COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Visit the sections below for curated information and referral links that support New Westminster residents.
Still have questions? Contact us or visit us in person for more assistance.
Canadian Citizenship (Citizenship information)
Citizenship Counts: Includes online study guide, flashcards and practice quiz. Use this resource along with the one below here called “Citizen Information for New Westminster”.
Citizen Information for New Westminster Handout of information relevant to New Westminster. Use the “Citizenship Counts” site for general study and this document for New Westminster specific information.
Discover Canada: Basic information for preparing for the Citizenship test; also available in MP3 format.
Community Resources - Burnaby and New Westminster
Covid-19 Pandemic: Helpful Services & Information
ESL & Language Learning
Top Resources
- English Language Learning: List of English Language learning classes offered in New Westminster
- Mango Languages: Language learning resource that helps you learn more than 70 world languages. Can be used as guest login but must create an account if you want your progress to be saved.
ESL Resources
- Activities for ESL Students: Quizzes, tests, exercises, and puzzles
- ELSA English Language Services for Adults: Basic and intermediate levels of English for newcomers.
- ESL Online Writing Lab from Purdue University: Writing resources and instructional material for writing at an advanced level.
Foreign Credentials & Employment
- International Credential Evaluation Service: ICES provides assistance regarding foreign credential evaluation and recognition.
- Skilled Immigrant Information Centre: A free service that will help you find information about resources, agencies, and organizations you need to get a job in your field.
Income Tax Information for New Westminster Residents
2023 Community Income Tax Clinics for New Westminster
If you know of any other agencies or organizations that are able to assist with the filing of taxes for low-income individuals or families, please email us at askus@nwpl.ca.
Jobs and Careers
Top Resources
- Job Freeway: This product is the online version of the Job White Pages. During the Covid-19 Pandemic this product is available from home.
Labour Market Information
- Job Seekers – British Columbia: programs and services to help the unemployed, from the Government of British Columbia.
- WorkBC: Labour Market information, tips for job seeking and career development. From the Province of British Columbia.
- National Occupational Classification: The federal government’s classification structure and descriptions of over 30,000 occupational titles.
- Federal Job Bank: Federal government’s job search engine.
- Business in Vancouver Datebook: find local networking events.
- Canada’s Top 100 Employers
- Salary Wizard Canada: Salary survey for a wide variety of Canadian jobs.
Legal Research and Referral
Legal Reference & Educational Resources
- Clicklaw: Understand how the legal system in BC works, and find answers to common legal questions as well as referrals to legal help and lawyers.
- Clicklaw Wikibooks: A selection of legal publications that can be read online or downloaded as PDF or EPUB: JP Boyd on Family Law, Legal Help for British Columbians, Consumer Law Wikibook, A Death in Your Family, Tenant Survival Guide, etc.
- BC Laws: A searchable database for BC Bills, Statutes, Regulations, Debates, and Gazettes.
- Duhaime’s Law Dictionary: A plain-language dictionary by a Victoria, BC lawyer.
- Family Law in British Columbia: Includes self-help materials, family law by subject and advice on resolving family law problems.
- Dial-a-Law: Practical information on BC law topics.
- Law Student Legal Assistance (LSLAP) Manual: Comprised of approximately 1000 pages of legal information, divided into 23 chapters. The manual is easy-to-use and provides quick answers to many legal issues.
- Legal Aid Immigration line: Refugee claimants and those facing immigration proceedings that may result in deportation may call 604-601-6076 or 1-888-601-6076 (no charge)
- Legal Services Society: Provides informative, online LSS legal publications, legal aid details and the toll-free hotline Lawline, and LawLink which has links to current, relevant legal sites.
- People’s Law School: Public legal education and information for the people of BC.
- Vancouver Justice Access Centre: Useful site if you are representing yourself in court.
- Seniors First: Includes free downloadable resources, information on Elder Law clinics, and how to contact the Seniors Advocacy and Information Line (SAIL).
Legal Services
- Access Probono: Nonprofit lawyer’s group that provides free legal services throughout BC.
- Community Legal Assistance Society: Specialized legal aid for disadvantaged British Columbians. Includes useful legal guides.
Newcomer Information
Immigration Support
- Legal Aid Immigration line: Refugee claimants and those facing immigration proceedings that may result in deportation may call 604-601-6076 or 1-888-601-6076 (no charge).
- Canadian Immigrant: Newsfeed and publication, with links to current information, advice, stories, trends, and guides.
- Welcome to Canada: Information for newcomers.
- WelcomeBC: Welcome to British Columbia provides information about immigrating to British Columbia.
- NewToBC: Supports the planning, development, promotion, and delivery of library-based and other settlement services for newcomer immigrants and refugees.
- Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia: Provides a supportive environment for newcomers to Canada of all backgrounds and its goal is to meet their settlement, English language, and employment needs.
- MOSAIC: A registered charity serving immigrant, newcomer and refugee communities in Greater Vancouver.
- Pacific Immigrant Resources Society: A community-based, non-profit organization serving immigrant and refugee women and their young children since 1975.
General Support
- S.U.C.C.E.S.S.: One of the largest social service agencies in BC.
- Fraserside Community Services: A multi-service agency that supports people needing housing, seeking work, and/or living with developmental disabilities, mental health or substance use issues, or low income.
- Community Services Asset Map: This map will help you to find out about community, settlement and social services in your city.
- Map of New Westminster
Seniors’ Information
Government
- Low Income bus pass for seniors and the disabled
- Seniors Canada Online: Programs and services for seniors and their families, from the Federal Government.
- Seniors Healthy Living Secretariat: The British Columbia Government’s web portal for seniors. Includes links to the BC Seniors’ Guide and the BC Information Line.
Health
- BC Senior’s Guide: Helping seniors live well
Housing
- Home Adaptations for Independence Program: The Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) program helps low-income http://www.bchousing.org/Options/Home_Renovationsseniors and people with disabilities finance home modifications for accessible, safe and independent living.
- Seniors Services Society: Seniors Services Society provides information and resources for seniors living or wishing to live in the Lower Mainland.
- BC Housing Information for Seniors from BC Housing
