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MISSIONCommunity Services Society

Welcome to Mission

Welcome to Mission 2015 Settlement Guide

CONTENTSNew Arrivals: To do list Settlement Services Health Care and Safety HousingTelephone Bank Account Transportation Social Insurance Number Medical Services Plan BC Driver’s License and Identification Card School Registration Canadian Customs and Norms Employment

34567 8 9 10 1112

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3www.missioncommunityservices.com


CONTENTS

Find a place to live

Learn about health care and safety services

Find settlement services

Open a bank account

Get a telephone

Learn about transportation

Apply for a social insurance number (SIN)

Register for Medical Services Plan (MSP)

Apply for a B.C. Driver’s License or identification card (BCID)Register children for school

Read about Canadian customs and norms

Find employment

NEW ARRIVALS TO DO

3

For everyone new to Canada ...• Settlement and Integration Services• Information, orientation, and referrals• Assessment, action plans and community

orientation• Employment services• Interpretation and translation• Referrals to English as a Second Language

(ESL) classes• Community connections and workshops

Lending a helping hand


Other useful resources:Work BC [Jobs] Toll Free 1-877-952-6914Mission Community Skills Centre [Skills Updates] Unit #209 33123 1st Ave | 604-826-0626Child Care Resource & Referral [Child care advice] 7369 James St | 604-826-6194Mission Public Library [Local Resources] 33247 2nd Ave | 604-826-6610Foreign Credentials Referral Office [Assessing qualifications] 1-888-854-1805Mission Literacy in Motion [English Classes] Room 172, Windebank Elementary, 33570 11th Avenue 604-820-2027Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) | 604-859-7681




HOUSINGIt is important to find a place to live that matches your personal housing needs.Here are some essential terms to know:• Apartment/suite/flat:abuildingthathasalivingunitwithaseparatebedroom(s),

abathroom,akitchenandalivingroom.• Bachelorsuite:alivingunitthathaseverythingcombinedintooneroomexcept

usuallythebathroom.• Duplex/Townhouse:ahouseoranapartmentdividedintotwo,withtwoseparate

entrances.• Condominium(Condo):sameasanapartmentbutyouusuallyowntheliving

unit.• Mobilehomes:amoveablehomethatisusuallyfixedtoonelocation.• Roomforrent/Sharedliving:aroominahousewherealltheroommatesshare

andusetheamenitiesinthehouse.• Roomandboard:afullyfurnishedhousewheremealsareincluded.

Local Newspaper:ClassifiedRentalSectionLook for signs on houses:ForSale,ForRent,VacancyRealtor Offices examples: EnghTeam|604-855-2444,LandmarkRealty|604-820-2055,TopProducersRealty|604-826-9000Websites:Craigslist,Kijiji,BCClassified

Wheretolookforhousing

Signatenancyagreement(inwriting)andmakesureyouunderstandeverythingandcheckfordamageBEFOREmovinginandsignadocumentwithyourlandlordstatingthedamagesinthehouse

WhenRenting



Finding Emergency Help:Ifyourequireanyemergencyhelpforsituationsinvolvingafire,apoliceofficeroranambu-lancepleaseCall9-1-1.Thisnumberisfreeofchargeandyoucanaskforhelpinyourownlanguageifnecessary.

Finding a Police Officer:Fornon-urgentlocalpoliceassistancephone(604)-826-7161orvisitMissionRCMPMunici-palDetachmentat7171OliverStreet,Mission,BCV2V6H2.

Finding a Hospital:ForemergencyhelpthatdoesnotrequireanambulancepleasevisitMissionMemorialHospi-talat7324HurdStreetMission,BC,V2V3H5.

Finding Non-Emergency Health Information:Foranynon-emergencymedicalinquirescontactHealthLinkBCat8-1-1anytimeorvisitHealthLinkBConlineatwww.healthlinkbc.ca.Thisserviceisavailable24hoursaday,7daysaweekandinadditionisavailableinmorethan130languages.

Finding a Doctor:Youwillneedtoregisterwithafamilydoctor(GeneralPractitioner-G.P)whowillassistyouwithmosthealthproblemsandifnecessarywillreferyoutoaspecialistinyourspecifichealthneeds.‘WalkIn’ClinicsarealsoavailableifyouareunabletoregisterwithaGPinthefirstfewmonths-thereareanumberoftheseinMission-

Examples:MissionHillsMedicalCentre-32471LougheedHwy|604-826-7751MissionOaksMedicalCentre-32136LougheedHwy|604-826-7996CedarCareClinic-Suite-104-32423LougheedHwy|604-820-7676

Finding a Dentist:RefertotheYellowpagesinaphonebook.DentalClinicsareusuallyalwaysacceptingnewpatients.

