Our History
The Family Education and Support Centre submitted a proposal to create a Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) inclusive of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Katzie. In 2014, we received a five-year (2020–2025) funding from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and began to build the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Katzie LIP.
LIPs are community-based partnerships that bring together local service providers, public agencies, community groups, employers, and other key organizations with the aim of supporting newcomers in their settlement and integration into Canada and creating more welcoming and inclusive communities.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to enhance collaboration, coordination, and strategic planning at the community level in order to foster more welcoming and inclusive communities and improve settlement and integration outcomes. The primary focus of our Local Immigration Partnership Council is to provide guidance and support for the development and completion of activities to achieve the goals and objectives laid out in our Strategic Plan. Our work is supported by the networks, community knowledge, and expertise held by our LIP Committee, our Newcomer Network Advisory, and our issue-focused Working Groups.
We are now in the third phase of our 2020–2025 contract term. During this phase, we will be conducting community-based research to help our partners better understand and address the needs of newcomers and to support our LIP Committee in developing actions to inform and address our strategic priorities.
Current Strategic Priorities:
- Increase Access to Information and Services.
- Support Employment & Entrepreneurship.
- Promote Social Inclusion.
Our Vision & Values
Our Vision
We envision Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Katzie to be vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive communities.
Our Values
The following values and ethics guide our work of the- Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Katzie Local Immigration Partnership: Respect, Collaboration, Inclusive, Transparency, Commitment and Integrity.
To achieve these values we agree to the following guiding principles:
- Have an open and inclusive planning process that builds on the skills, and experience of the community. Ensuring that the work of the Council is done for the benefit of the community rather than having a personal or business interest. Agree to move forward on decisions made by a majority of Council members after a vote.
- Ensure transparency on all levels when making decisions.
- Encourage all sectors to be involved and share ideas, trends, and needs of newcomers in the community.
- Ensure an inclusive planning process by reaching out and building on the skills and expertise held within our communities.
Our Building Interfaith Bridges Committee
Building Interfaith Bridges is a committee of faith-based leaders that organizes and leads community dialogues and workshops. The committee accepted the invitation from the Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Katzie LIP to become a working group of the LIP.
BC SPOKES Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows
BC SPOKES Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows is part of a province-wide anti-racism network called Resilience BC. Resilience BC serves as a hub to connect communities to anti-racism information, training, and resources throughout the province.