Announcement: Launch of Duncan-Based Local Immigration Partnership (LIP)
The Cowichan Valley Intercultural and Immigrant Aid Society (CIS) is excited to announce the upcoming launch of the Duncan Local Immigration Partnership (LIP). This initiative aims to strengthen collaboration among community agencies to support newcomers.
If your organization is interested in participating in the LIP’s work, we invite you to get involved! For more details, read below the full press release.
CIS Press Release – Local Immigration Partnership
Cowichan Valley Intercultural and Immigrant Aid Society (CIS) is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of a Duncan-based Local Immigration Partnership (LIP). The LIP is a roundtable with a range of working groups focused on topics like housing, healthcare, Indigenous-newcomer relations, employment and anti-racism unified by the goal of systematically welcoming newcomers and improving integration in the Cowichan Valley.
LIPs are funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to develop and implement community strategic and action plans to improve immigrant and refugee settlement and integration in their respective societies. LIPs are planning tables that include community agencies and institutions representing local government, settlement agencies and other non-profits, education, business, recreation and culture, policing, libraries, volunteerism, and other relevant topics.
In addition to strategic planning and relationship building among stakeholders, LIPs also conduct surveys to ensure an evidence-based approach to planning and host trainings for employers and other stakeholders with the goal to improve newcomers’ outcomes. LIPs help ensure that immigration works well for communities where new arrivals settle.
CIS is inviting any agency interested in participating in the work of the LIP to contact Alejandra-Lara Espinoza, LIP Coordinator, at alejandra@cis-iwc.org or call (250) 701 – 25 03.
“We would like to thank Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for funding a LIP in our region. CIS is really excited to convene our partners to discuss how we can build on our strengths to make Cowichan an even more welcoming community,” stated Vance. “We also want to thank the agencies that have stepped up immediately to support this new committee, namely the board of the Cowichan Valley Regional District for supporting our proposal and Economic Development Cowichan, Our Cowichan Communities Health Network and the Coordinator of the Cowichan Coalition to End Homelessness for volunteering to sit on the main council committee. We look forward to working with all parties to develop a community plan, action plan, surveys and related training and events to support our mission.”
The Duncan LIP is currently funded until March 31, 2028.