HEALTH CARE & SAFETY

FIRE POLICE AMBULANCE

CALL 911


A list of popular cell phone provider locations in Mission:Bell: Real Canadian Superstore,32136LougheedHwy|604-814-4570Fido– London Drugs200-32555LondonAvenue|604-820-5115Koodo Mobile: Real Canadian Superstore,32136LougheedHwy|604-814-4570Rogers: Kinetic Wireless 230-32530LougheedHwy|604-820-0811Telus: Tom Harris Cellular #318–32555LondonAvenue|604-820-0882Virgin Mobile: The Source #338–32555LondonAvenue|604-814-0918*Note:ThestoreslistedwillhaveinformationonofallthecellularphoneservicesavailableinB.C.

TELEPHONE

Helpful Telephone Communication information:• Phonenumbersgenerallyconsistof10digitsandthefirst3numbersaretheareacodes.• LocalcallsinMetroVancouverstartwiththeareacode604,778,or236.• ForlongdistancenumbersinCanadaandUnitedStatesdial1+areacode+localnumber.• Forlongdistancenumbersoverseasdial01+countrycode+citycode+localnumber.

• TheFrontpageshaveemergencyinformation,communityinformationandareacodes• Whitepageshavenames,numbers,andphone• numbersofpeople.• Greypageshavenames,addresses,andphonenumbersofbusinesses,schoolsandcommunityservices.

• Bluepageslistgovernmentoffices.• Yellowpageslistbusinessesundertypeofwork

The Phone Book



BANK ACCOUNT

Onceyouopenabankaccountyouareabletoaccessyourmoneythroughthecompaniesbranches,onlinebanking,andatautomatedtellermachines(ATM’s).Youareabletopayforitemswithcash,cheque(youneedtoshowidentification),creditcardordebitcard.Becarefulusingyourdebitandcreditcard,knowallthepossiblechargesyoucanacquire.

*Note:Ifyourbankcardsarestolenorlostimmediatelyinformyourbank.

• Itispossibletosendmoneytobanksinmostcountries.Thiscanbeachievedthroughyourbank,andaforeignexchangecompany.Theselocationscandoabanktransferandamoneydraft.

• Ifyouneedtoborrowmoney,contactthebanksorcreditunionsandaskforaloan.

• Whenbuyingahouseandyouneedtoborrowmoneyyoucancontactabank,acreditunion,oramortgagecompanytoinquireaboutmortgagerates,andrepaymentterms.

• IfyouborrowfromtheseinstitutionsandhaveproblemsmakingthepaymentspleasecontactyourbankorCreditUnionfirsttodiscusstheissues,iftheyremainunresolvedyoucancontacttheCreditCounsellingSocietyat1-888-527-8999.

TD Canada Trust32555LondonAveUnit140|604-820-5600

Vancity Credit Union32555LondonAve|604-877-7000

Envision Financial 12032555LondonAvenue|604-557-7510

Scotiabank332171stAvenue|604-820-5475

BMO Bank of Montreal32530LougheedHwy|604-814-3800

RBC Royal Bank331141stAve|604-820-4700

Prospera Credit Union32423LougheedHwy|604-826-3644

CIBC331651stAve|604-820-6070

A list of Banks

CreditUnions&

FinancialInstitutions


TaxiAtaxi-cabisthemostconvenientbutexpensivemodeoftransportation.Themeterinthetaxi-cabwillindicatehowmuchyouneedtopay.InCanadaitiscustomary,butnotcompulsorytotipthedriver,andtypicallythisis10–15%ofthefare.

WalkingTocrossastreetyouneedtobeatastreetcorneroracrosswalk(widewhitelinesinthemiddleoftheroad).Asapedestrian,youmustobeytrafficlightsaswelloryoufacethepossibilityofreceivingafinecalled‘jaywalking’.

BC TransitWhenusingthepublicbusitisadvisedtorefertowww.bctransit.com/regions/cfv/,www.translink.ca,www.google.com/transit,orcallTranslink604-953-3333tohelpplanyourrouteandtoknowthebusschedule.Toridethebusyouwillneed

West Coast ExpressThisisatrainserviceMondaytoFridaybetweenMissionandVancouver.Toseethefullschedulevisitwww.translink.ca.Thestationislocatedat33200NorthRailwayAvenue.

BicycleBicyclistmustobeyallthesamerulesascardriversbutyoudonotneedalicense.Youmustwearahelmetandwheredesignated,rideinthebikelane(notthesidewalk)

TRANSPORTATION

Motorvehicledriversdriveontherightsideoftheroad,havealicenseandinsurancetodriveinBritishColumbiaFormoredetailsvisitwww.icbc.com,1-33498BevanAve,Abbotsford,BCorcall1-888-715-7775.

