In addition to our many community-based English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for women, PIRS also offers three  FREE ELSA classes for eligible immigrants and refugees. More info

In our classes students learn about important things like Canadian laws, health care, society and jobs, as well as how to speak, read, and write English.   Like all our daytime ESL programs for women, we offer FREE childminding for children 18 months to 5 years.  While  their mothers are learning English, their children are learning English and school readiness skills as part of their participation in these programs.

To qualify for these government-sponsored classes, students must be newcomers to British Columbia, 17 years of age and older, and approved for permanent residency.  It does not matter how long you have been a resident in British Columbia, but naturalized citizens and refugee claimants can only take ELSA classes outside Metro Vancouver.

To register for our classes listed below, students must first call the ELSA Assessment Office at 604.876.5756 to arrange for a level and eligibility test.  It’s the job of the assessment centre to make sure participants are able to take the classes.You will need to fill out an application form and give the assessment center some official documents. Once the student’s English learners level and eligibility is determined, they may contact PIRS to register at one of our locations, listed below. If potential students qualify, they will be referred to PIRS on request if appropriate.

Level 1/Literacy
Thunderbird Community Center
2311 Cassiar Street
Vancouver, BC
Monday to Thursday morning

Level 2/3
Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House
800 East Broadway
Vancouver, BC
Monday to Thursday morning

Level 3
Quaker Meeting Place
1090 West 70th Avenue
Vancouver,BC
Monday to Thursday morning

Please call 604.298.5888 or email info@pirs.bc.ca for eligibility and registration information.