Every hand, every voice, and every effort counts in building a community where everyone feels they belong. Here at the Chilliwack Local Immigration Partnership, we believe that collective action can transform lives and foster a truly welcoming environment for newcomers.
Discover how you can make a difference and be a part of this transformative journey.
The LIP Council includes a diverse array of members from organizations like Fraser Health, Service Canada, the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), Chilliwack YMCA, and the Fraser Valley Regional Library, among others. Each member brings a unique perspective and expertise, contributing to the richness of our collective efforts.
Geraint Roberts – Chilliwack Community Services
Shauna Svekla – UFV
Marinel Kniseley – UFV
Tara Cummings – Chilliwack Youth Health Centre
Fatima Mirzaei – Agassiz Harrison Community Services
Trischa Buhler – Chilliwack Cultural Centre
Kathryn Garcia – Chilliwack Learning Society
Shelby Deglan – Fraser Valley Regional Library
Brenda Giesbrecht – Service Canada
Julie Veer – Service Canada
Cristal Biela – Fraser Health
Tara Taggart – Fraser Health
Winnie Hsu – Vision 2 reality foundation
Darla Dickinson – EmpowerEd
Annette Williams – Chilliwack Learning Society
Your organization, whether it’s a Band Council, faith group, business, or grassroots entity, brings a unique perspective and set of visions to the table. The LIP Council offers a structured yet flexible framework for collaboration, allowing your capacity to be amplified through mutual partnerships. By joining, you’ll help streamline connections between newcomers and service providers, enhancing the integration process and making a lasting impact on our community’s social fabric.
The Newcomer Advisory Table (NAT) is a cornerstone initiative of the Chilliwack Local Immigration Partnership, designed to ensure that the perspectives and experiences of newcomers are at the forefront of community planning and decision-making processes.
It’s a dedicated group that brings together newcomers from various backgrounds to contribute their valuable insights, helping shape policies and programs that directly affect their settlement and integration into Chilliwack and the Upper Fraser Valley.
The Newcomer Advisory Table (NAT) has a key role: it provides essential advice based on the real experiences of newcomers, helping shape plans that genuinely meet their needs. By including these firsthand perspectives, the strategies we create are more effective and supportive. The NAT’s work makes our community a place where newcomers feel welcome and can thrive in every way.
The LIP Council comes up with topics, questions, or ideas and sends them to the NAT for discussion. The NAT members then review these points, offering their insights and suggestions based on their own experiences. If needed, NAT members can also talk directly with the Council to provide more detailed feedback or to further clarify their suggestions. This process ensures that the LIP Council’s decisions are informed by the diverse perspectives of newcomers, helping to make the community more welcoming and supportive for everyone.
The Anti-Racism Working Group initiates projects to address racism in the Upper Fraser Valley. Breaking Bread was a key project in 2024.
The Mental Health Working Group looks to address the barriers to mental health for newcomers in the Upper Fraser Valley, including gathering available resources and addressing the stigma related to mental health
The Research Working Group meets to discuss research initiatives related to newcomers in the Upper Fraser Valley. In 2024-2025, the Chilliwack LIP partnered with Alex Dawley Consulting for a research project on themes of belonging for newcomers in Chilliwack. Stay tuned for the final report.
Send us an email at [email protected] for more information!
Are you passionate about contributing to your community and making a tangible difference in the lives of others?
Chilliwack Community Services offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities that cater to various interests and skills. Whether you’re looking to support newcomers, engage in social programs, or assist in community development projects, your efforts can have a profound impact on the well-being of our community members.
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We acknowledge we are on unceded, traditional Stó:lō territory. We are committed to working towards the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.
We gratefully acknowledge our funding partners: Chilliwack Community Services, and Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada
