LLIP research and resources

On January 25th, 2024, the Langley Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) hosted a forum on transportation. The event was organized by the LIP Project Team and moderated by Jody Johnson of PEERs Employment and Education Resources.

46 individuals representing 22 agencies and institutions attended. Amongst attendees were local dignitaries, City of Langley Councillor Rosemary Wallace, Langley Township Counciller Tim Baille and Member of Parliament, Tako van Popta.

In recent years Langley has experienced rapid population growth and continues to evolve as both a residential and a business centre within Metro Vancouver B.C. Between 2016 and 2021, the overall population of the City and Township of Langley grew by 12.6%. During this period, the two municipalities combined grew by 17,835; said another way, about 10 people per day moved into the region. The immigrant population of the two municipalities grew by a momentous 35.4%, outstripping population growth in any other Metro Vancouver municipality. As of 2021, nearly 23% of Langley’s 159,000 residents were immigrants, a proportion that will continue to increase in the years to come.

Click below to read the entire Langley LIP Resident Survey – 2022 Report.

The new research report, Sustaining Welcome: Longitudinal Research on Integration with Resettled Syrian Refugees, interviewed over 200 resettled Syrian refugees each year between 2017 and 2020 to track changes in their integration experiences over time.

Through this interview-based approach, the report offers one of the most detailed assessment of Syrian refugee experiences in British Columbia (BC) to date.

The report finds that, despite acheiving multiple successes, refugees face a variety of barries in the early years in Canada that negatively impact their economic, social, mental and physical well-being.

The research recommends a number of policy intiatives to address these barries including greater mental health support and programing to develop refugee friendship networks.

During the last Census period (2016 – 2021) the Township of Langley welcomed 3,805 new immigrants and the City of Langley welcomed 1,310. The City had the biggest increase in its immigrant population of any community in B.C. at nearly 49% and the Township saw the second biggest increase at nearly 33%. At these numbers, Langley is welcoming three new immigrants every day, each one needing housing, employment and access to healthcare.

On March 10, 2023, the Langley LIP hosted a forum on housing. The event was organized by the LIP Project Team and was moderated by Jody Johnson of PEERs.

44 individuals representing 21 agencies and institutions attended. Amongst attendees were local dignitaries; City of Langley Councillor Delaney Mack, City of Langley Councillor Rosemary Wallace and Langley Township Councillor Tim Baille and MLA Megan Dykeman.

Click below to read the summary and highlights from the panelists’ presentations.

For many immigrants, finding an appropriate and affordable place to live is one of the biggest challenges of life in Canada. This is certainly true in Langley City and Township, one of the fastest growing areas in Canada, and subject to Metro Vancouver’s housing and affordability crisis.

Langley is rapidly growing and evolving. Between 2016 and 2021, the overall population of the City and Township of Langley grew by 12.6% and the immigrant population across the two municipalities grew by a staggering 35.4%, outstripping population growth in any other Metro Vancouver municipality. As of 2021, nearly 23% of Langley’s 159,000 residents were immigrants, a proportion that will increase significantly in years to come. This is a look at the changing face of Langley.

Read the Demographic Fact Sheet

Employers in Langley who seek to employ immigrant talent navigate barriers and challenges in attraction, recruitment, onboarding, retention, and development. This report explores those issues and offers insights into strategies and tactics that will inform the broader Langley Local Immigration Partnership Settlement Strategy.

The Langley Local Immigration Partnership fosters belonging and inclusion through the development of collaborative relationships, responsive approaches, and practical resources to respond to the changing
needs of Langley and all its citizens.

Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022 is a $45 million investment that will take immediate steps in combatting racism and discrimination based on what was heard during the engagement process and supported by research. The strategy will complement existing government efforts and programs aimed at eliminating inequities by focusing on three guiding principles: Demonstrating Federal Leadership, Empowering Communities, and Building Awareness & Changing Attitudes.

The Langley Local Immigrant Partnership Research project: Access to Settlement and Other Service Information took place from November 2021 to March 2022 and explored these two questions:

1. What hinders new immigrants from accessing information about settlement and other services?
2. How to improve immigrant access to information?

Click below to read the report.

This scan of best / promising practices in information sharing and dissemination for the purposes of assisting in the immigrant settlement process was conducted during November and December 2022. The
purpose of the scan was two-fold:

1. To inform the next stages of the research, specifically the immigrant focus groups and the Key Informant Interviews

2. To identify examples of existing practices in other jurisdictions that might have application in Langley

The scan’s focus included local, and provincial and national examples, as well as some international practices.

