2022-2023 Digital Annual Report | Impact North Shore

Our Organization

Impact North Shore is a for-purpose, social impact organization standing strong on the scenic shores of North and West Vancouver. Every year, we touch over 8,500 lives, including im/migrants, volunteers, partners and staff, providing comprehensive and innovative services and community engagement opportunities that cater to the unique needs of im/migrants.

With over 30 years of experience creating transformative change, we have supported thousands of newcomers in their journey to make Canada home. Our work is collaborative, focusing on strengthening the fabric of our community, making it a more inclusive and equitable space for all.

Vision

We envision an inclusive and equitable North Shore

We aspire to create communities that are places everyone feels they truly belong. We see a future where every person, regardless of background, can thrive. It’s a future that reflects the beauty of the North Shore, a landscape as diverse and welcoming as the community we envision.

Mission

We are dedicated to offering comprehensive and innovative services for newcomers and to strengthening inclusion and equity.

We offer comprehensive and innovative services that respond to the needs of im/migrants, helping them set up a new life in Canada. We also actively engage with organizations, governments, and businesses, facilitating their crucial role in ensuring our communities are welcoming and barrier-free for im/migrants.

Values

At the core of Impact North Shore are our values. They shape our work, and they guide our interactions with the people we serve and the community we belong to.

Diversity

We value diversity; building a community that values the diversity of all people and believing that it’s the vibrant threads of different backgrounds and experiences that enrich our community.

Respect

We uphold respect; standing firm in the belief that all people have the right to fairness, equality, and dignity.

Excellence

We strive for excellence; delivering high-quality services to im/migrants and refugees while maintaining high professional standards through listening and responding to the needs of im/migrants and refugees in our community.

Strategic Priorities

Health

We believe that a focus on holistic health (physical, emotional, and in interpersonal relationships) builds healthy individuals, families, and communities.

Learning & Innovation

We believe that by increasing our collective knowledge and wisdom, and by striving for innovation, we will find new pathways to achieving inclusion and equity for all.

Leadership

We believe that our communities need strong, wisdom-based leadership.

Sustainability

We believe that future-focused planning will build our capacity to fulfill our vision.

Impact by the numbers

8,500

Lives were touched by Impact North Shore in 2022-2023

7,100

im/migrants accessed services and programs

5,800

im/migrants accessed Settlement Services

2,000

im/migrants accessed Employment Services

700+

individuals participated in community connections activities

200+

community partners and employers worked with us

Chair and Executive Director Message

“As Canada increases its targets to welcome historic numbers of im/migrants to strengthen the economy and address critical labour shortages, Impact North Shore is dedicated to offering a broad range of integrated services to support the unique journeys of im/migrants and their families in our communities. In order to achieve our vision of building equitable communities, Impact North Shore works with multiple partners for collective impact.”

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Our Vision of Change

What We’re Responding to:

Our Pathways of Change:

Upstream – Conditions

Regulations, laws and tools that shape the oppression and exploitation of peoples, countries, and territories for economic and political gain.

Race-based discrimination and oppression enacted through education, health and other social systems

Extreme events happening across the world that influence and shape the experiences of newcomers

Improving Societal Conditions

Creating new narratives to influence shifts in mindsets and behaviours.
Mobilizing knowledge to increase equitable policies and practices.
Partnering for collective impact to effect societal change

Midstream – Factors

Manifests in service gaps, duplication, and fragmented service delivery leading to an extended integration process

Created by the under resourcing of services and longer wait times for support for im/migrants

Harmful and discriminatory acts between individuals enabled by systemic racism

Addressing Community Needs

Developing innovative methods to find inclusive, accessible and adaptive solutions.
Building service continuums that advance equity and well-being.
Collaborating to strengthen a local ecosystem of support and opportunities.

Downstream – Effects

Im/migration creates transitional stress as newcomers leave behind existing support networks and are still building new social networks

Unequal power relationships across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions make it harder for im/migrants to have importance, respect, influence, and safety.

Exclusion creates detrimental effects on health and well-being as well as delaying progress in establishing life in a new society.

Responding to Immigrant Experiences

Delivering comprehensive services that centre im/migrant and BIPOC voices using an intersectional lens.
Advancing leadership and community engagement opportunities for im/migrants to increase inclusion.
Reflecting and improving continually our practices to accelerate our efforts

Our Vision of Change

What We’re Responding to:

Upstream – Conditions

Regulations, laws and tools that shape the oppression and exploitation of peoples, countries, and territories for economic and political gain.

