The loss of provincial funding and gain of federal funding for language services looks to be a net benefit for the Creston Valley, Creston town council was told at the July 15 regular meeting.
Community literacy co-ordinator Linda Steward said the Immigrant Settlement Program is designed to help newcomers with their settlement needs.
“This can be anything from giving information on things like insurance, taxes, banking, driver’s licenses, citizenship, taxes, immigration, etc., to helping them fill out or understand forms, taking them to places or services within the community or referring them to other services,” she said.
The new program doesn’t only target non-English speakers, Steward said. Even immigrants from the United Kingdom and the United States can get help.
“The only criteria is that they need to be here legally, and cannot be here on a visitor’s visa,” she said.
With the federal funding, additional language classes will be offered. English as a second language (ESL) classes will start up again in September, with two two-hour intermediate classes and one two-hour beginner class per week at the College of the Rockies for people with permanent resident status or live-in caregivers. Another 1.5-hour class for immigrants who are already Canadian citizens but still need language training will be offered.
“There will also be a mixed level conversation class at the United Church for anyone who would like to come,” she said. “This class involves going on an outing into the community once per month and focuses on teaching vocabulary related to those events. We would love to bring that class on a tour of our town hall in the fall, and we’d tie that in to learning vocabulary about municipal government.”
Steward also announced that she is leaving her position as community literacy co-ordinator for the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy after 11 years. She will become the ESL settlement worker.
“I will also manage the program and do the ESL tutor training and support,” she said.
A new community literacy coordinator is expected to be announced later in the summer.