The City of Delta and Fraser Valley Regional Library are partnering with five local agencies to launch a new settlement services outreach program.
In collaboration with DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, MOSAIC/WorkBC, Options Community Services, Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society and S.U.C.C.E.S.S., the pilot program brings free, multilingual support services directly to two of Delta’s public libraries to help immigrants and newcomers successfully integrate into the community.
“This program is about ensuring that new residents have access to the resources and support they need to thrive in our community. We’re grateful to our partners for helping make these essential services more accessible and welcoming,” Mayor George Harvie said in a press release.
FVRL CEO Scott Hargrove said the library is proud to support the city's settlement services outreach program, noting "libraries are a fundamental support for many new immigrants as they settle into their new home.”
Delivered by trained settlement workers, the program provides personalized guidance on a wide range of topics — such as housing, employment, education, health care, childcare, public transportation and more — in languages including Punjabi, Mandarin, Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, Bengali, Tagalog, Cantonese and Ukrainian (available languages and participating agencies may vary by week).
The program runs Tuesdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at North Delta's George Mackie Library, and Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at Ladner Pioneer Library.
On the first and third Tuesdays of the month, PICS and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. are at the North Delta library delivering services in Punjabi, Farsi and Bengali, while every second and fourth Tuesday, DIVERSEcity and Options is on hand offering help in Punjabi, Arabic, Mandarin and Spanish. The last Tuesday of every month include services in Tagalog, Spanish and Punjabi from MOSAIC/WorkBC.
In Ladner, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. provides services in Mandarin, Cantonese and Ukrainian every first and third Thursday, while MOSAIC/WorkBC offers services in Punjabi and Arabic on the last Thursday of the month.
Available languages and program dates may vary; up-to-date schedules and more can be found at delta.ca/community-culture/social-planning/supporting-new-immigrants/settlement-services-outreach-deltas or by contacting socialplanning@delta.ca.
