releases and other materials, and the important work by Provincial Language Services who provide health translation services in over 110 languages.
/April 2, 2020
New provincial emergency supports for province’s most vulnerable -including people on income or disability assistance and low-income seniors-
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2020SDPR0012-000620
For people in B.C. currently receiving income assistance or disability assistance, the Province will temporarily exempt federal employment insurance benefits, including the new $2,000 Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). These payments will be fully exempted for the next three months so people receiving income assistance and disability assistance in B.C. will benefit from these new emergency federal support programs, without any reductions to their monthly assistance payments.
For everyone on income assistance or disability assistance who is not eligible for the emergency federal support programs, including the CERB, the Province will provide an automatic $300-monthly COVID-19 crisis supplement for the next three months. This supplement will also be provided to low-income seniors who receive the B.C. Senior’s Supplement and recipients of income assistance or disability assistance who reside in special care facilities.
Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) Details
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.htm
Can you receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit if you are not a citizen or permanent resident?
Does the minimum income of $5,000 have to be earned in Canada?
/April 1, 2020
CORONA VIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) HealthLinkBC
Don’t have a good level of English language and you want to know more about corona virus? The BC Government has resources in 10 LANGUAGES.
Corona Virus (COVID-19) healthlinkbc
/March 30. 2020
SUMMARY OF FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL COVID-19 SUPPORTS
Federal and Provincial COVID-19 Support Summary
This document summarizes information and links from the Federal and Provincial Government help response on COVID-19 that you can get on:
Lower the Domestic Stability Buffer
Lower interest rate
Insure Mortgage Purchase Program
More time to pay income taxes
Deferred tax payments for businesses
Delayed Carbon Tax increase
Reduced School Tax for business
Temporary emergency funding for child care providers that remain open
Temporary emergency funding for child care providers that close
/March 27, 2020
BASIC RECOMMENDATION AND INFORMATION COVID-19 FROM UMBRELLA MULTICULTURAL HEALTH CO-OP IN 5 LANGUAGES
English COVID-19 Protection measures for everyone
Spanish COVID-19 MEDIDAS DE PROTECCION PARA TODOS
Arabic COVID-19 إجرات من اجل توفیر الحمایة للجمیع
Dari COVID-19 اقدامات وقایوی برای ھمگان:
Tigrinya COVID-19 መሰረታዊ ምሕጽንታን ሓበሬታን
/March 24, 2020
MESSAGGE FROM IMSS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Dear Friends,
All the IMSS clients, members, newcomers, volunteers, staff, and the board members, please take proper and effective measures to safeguard yourself and your loved ones against COVID-19. IMSS is committed to helping you and will do our best to assist you during this time. You can reach out to us if there is any need.
As of March 24th 2020, our office will be closed until further notice; we want to ensure you all that IMSS is committed to providing ongoing support during this difficult time. We are deeply committed to our community.
However, our services–settlement services, employment services, English Classes, career development counselling, youth leadership program, women & seniors program, and work with the school system–will continue with our staff working out of home and connecting with clients by phone, email or virtual tool. IMSS has decided to close the Childminding program because we are unable to provide services at the IMSS site.
IMSS encourages everyone to practice social distancing right now; IMSS also encourages you to stay connected with your friends and family by social media. Take care of yourself and take care of those around you.
If you need up-to-date information about the COVID-19 situation, contact these trusted sources: Public Health Agency of Canada, BC Ministry of Health, and BC Centre for Disease Control.
To reach our office right now, please contact Kehinde Adewole (Kenny) – Receptionist/ Intake worker between 9.00 am to 4.30 pm (lunchtime is 12:00pm to 1.00 pm). Email: , Phone: 250-562-2900. For further information please visit – IMSS Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/imss.ca and website: https://www.imss.ca.
Wishing you all health and safety,
Ravi Saxena – MBA
Executive Director
Immigrant & Multicultural Services Society
