Vancouver welcome centre for immigrants and refugees opens its doors

A new welcome centre in Vancouver for immigrants and refugees has opened its doors in time for the arrival of a second group of government-sponsored refugees from Syria in the coming months.

The facility, which was built by the Immigrant Services Society of B.C., offers English language classes, employment and settlement programs, a mental-health programand more.

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"In this facility we have brought everything that a new immigrant or refugee would require for their first few months in this country," Chris Friesen of ISS of B.C. told On the Coast story producer Vivian Luk.

The finishing touches are still being put on parts of the building, and Friesensaid that eventually the centre will also have aprimaryhealth care clinic and a range of programs specifically for youth, children and women.

The centrehas residential units with 138 beds for government-sponsored refugees and while each residential unit has a number, it also featuresa word such as "perseverance."

"We've also been very intentional about capturing an emotion or a feeling that an immigrant or a refugee would experience as part of their migration to Canada, and we've named each of the residential units after this," Friesen said.

The $24.5 million facility is located near the Commercial-Broadway SkyTrain station andthefirst family expected to arrive by June 12.

A public grand opening of the new welcome centre will take place later in June.

With files from On the Coast and Vivian Luk

To hear the full story listen to the audio labelled: ISS of B.C.'s Welcome Centre for immigrants and refugees opens its doors