About Us: The Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia

The Immigrant Services Society (ISS) is a non-profit organization that serves the settlement, training and integration needs of newcomers from all over the world. ISS was born out of the vision of a small group of dedicated volunteers who established this agency in 1972 when the first tide of refugees came from Uganda. Twenty-five years later, ISS is the second largest multi-cultural agency in Canada.

ISS is committed to promoting an integrated, equitable community which values diversity. ISS is a leader in developing, demonstrating and delivering effective, quality programs and services that meet the needs of immigrants and refugees. ISS is committed to helping newcomers from the moment of arrival in Canada, as well as assisting ethno-cultural groups in establishing their own support networks and successful communities. This is achieved through three main areas of service.

1. The ISS Training Institute, a provincially recognized school, offers a variety of language (including the ACE Program), skills, employment training and counseling programs. ISS is known as a leader in providing high quality educational and training programs to meet the changing needs of immigrants and the communities in which they live. This includes providing expert advice on employment training and counseling, as well as family counseling and support.
2. ISS Welcome House is a facility that provides temporary accommodation to immigrants, in particular government-assisted refugees. In addition, settlement counseling services are available on site. ISS provides services in the areas of orientation, housing, public education, legal aid, interpretation and translation. ISS has an impressive language bank; its employees can provide services in over 30 languages.
3. ISS has engaged in partnerships with various community groups and agencies. We work in collaboration and consultation with communities to establish locally-based services and programs.

Click here for a vicinity map of the ISS Training Institute (512x483 pixels, 150kb).