Local Immigration Partnership
About L.I.P.
WHAT WE DO
A Local Immigration Partnership council was launched five years ago to assist in the development of successful social and economic integration for newcomers in the District of Mission.
The 10-member council was designed to collaboratively create an action plan for meaningful settlement solutions by encouraging key community leaders to strongly consider those new to Canada in their policy-making.
The LIP council will plan for long-term community needs focused in the areas of labour force requirements, economic development, population increases, and taxpayer stabilization. This process is intended to unite the community and provide knowledge of what currently exists and what is needed.
LIPS are catalysts for partnerships in communities across the country. They bring silos together. If you are interested in partnering with the Mission LIP, contact us at 604-826-3634.
WHO MAKES IT HAPPEN
On the Mission LIP Council with Rick Rake as chair is Joe Heslip (Mission School District – now seconded to provincial government project for 2019-2020 term), Kevin Tatla (immigration specialist now managing Mission Community Services Society settlement team), Doug Paille (VanCity Credit Union), Stacey Crawford (District of Mission Economic Development Department), Afton Schindel (Mission Library), Pam Alexis (District of Mission Council), Joan MacLatchy (community advocate) and Donna Gibson (Mission Literacy in Motion) , Kirsten Hargreaves (Mission Department of Social Development), Allison Jack (Joseph Gillette) both of WorkBC, Allison Snider (MLA Simon Gibson’s executive assistant). Community volunteer Dave Barratt, English instructor). Four early-morning LIP Council meetings are scheduled during the year: June 20, Sept. 19, Nov. 21 and March 5 (2020).
Mission LIP alumni include: Jean Hoogie (MLA’s office), Pia Ritch (Mission Community Skills Centre), Heather Scoular (Mission Library), Grace Martin (Mission Chamber, entrepreneur), Candie Thorne (Mission Literacy in Motion), Rhett Nicholson (Downtown Business Association, City Councillor) and Mark Duyns (Constituency Assistant to MLAs Simon Gibson and Marc Dalton), Randy Huth (Mission School District), Angus Wilson (Mission School District superintendent), Ron Smith (WorkBC), Varpal Singh Randhawa (New to Canada from India), Courtney Novotny (Mission Library).
KEY IMMIGRATION FORUMS
Surrey RCMP Insp. Baltej Dhillon role plays with newcomers at We’re Your Neighbours Immigration Forum at Copper Hall in Mission. Dhillon, first RCMP officer permitted to wear a turban, was featured speaker. Newcomer stories, information on property management, a message from City Hall and the MP’s office were included. The Mission LIP has been involved in a number of these forums, the first of which was attended by 150 members of the public, and entitled Refugee Readiness. A second forum, The Power of Small, was enthusiastically received at Martin’s Restaurant in Mission, and involved speeches by Mission newcomers from Syria and The Congo. Video vignettes from this forum can be found at MCSS YouTube channel ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_gD38F0mfZtd8IVXX6PSlQ ). Public launch of #AllAreWelcomeHere bumper sticker campaign was at this 2018 forum sponsored by IRCC, MCSS and District of Mission Social Development Department.
Funding Provided By:

