Build Connections as you settle into Canada
We’re here to support your next steps
Moving to a new country takes courage and a lot of practical know-how. Whether you arrived last week or last year, ICA is here to help you navigate the everyday realities of building a new life in Canada, from finding housing to understanding your rights.
We can help you with:
Housing, healthcare, & daily life in Canada
Immigration, citizenship & understanding your rights
Schools, childcare, & family support
Employment, education, & community connections
Additional services including LGBTQIA2S+ & gender-based violence supports
Every newcomer’s journey is different. Tell us a little about yours and we’ll connect you with the right support.
Welcoming programs for temporary residents
Temporary resident services
Starting over in a new country shouldn't mean doing it alone. Our programs give you the information, resources, and confidence to build your new life here.
BC newcomer services program
Get support for newcomers including asylum seekers, refugees, work permit holders, naturalized citizens, and international students. BC Newcomer Services Program support include one-on-one settlement help, employment information, English language training, and group activities that help you build community.
Safe Haven Program
We offer free, all-in-one support for refugees, refugee claimants, and CUAET visa holders, even if you don't qualify for federally funded programs. We help with the refugee claim process, job searching, English classes, orientation to life in BC, urgent housing, and short-term trauma-informed counselling.
Family Law Advocate Program
ICA’s Family Law Advocate provides free advocacy, support, legal information, assistance, and referrals for people dealing with family law matters. The advocate can help clients understand their options, prepare forms, navigate family court processes, and connect with other community supports.
Referrals are open to all community members, regardless of immigration status.
To learn more or ask for support, please fill out the form below
Connect with youth & family support
Settlement workers in schools
Starting school in a new country can feel overwhelming. Our SWIS program connects newcomer students and families with school resources, helps with teacher communication, and gets students involved in school life. Free for eligible families. Teachers can refer students directly, or ask your ICA support team to connect you.
Join the LGBTQIA2S+ peer support group
You don't have to figure it out alone. Q+ Crew is ICA's peer support group for LGBTQIA2S+ newcomers, refugees, and racialized Canadians aged 18–30. Come make friends, share your experiences, and connect with people who get it.
“The Q+ Crew provided a safe space to be myself, gave me opportunities to learn and share, allowed me to regularly meet up with folks that had similar life experiences to me, and helped me learn about other cultures.”
Discreet gender-based violence support
Safety is your right, no matter your immigration or refugee status. Gender-based violence can take many forms: physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological or verbal abuse, or controlling behaviours by an intimate partner or ex-partner. We can help you break the cycle.
Our services include:
- Settlement workers who can help you access the right resources
- In-house counselling with trained trauma counsellors
- Programs to help you heal, build connections, and rebuild confidence
If you're experiencing violence or abuse in any form, we want to help you find support.
Explore the ICA resource library
Greater Victoria has a rich network of organizations, resources, and services supporting newcomers year-round. Our Resource Library brings them together in one place, from housing and healthcare to legal help, childcare, and community activities. Browse by topic to find what you need.
Workshops & training for skills development
Settling into a new country comes with a lot of questions. Our workshops and training sessions cover the practical things you need to know, from finding work and understanding your rights to navigating healthcare, housing, and everyday life in Canada. Most are free, and new sessions are added regularly. Take a look at what's coming up.
Real stories:
Latif’s journey to a new home
“Support from ICA was the most important help my family received. Nahla, Ramzi, and Ashraf, ICA staff members, made sure we found housing, got needed medical care, and helped us understand our new country."
Latif’s happy childhood turned into a fight for survival when a bomb injured his father in Syria, and his family had to leave their home and travel to Turkey, in search of safety and medical care…
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