“Every time I walk into ICA I feel like I’m walking into my home.” Jenny, past ICA client and current volunteer Jenny came to Canada to explore living in a new country. After living in Victoria for almost 10 years now, this is Jenny’s home. Sure, she misses her family... read more →
Apr
22
Apr
16
After a thrilling trip in last fall, the ICA Youth and Family Services team set sail again on the high seas with the help of Eagle Wing Tours and the Greater Victoria NatureHood. After a year of online programming, our youth and families were ready to get their hands and... read more →
Mar
24
I came to Victoria in 2018 from Turkey with my three children while my husband, who was in Germany arrived here in 2019. We were separated for almost 4 years after we fled Syria due to the civil war there. I arrived in Canada thanks to my wonderful sponsors who welcomed me, provided support,... read more →
Mar
12
Applications for ICA’s 2021 Diversity Scholarships are now being accepted for a high school graduate. ICA is pleased to announce a special diversity scholarship for a graduating high school student from a diverse and/or immigrant background. Greater Victoria is getting more diverse each year. ICA’s scholarships recognize the potential of students who demonstrate... read more →
Mar
12
Applications for ICA’s 2021 Diversity Scholarship are now being accepted for undergraduate and graduate students. Greater Victoria is getting more diverse each year. ICA is pleased to announce its 2021 Diversity Scholarship applications are now being accepted. These scholarships recognize the potential of students from diverse and/or immigrant background who demonstrate in... read more →
Mar
09
The year was 1991 - the Hubble Space Telescope had been sent into orbit, the USSR was about to collapse, and a small immigrant settlement agency won a contract to become Victoria’s hub for the Language Instruction for Newcomers in Canada (LINC) program. From its humble beginnings to a program... read more →
Mar
09
Since 2015, ICA has worked closely with individuals and community groups to bring eligible refugees to Canada. To date, ICA has worked with nearly 700 community members through sponsorship groups to welcome more than 260 refugees. The energy and effort that goes into ensuring a warm welcome and a safe place to... read more →
Feb
12
Love is a powerful force – it can unite us, inspire us and turn a house in to a home. For many, it is the reason they leave their home country and start life anew in another. Love across cultures has been, and still does, carry stigma. And yet when... read more →
Feb
11
While COVID-19 cast a shadow on many cultural holidays this past year, our community remains focused on finding ways to celebrate and connect, while making safety our priority. Lunar New Year a holiday celebrated by many East Asian communities begins on February 12th. Many people in our community with Asian... read more →
Feb
08
The holidays certainly looked a lot different as the world brought 2020 to a close. After a successful year adapting to online and distanced programming, the Youth and Family Services team was eager to find a unique way to connect with our clients and celebrate their accomplishments this year. In... read more →