Newcomer Support
Newcomer, immigrant and refugee women face many socioeconomic barriers to achieving equity and thriving in Canada. These include language barriers, social isolation, food insecurity, lack of affordable culturally responsive child care, inaccessible education fees.
We currently offer the following services to reduce these barriers and assist women in meeting their needs:
Outreach support
Our Outreach Support Workers offer peer mentorship and bridging support with system navigation, ready to connect participants with programs and services that will help them succeed in Canada.
English classes
Our English Classes provide a safe and welcoming environment for participants to practice English and make new friends. The trauma-informed curriculum emphasizes well-being, connectedness, and personal growth, and aims to equip participants with crucial skills for exploring their options for educational, career, and volunteer opportunities to fulfill their greatest potential.
“I think my words are not enough to express all my gratitude for the noble help they gave to my little son and me. I can testify that angels still exist on earth.”
— Outreach Program Participant
Family literacy
Our family literacy programs create a space for mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and other family caretakers to learn along with their young children and to find out more about parenting in Canada, nurture their sense of self-efficacy and confidence, and reduce social isolation so that they can support the early development of their children in the best possible way.
Trauma-informed early learning
We provide childcare for in-person programs so that mothers can focus on learning. Our play-based, trauma-informed early learning programming creates safe and warm places for kids to learn and grow through play, art, science, songs, and stories.
“Thank you all for supporting me and my little one throughout the difficult times. I’m truly and forever grateful to you as I have received the gift cards which help me ease my struggles and worries. It has been a huge difference for our lives! Thanks again for your ongoing support for helping us get better :)”
– Food Hub program participant
Food Access Program
We also operate two emergency Food Hub locations that distribute healthy food hampers to families in need every week.
Educational bursary
We provide educational bursaries to immigrant and refugee women who wish to pursue education and training to upgrade skills and employability, and require financial support to do so.
24,867
Women and children served
Since 1975, PIRS served 16,277 women and 8,595 children and counting.
75
Women trained
75 women completed training programs in 2022 to become more effective leaders in their communities.
3,679
Food hampers distributed
448 people continue to be served weekly through the emergency Food Hub.