Driving In BC



TRANSPORTATION

InordertoworkorapplyforanygovernmentprogramsandbenefitsinCanadayouneedasocialinsurancenumber(SIN).ThefederalgovernmentwilldeliveryouaninedigitnumberfromServiceCanada.

Who can apply:AnyonecanapplyforaSINbutchildrenundertheageof12yearsneedtheirparentsorlegalguardiantoapplyforthem.Formoredetailspleasevisitwww.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sin/apply/proof.shtml

Documentation needed:PermanentResident’sneedoneofthedocumentsbelow:• Confirmationofpermanentresidencyandvisacounterfoilaffixedtoaforeignpassportoratravel

document.• Confirmationofpermanentresidentandforeignpassportforvisaexemptcountries.• RecordoflandingissuedbeforeJune28,2002• Verificationoflanding• Statusverification

How to apply:Go to a service Canada officeandtheywillhelpyoufillouttheappropriatepaperwork.Theclosestloca-tion:ServiceCanadaCentre–32525SimonAvenue,Suite100,Abbotsford,BC

NOTE:KeepalldocumentationregardingimmigrationorpaststatusinCanadainasafeplace.Neverthrowitaway.

SOCIAL INSURANCE


TheprovinceofBritishColumbiaoffershealthinsurancecalledtheMedicalServicesPlan(MSP).Thisservicecoversmedicalcostsforphysiciansandsupplementaryhealthcarepractitioners,laboratoryservicesanddiagnosticproceduresafter90daysfromapplication.ItisadvisablefornewimmigrantstohaveprivatehealthinsuranceuntilMSPisvalid.FormoreinformationvisittheMinistryofHealthwebsitewww.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/

Who can apply:First,youmustbearesidentofBritishColumbia,plusfallintooneofthecategoriesbelow.• CanadianCitizen• Landedimmigrant• Government-assistedrefugee• Post-Secondaryinternationalstudentwithastudypermit• Temporaryworkerwithaworkpermitfor6monthsormore

Required Documents:Itisnecessarytoverifyyourimmigrationstatus.Thefollowingdocumentsaredeemedacceptable:PermanentResidents• RecordofLanding• PermanentResidentCard(frontandback)• ConfirmationofPermanentResidencedocument

Fees:ThepriceforMSPvariesasitdependsonanindividualsincomeandfamilysize.PleasevisittheMinistryofHealthwebsiteorcallTollfree1-800-663-7100

How to apply:Itisimportanttoapplyimmediatelyastheprocesscantakeapproximatelytwomonths.TheMSPformcanbecompletedonline(fasteroption),orprintedandsenttoMinistryofHealth,Room337,ParliamentBuild-ings,Victoria,BC,V8V1X4.VisittheMinistryofHealthwebsitetocompletetheform.

MEDICAL SERVICES PLAN

Driver’s LicenseAdriver’slicenseisrequiredtodriveinBritishColumbia-driversfromothercountriesmaybeabletoconverttheirdrivinglicensetoaBCone.[Reciprocaldrivinglicenses]Askatthedriverlicensingoffice.*Note:theclosestdriverlicensingofficeisAbbotsfordDriverlicensingUnit#1–33498BevanAve,Ab-botsford,BC,V2S5G6

To apply:VisitadriverlicensingofficeinBCBringtwopiecesofID(primaryandsecondary),currentdriver’slicense,moneyforlicensingfee,andproofoftwoyears’drivingexperience.Ifyouhavetwoyearsofnon-learnerdrivingexperience-youwillneedtotaketheknowledgeandClass5roadtestIfyoudonothavetwoyearsofnon-learnerdrivingexperience-youwillneedtogothroughthegraduatedlicensingprogram.

British Columbia Identification card (BCID)ToobtainanBCIDyoumustbe12yearsoldorolder.Also,anindividualunder19yearsofagemusthaveaparentorlegalguardianatthedriverlicensingofficetogiveconsent.

How to apply:ToacquireaBCIDyouneedtogotoadriverlicensingofficewithacceptedIDandpaythefeeforthecard.Incaseofcaraccident:Alwaysremainatthesceneandexchangeinsuranceinformationwithotherdriver.



PROVINCIAL IDENTIFICATION


SCHOOLS

Settlement Workers in Schools provide settlement support to our immigrant students and families who are new to the community, to ease their integration. We guide our families and provide them with skills to independently navigate through the resources and services available to them in Mission.

InCanadaallchildrenhavetheopportunitytoattendschool.TheCanadianschoolsystemofferspublicandprivateinstitu-tionsforschooling.ForfurtherdetailsaboutBCeducationvisittheMinistryofEducationwebsitehttp://www2.gov.bc.ca

Preschool:Preschoolisforchildrenundertheageof5years.AprogramcalledStrongStartBCprovidestheseservicesfreeofcharge.