Race-based discrimination and oppression enacted through education, health and other social systems

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Our Pathways of Change:

Improving Societal Conditions

Creating new narratives to influence shifts in mindsets and behaviours.
Mobilizing knowledge to increase equitable policies and practices.
Partnering for collective impact to effect societal change

Midstream – Factors

Manifests in service gaps, duplication, and fragmented service delivery leading to an extended integration process

Created by the under resourcing of services and longer wait times for support for im/migrants

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Addressing Community Needs

Developing innovative methods to find inclusive, accessible and adaptive solutions.
Building service continuums that advance equity and well-being.
Collaborating to strengthen a local ecosystem of support and opportunities.

Downstream – Effects

Im/migration creates transitional stress as newcomers leave behind existing support networks and are still building new social networks

Unequal power relationships across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions make it harder for im/migrants to have importance, respect, influence, and safety.

Responding to Immigrant Experiences

Delivering comprehensive services that centre im/migrant and BIPOC voices using an intersectional lens.
Advancing leadership and community engagement opportunities for im/migrants to increase inclusion.
Reflecting and improving continually our practices to accelerate our efforts

Our Impact

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What We’re Responding to:
Upstream – Conditions
Colonial Policies

Systemic Racism

Global Crisis
Pathways of Change:
Improving Societal Conditions
Creating new narratives to influence shifts in mindsets and behaviours.

Mobilizing knowledge to increase equitable policies and practices.

Partnering for collective impact to effect societal change
What We’re Responding to:
Midstream – Factors
Siloed Services

Discontinuity

Interpersonal Racism
Pathways of Change:
Addressing Community Needs
Developing innovative methods to find inclusive, accessible and adaptive solutions.

Building service continuums that advance equity and well-being.

Collaborating to strengthen a local ecosystem of support and opportunities.
What We’re Responding to:
Downstream – Effects
Isolation

Marginalization

Exclusion
Pathways of Change:
Responding to Im/migrant Experiences
Delivering comprehensive services that centre im/migrant and BIPOC voices using an intersectional lens.

Advancing leadership and community engagement opportunities for im/migrants to increase inclusion.

Reflecting and improving continually our practices to accelerate our efforts

Our Impact: Integrated Services

Integrated Services

Through our Immigrant Service Centre, over 7,100 im/migrants received support on their journeys.

5,800

im/migrants increased knowledge of life in Canada to meet their needs through our settlement services

2,100+

im/migrants improved English skills through our language services

2,000+

im/migrants enhanced knowledge, skills and connections for labour market integration through our employment services

440

im/migrants received information and support for navigating school systems through our school support and parenting programs

450+

children and youth received support adjusting to life in Canada through our youth services

Immigrant Service Centre

Making Canada Home

Impact North Shore provides a variety of comprehensive services for 7,000+ im/migrants through our Immigrant Service Centre. We offer resources, information and skills training to support their unique im/migration journeys.

Our services include settlement and employment services, school support, community connections and English language learning opportunities, as well as specialized programs for families, women, youth, and seniors.

Pivoting in Response to Global Crisis: Supporting Ukrainian Newcomers on the North Shore
Over 500 Ukrainian newcomers and their families accessed services at Impact North Shore this year. Fleeing from war conditions, Ukrainian families are facing multiple challenges to establish a sense of comfort and continuity to make a home in our local communities.
Reducing Barriers to Labour Market Attachment: Empowering Youth to Gain Employment
Our new Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) program supported 95 youth, between the ages of 15 – 30, to access personalized employment counselling and mentorship services.

Our Impact: Community Engagement

Community Engagement

Through our community work, we center the voices of racialized im/migrants creating spaces to build equity through interactive, community-led activities and projects.

950+

people participated in the design and testing of new innovation approaches that aim to increase equity in the community

70+

people participated in creating and informing the new North Shore Immigrant Inclusion Partnership (NSIIP) strategy and renewal plan to identify community priorities inclusion and equity

40+

community members shared their skills and experience through our design teams and advisory councils

700+

newcomers participated in communities and social networks through our community connections program

1,400+

volunteer hours donated to building inclusive and equitable communities

Community Engagement

Collaborating for Equity

Impact North Shore centers the voices of racialized im/migrants to create spaces that build equity through interactive, community-led activities and projects. We lead research, development and innovation projects and convene individuals and organizations to find accessible and adaptable solutions to improve inclusion.

Building relationships and connections between local service providers, long-term residents and im/migrants offers meaningful opportunities for learning, listening and reducing barriers to belonging.

Paving the Path for Tomorrow: Building the Next Anti-Racist Generation
For nearly two decades, our youth diversity and anti-racism programming has created safer spaces for tough conversations for over 10,000 newcomer and resident youth, to explore diversity, inclusiveness, and belonging in a safe and interactive environment.
Taking a Step in the Right Direction: Creating Tools for a Community Response to Hate
The North Shore Anti-Racism Network, funded by the Province of British Columbia, engaged 20+ partner organizations to develop the North Shore Racism Response Protocol.