ICA is bridging the gap, culturally and financially

"If we want to have a country that is welcoming, then we need to help newcomers understand how things work in Canada. Our relationship with Vancity has enabled us to pursue this mandate.
-- Jean McRae, ICA executive director.

What does a not-for-profit do when someone tells them the cheque is in the mail but there are 70 employees waiting for their pay?

The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA), which helps immigrants settle in the Victoria area, has regularly run up against this problem. But in 2014, government funding moved from provincial to federal distribution. This would mean even lengthier delays. Preparing for funding gaps of up to six months, ICA reached out to Vancity for help.

“ICA phoned us to say their funding landscape was changing. They needed to stabilize their finances, mostly for payroll,” says Jenn McGinn, Vancity’s account manager for community business. "We saw a fit right away. By supporting them, we're investing with real community impact."

“If we want to have a country that is welcoming, then we need to help newcomers understand how things work in Canada,” said Jean McRae, ICA executive director. “Our relationship with Vancity has enabled us to pursue this mandate.”

Help finding a job remains critical for new arrivals. Often an immigrant’s qualifications are not recognized in Canada. Many have to rewrite exams or requalify, a process that is long and expensive. ICA provides support for this period of job integration. When ICA discovers an opportunity for someone to get back to work, or re-enter an occupation, they refer them to Vancity's microfinance team. This support can help them recertify, buy tools or write a challenge exam. These microloans also help newcomers build a credit rating in Canada, which is vital to financial success.