A wise woman introduced us to the idea of VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity). In a time of VUCA, it is important to focus on what matters most. The pandemic is exposing inequities in our society. Racialized women, many of them newcomers to Canada, are disproportionately affected by COVID19. These are the women PIRS … Read more
By Andrea Solnes (Learning Journeys Lead), Sandrine Espie (Pacific Immigrant Resources Society: Immigrant Services Learning Journeys Lead & Women’s Leadership Coordinator), Annelies Tjebbes (Learning Journeys Workshop Facilitator). Introduction Learning Journeys: Pathways for and with Immigrant Women is a 2-year social research and development project funded by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). Learning Journeys brings … Read more
A blog by Mehreen Saleen, Instructional Coordinator With communities going online with their services and activities, digital literacy has become even more important than ever before. Lack of digital literacy has created an additional barrier for the vulnerable communities; accessibility to the benefits and services of civil society has become a challenge for them.PIRS works … Read more
The Immigrant Women’s Advisory Committee (IWAC) is the heart and soul of Learning Journeys: Pathways for and with Immigrant Women, a 2-year service delivery improvement project funded by IRCC. Grounded in the practices and principles of collaboration, trust-building, emergent learning, power-sharing and strength-based methodology, Learning Journeys brings together the experiences and perspectives of newcomer women, … Read more
You’ll notice that PIRS programs look a little different this fall. For one, we’re doing most of our work remotely. All of our leadership and language classes are being delivered online for the fall. And we increased our 1-1 outreach support and launched an emergency food hub. What makes PIRS’ work so unique is our … Read more
The immigration experience can shake self-confidence. Building Bridges helps immigrant and refugee women discover themselves. In a safe and inclusive environment, women work in a group setting through collaboration, discovery, and sharing to re-build their capacity. “When I joined BB, I was looking for a platform to contribute towards community and women . Now, I … Read more
The Learning Fair is a multi-stakeholder space to hear from immigrant women and service providers about the difficulties immigrant women face in their settlement journeys towards economic participation and to highlight solutions and hope. Over 35 participants have engaged with our Learning Lab over the past 6 months, exploring, designing, and testing those solutions, but … Read more
A blog by Mariam Bouchoutrouch, PIRS Executive Director Pacific Immigrant Resources Society recently received the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Award in the category of Breaking Barriers. And in typical fashion, I stumbled at the podium and later someone told me how they loved how humble I was. I have trouble with public speaking. As I step … Read more
Since 1975, Pacific Immigrant Resources Society (PIRS) has been helping immigrant and refugee women integrate and grow into Canadian society. We are a caring community dedicated to creating programs that are responsive to our participants’ unique needs and that build a strong foundation for success. Earlier this year, PIRS embarked on a potential research project … Read more
From April to May 2020, PIRS conducted a needs assessment survey. Our staff reached out to 350 participants by phone and online. Here is what they told us… To help them, PIRS is offering online English classes that not only equip them with the survival language that is required to navigate the crisis but also … Read more