Through Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, the Langley LIP consulted with immigrants from the City and Township of Langley. The intent of these consultations was to gain an understanding of the immigrant experience in Langley and participants responded to questions related to:
1. Immigration and Settlement
2. Access to Services
3. Training and Education
4. Employment
5. Volunteering
6. Connection and Belonging

Click the report below to read findings from the survey and focus groups.

The BC Seniors’ Guide is a book-style compilation of information and resources to help us all plan for and live a healthy lifestyle as we age. It includes information on provincial and federal programs, with sections on benefits, health, lifestyle, housing, transportation, finances, safety and security, and other services.

You can download the PDF version of the guide (great for printing at home), read it online, or order a hard copy. See below for information and links. (more…)

The Settlement Outcomes Highlights Report is the first of its kind, providing high-level research and findings on the settlement outcomes of newcomers to Canada. The Highlights Report provides a summary, including key findings, from a larger and more detailed Settlement Outcomes Report, which will be made available at a later date.

The purpose of our study is to analyze the level of Canada’s dependence on immigrants and temporary residents as essential workers. The study assesses the extent to which the current immigrant talent pool and immigration channels are “fit for purpose” to fill essential vacancies.

This resource guide is designed as a ‘living’ resource for Mainland | Southwest businesses. The content addresses the full scope of workforce planning and development and related operational challenges in the context of the impacts of COVID-19 on businesses in BC.

Established by the President of the Royal Society of Canada in April 2020, the RSC Task Force on COVID-19 was mandated to provide evidence-informed perspectives on major societal challenges in response to and recovery from COVID-19.

The research found that immigrant women were significantly less likely to have a screen-detected breast cancer. Women from East Asia and the Pacific were less likely to have a screen-detected cancer and had a longer diagnostic interval, but were diagnosed at an earlier stage than long-term residents. This needs to be addressed in order to effectively reduce gaps in care.

In 2036, the percentage of the population with an English or French mother tongue could decrease in Canada while the share of population with a mother tongue other than English or French could increase.

This info sheet provides a practical overview of LINC online delivery methods including LINC blended learning and LINC Home Study. It supports LINC service providers with knowledge of teacher training, useful terminology and online learning delivery methods that support newcomers through their settlement journey in the digital age.

This info sheet presents statistics on the literacy of newcomers to BC. It explores useful terms, how the Canadian Language Benchmarks incorporate literacy as well as the resources available to BC settlement service providers.

The toolkit is designed to provide a snapshot of essential information, tools, resources and examples of promising practices that can be integrated into the daily work of settlement, social, and health service providers across Canada, with the aim of building the capacity to better support the mental health unique needs of immigrants and refugees.

Kids Help Phone offers 24/7 e-mental health support to all young people across Canada. All of their services are free and confidential. This service is available to all Arabic-speaking youth in Canada (regardless of legal status). This includes Syrian refugees, newcomers and other kids, teens and young adults across Canada who prefer to receive support in Arabic.
Phone: 1-800-668-6868
Text: 686868

The Statistics Canada study of the 10-year outcomes of children who were aged 13 to 17 in 2006 found that the children of immigrants were better educated than those with Canadian-born parents.

This report focuses on the integration experiences of government-assisted refugees (GARs) who settled in British Columbia between January 2007 and December 2016.

This research explores the gaps in services that government-assisted refugees (GARs) experience after specialized government services and funding runs out at the beginning of their second year in Canada, and the different levels of readiness between GARs and privately-sponsored refugees (PSRs).

This paper examines the labour market outcomes of refugees from 13 source countries with large inflows to Canada over the 1980-to-2009 period. The analysis first compares employment rates and earnings among refugees from the 13 source countries. It further compares each refugee group with economic-class and family-class immigrants who arrived during the same period.

This issue of Migration Matters looks at the employment outcomes of newcomer youth, their unique barriers to accessing the labour market, and best practices for working with newcomer youth.

This info sheet summarizes recent trends on the socioeconomic status, education, and mental health of young children of immigrant families. It also provides resources of research and best practices to meet the needs of immigrant children and families.

The BC Refugee Hub provides users information about refugees that are arriving to British Columbia, the latest reports and publications, statistics and factsheets, and a resource centre with a variety of information.

WelcomeBC helps newcomers adapt to work and life in British Columbia. Newcomers will find a wealth of information on immigration, jobs, qualifications recognition, support services and more!

Quick and easy-to-look facts and figures on immigrants and refugees in Langley area.

This resource provides a snapshot of the Township’s workforce. Review educational attainment, occupations of residents, residents’ industry of employment and more.

Learn about the employment services available, living costs, available jobs and more. The province provides a number of services to assist immigrants become part of B.C. society and succeed in the B.C. job market.

The British Columbia Labour Market Outlook: 2019 Edition provides a list of High Opportunity Occupations for B.C., and for each of B.C.’s seven economic regions.