Elementary and Secondary School:Childrenfrom5to17yearsofageneedtogotoschoolandBCoffersfreepublicschoolstosupportthem.Parentshavetheoptiontohomeschooltheirchildandregisterthemforprivateschool(foranadditionalfee)aswell.Whenachildturns5yearsoldtheycanattendKindergar-ten(K),thefirstlevelofelementaryschool.Also,childrengenerallyattendtheclosestpublicschooltotheirhome.MissionisSchoolDis-trict75andoffersmanyschools,pleasevisittheMinistryofeducationwebsitetolocateaschoolnearyou.Additionally,schoolshaveasettle-mentworkerinschools(SWIS)thatassistchildrennewtoCanada.

Forinformationabouttheschoolsinyourarea;contactMissionSchoolDistrictatMissionPublicSchools33046FourthAve.Mission,BCV2V1S5Tel:604-826-6286

YoucanalsocontacttheSettlementWorkerinSchools(SWIS)on604-826-3634.

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Canada guarantees political and civil rights for everyone in Canada under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the charter). These principles include people’s fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, legal rights, equality rights, language rights, and clauses and provisions.



SCHOOLS

CANADIAN LIFELanguage:TherearetwoofficiallanguagesinCanada:FrenchandEnglish.InBCthemainlanguagespokenisEnglish,andnewCanadiansdonothavetobeabletospeakFrench.BC Diversity:ThecityofMissionhasapopulationofapproximately36,426peoplewhoarefromavarietyofdifferentcountries.MulticulturalismisprominentwithinthecommunityandBCasdifferentethnicities,cul-tures,religions,andlanguagescanbenoticedonaregularbases.Climate:GenerallytheclimateinMissionismildandenjoyable.Missionhasfourdistinctseasons:autumn(SeptembertoNovember),winter(DecembertoFebruary),spring(MarchtoMay),andsummer(JunetoAu-gust).Theweatherinthewinterismildandwet,andthesummeriswarmanddry.Geography:Missionisamountainousareawithforest,lakes,riversandgrassyplains.MorethanfortypercentofMissionconsistsoftreefarms.Religion:InCanadaeveryoneisfreetobelieveinandbeafollowerof,anyreligiontheywant.Cost of Living:ItisanticipatedthattheaverageadultlivinginMissionwillspendaround$14,000onconsum-ables,$900ontransportation,$12,000onhousingand$1,400onhealthcareperyear.Minimum Wage:TheminimumwageinBCis$10.25perhourbut$9.00forliquorservers.


FindingajobinCanadacanbechallenging.Although,therearemanyresourcesavail-abletohelpyoufindwork.Theinformationbelowprovidessomehelpfulhintsonhowtosecureajob.ToobservethedemandsofthecurrentlabormarketpleasevisittheWorkBCwebsitewww.workbc.ca

Prepare a resume and cover letter:Aresume(curriculumvitae)andcoverletterisanimportantdocumentwhenapplyingforajobinCanada.ItisessentialthatthestyleandformatofyourdocumentsmatchCanadianstandards.ThemainorganizationinMissiontohelpwiththisis:

WorkBC|604-575-3800How to search for a job:Therearemanydifferentwaystofindanewemployer.Apersoncansearchforajobbygoinginpersontoacompanyanddroppingoffaresume,examiningthelocalnewspaperemploymentsection,callinganorganization,emailinganemployer,andexploringwebsites,etc.

Volunteering:Volunteeringiswhenanindividualperformsaservicewillinglyandfreeofcharge.ThiswillletyougainCanadianworkexperience,buildcontacts,andcreateareference.Findanorganizationwhoseworkinterestsyou

Networking:Networkingisapowerfultoolformakingcontactswithinthecommunity.Lookoutfornetworkingeventsrunbylocalgroupsandattendallthatyoucan.

EMPLOYMENT



EMPLOYMENT

CONNECT WITH A MCSS SETTLEMENT WORKER

ThenewcomersettlementdepartmentatMissionCommunitySocietyServices(MCSS)iscommittedtowelcomingnewcomersandpromotingculturaldiversityinthedistrictofMission.Wearededicatedtobuildingasmooth,safe,andsuccessfultransitionforallindividualsnewtoCanada.OurgoalistoeliminatesettlementbarriersanddevelopopportunitiesfornewCanadianstocreateaqualitylifeinCanada.

PleasecontactMCSSSettlementDepartmentduringyourtransitiontoCanada:

Mission Community Services Society Integration and Settlement Department for Community and Schools (call 604-826-3634) or visit us at 33179 2nd Avenue.

Information in this guide was deemed correct on the date of publishing.

Published June 2015


MissionCommunityServicesSocietywww.missioncommunityservices.com

MainOffice331792ndAvenue,Mission

P:604.826.3634Fax:604.820.0634

[email protected]

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