Refugee Readiness Team – Vancouver Island
The Refugee Readiness Team – Vancouver Island (RRT-VI) worked to ensure that Vancouver Island communities are ready to welcome, respond to and leverage the strengths and contribution of Afghan refugees and displaced Ukrainians.
RRT-VI aimed to build safe, welcoming, and resilient communities where refugees and displaced Ukrainians could build their lives. We focused on four key areas: Housing, Healthcare, Employment and Education.
This program allowed six Refugee Readiness Teams across the province to work on a coordinated approach to deliver services and create more welcoming communities. ICA began operating the current Refugee Readiness Team for Vancouver Island in 2022. This two-year initiative came to an end on March 31, 2024.
The Refugee Readiness Team – Vancouver Island focused on the following four sectors:
RRT-VI Housing Resources
The Refugee Readiness Team - Vancouver Island addressed housing through networking with landlords, providing snapshots of the housing situation to governments and directly facilitating housing opportunities.
RRT-VI Healthcare Resources
The Refugee Readiness Team - Vancouver Island addressed healthcare through facilitating access in a variety of ways.
RRT-VI Employment Resources
The Refugee Readiness Team - Vancouver Island addressed employment through connecting employers, sharing employment information and facilitating connections between refugees, displaced Ukrainians and employers.
RRT-VI Education Resources
The Refugee Readiness Team - Vancouver Island shared information on language training, facilitation integration of children in schools, and best practices for teachers and school districts in welcoming children into Greater Victoria's schools.
Disclaimer:
The Refugee Readiness Team – Vancouver Island (RRT-VI) was an initiative that commenced in March 2022 and concluded in March 2024. As of March 31, 2024, this project has reached its completion and is no longer active. The materials presented here reflect the efforts and accomplishments of RRT-VI during its two-year duration. Please note that the services and activities described herein are not ongoing. For current initiatives and support services for refugees and displaced Ukrainians, please refer to the Greater Victoria Local Immigration Partnership (GVLIP) or other relevant local organizations and authorities.