Immigrant Welcome Centre

The Immigrant Welcome Centre assists immigrants and their families to settle and adapt to our community. Our services include assistance with access to government and social services, citizenship applications and English language classes. We work towards the elimination of racism and promote inclusion.

Programs Offered

• Multicultural Settlement Staff
• Assistance with access to government and social services
• Employment services
• Language interpretation and translation service
• Drop-in and resource Centre with information in many languages
• Citizenship preparation
• LINC English language classes
• Volunteer Opportunities
• International Recreation Family Evenings
• International Adult Co-Ed Soccer group
• International Women’s Group
• International Senior's Group
• Welcoming Communities Coalition 
• Community multicultural celebrations

LINC: Language Instruction for Newcomers (ESL, EAL, ELL)

The Immigrant Welcome Centre offers free English language classes for newcomers to Canada. Permanent residents and naturalized citizens can learn ESL with highly qualified instructors in our language/ESL programs in both Campbell River and the Comox Valley. Students learn in government accredited classes aligned to the nationally recognized Canadian Language Benchmarks. Newcomers taking these classes can receive language certification for Canadian citizenship and employment programs.

Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment Centre

The Immigrant Welcome Centre is the assessment centre for the Canadian Language Benchmarks Placement Test (CLBPT) for all of the North Island. The CLBPT can be taken with licensed assessors in both Campbell River and Courtenay.    

Languages Spoken

Vietnamese, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Tagalogi and English.

Population Served

• Refugee claimants
• First generation immigrants and their families
• Permanent resident applicants
• Foreign caregivers
• Community agencies seeking information and support to better serve their immigrant clients
• Individuals who have experienced racism