OUR SEPTEMBER NON-PROFIT - ISS OF BC

        Blackbird Fabrics donates 1% of our revenue each month to a rotating non-profit. With the help of recommendations from our team members, friends & family, and our customers, we choose non-profits that support causes that are important to us and our community. You can find a full list of organizations that we have supported here!

Our non-profit for September is ISS of BC.

        Immigration Services Society of BC (ISS of BC) has been serving the migrant community since 1972 and is now one of the largest immigrant services agencies in Canada. They believe that everyone has the basic right to be treated with dignity in an inclusive society where immigrants can live the future they aspire to live in Canada. ISS of BC helps over 20,000 people every year offering support through settlement, education, and employment services. 

        ISS of BC provides multiple services to the immigrant community to help newcomers settle into a new life in Canada. They have a wide range of services to support the diverse migrant community including youth, women, senior, and children-specific support groups to better encourage community bonding. One of their children’s programs is HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters), a service that prepares children ages 2 - 5 years old for the BC school system, which might be culturally and linguistically different from their family’s experiences. 

        Learning English is one of the most important skills when living in Canada. ISS of BC conducts free English and vocational programs for immigrants and international students to improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. This is especially important for feeling included in the local community and to support job searches.

        Finding a job in a new country can be a daunting task. ISS of BC provides financial assistance, career training, and online resources to help alleviate some barriers that newcomers might face while job searching. Additionally, they have programs and facilitators that help connect skilled immigrant professionals with positions in their field of expertise and training before arriving in Canada.

Thank you ISS of BC for providing the support and necessary resources for immigrants, refugees, and newcomers to Canada!