Impact Update 2024/25
ICA is building a community where everyone is ready and empowered to thrive. By investing in the strengths and potential of people new to the country, we generate opportunities that ripple outward — strengthening families, enriching communities, and creating possibilities for all. Together with partners, donors, volunteers and funders, ICA cultivates growth, forges meaningful connections, and opens doors to a future of possibilities and shared success — and we invite you to be part of making that future real.
Shelly D’Mello, CEO
Our Impact
22,510
Direct services provided
(3,982 clients served)
80% Clients Said
ICA had a positive impact on their settlement journey
44% Increase
in people served through expanded eligibility
380 Families Supported
by our Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS)
1,378 Community Members
participated in Anti-racism training
90% of our Youth Clients
found meaningful employment through our Game Changer program
Who We Serve
Most of our clients fall within the age range of 25 to 64 years.
What Our Clients Say
“For me, ICA has a big heart. They listened, helped fix our problems, and made us feel like we belonged. ICA is now part of our family.” Obeid, Tailor at Moores Clothing for Men
45%
have made new friends
46%
can speak better English to communicate their daily needs
37%
know more about where to go for help
36%
feel safer in the community
27%
feel more confident networking to secure a job
“As the eldest, I carried the weight of responsibility: translating, navigating, & surviving. ICA became our lifeline … they gave me space to grow … to be a teenager again.” Maya Hajj Taha ICA Client
From Conflict to Caring: My Journey to Belonging
Maya Hajj Taha
We arrived in Canada from Syria in 2017, after years as refugees in Lebanon. Everything felt foreign—language, food, even the streets. As the eldest, I carried the weight of responsibility: translating, navigating, & surviving. ICA became our lifeline. They showed us how to use the bus, where to shop, and how to fill out forms. But more than that, they gave me space to grow.
Joining ICA’s youth program was transformative. I felt seen for who I was and not judged for my accent or where I came from. We shared stories, food, and music. At ICA, I laughed, played, and learned to be a teenager again.
I would say ICA is the bridge between newcomers and the new country like Canada. We were in Canada, but we never could have felt more belonging if ICA was not there. That experience shaped how I see myself in Canada— not as someone who had to erase her past, but someone who could carry it proudly.
ICA helped me discover my passion for healthcare. Through vision boards and conversations, I realized nursing was my path. Now, I’m studying at UVic and doing my practicum at the WestShore Health Unit.
Together with donors like you, we empower people on their journey to feel a sense of belonging, grow, and stand on their own feet in a new country.
2024-25 Finances
Invest in a Better Tomorrow
Every day, we witness the talent, ambition, and determination of newcomers who are helping to shape Greater Victoria into a vibrant and dynamic region. Through ICA, newcomers are learning English, finding meaningful work, building community connections, and creating promising futures.
Over the years, we have seen that when we have the financial support to offer increased or enhanced programming, there is a strong demand from the community. Last year, we saw a 44% increase in people served by ICA. However, this year we are navigating a 12% federal funding cut, impacting our core programs.
These cuts are challenging us in ways we have not experienced before. But we are taking action to protect what matters most-ensuring newcomers have the supports they need to thrive in Canada.
ICA is investing in social enterprises and looking to grow our support from people like you— because with our community, we know we can do even more.
We need you— now more than ever.
Your gift preserves the building blocks of belonging and ensures ICA can continue delivering high-impact programs. It is more than a donation— it is an investment in Canada and in a stronger, more connected community.
And if ICA’s mission resonates with you, help us amplify it by sharing this message with your networks. Together, we are building a stronger tomorrow— for everyone.
Thank you for your continued support of this critical work.
Thank you for standing with ICA.
“ICA is a place full of hope. I love the time I spend there as a volunteer in the English classes. I also feel confident that my financial contributions are making a real difference.”
Carole Costello Volunteer & Donor
Ways To Give
Your tax-deductible donation helps ICA welcome, support and provide much-needed services for immigrants and refugees as they settle into the community. There are many ways to give a gift that has a direct, positive impact on the lives of newcomers. Donate or volunteer today!
Leave A Legacy
Giving to the charitable causes that matter most to you during your lifetime is a meaningful and powerful way for you to express your personal values and priorities. Remembering your most cherished causes in your estate plan is a way for you to ensure that the support you gave during your lifetime can continue and that future generations will benefit from your generosity.