Victoria B.C. named as a Destination under Resettlement Assistance Program

Following the meeting of Big City Mayors, Minister McCallum announced the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria as the first successful applicant under the recent call for proposals to identify new Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) providers across Canada, with more RAP providers expected to be added in the coming weeks.

The City of Victoria will now join 23 other RAP communities across Canada, outside Quebec, offering comprehensive and expanded services to refugees. “This is a great day for Victoria and the refugees who will be destined to their beautiful city, and the province of British Columbia,” John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship said.  The R.A.P. supports government-assisted refugees (G.A.R.s), blended visa office-referred refugees and other eligible clients when they first arrive in Canada.

It is expected that the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria will begin to support GARs in the coming weeks. This includes providing direct financial support as well as funding immediate and essential services such as language training and job programs; finding appropriate rental housing; and, the ability to secure other specialized supports including medical care, mental health services, and education.

Interested settlement service provider organizations currently funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada are invited to submit applications. This funding process is open ended and more information about the process can be found on our website.