MOSAIC staff provide programs that address the needs of immigrants and refugees. Photo courtesy of MOSAIC

Julie had arrived from South Korea and was in Canada for a few years before connecting with MOSAIC.

Because Julie had some local connections and strong work experience from her home country, and was conversationally fluent in English, she did not initially seek out assistance from any settlement agencies.

After a couple of years spent adapting to her new community and establishing Canadian work experience via her own network within the South Korean community, Julie began seeking work in the mainstream community. She found that her qualifications earned her many interviews, but none of these resulted in a job or even a follow-up interview. Julie had lost her confidence and, in her own words, was “a little bit depressed.”

At this point, she contacted MOSAIC. At one of its group workshops, she learned successful interview strategies and tips, practised her new-found techniques with the group and received constructive feedback.

Just one week after the workshop, Julie had an interview and applied what she’d learned. She was offered a job in her desired field.

Through MOSAIC, newcomers like Julie can seek out help to find work, learn English, navigate in their new communities, and learn about Canadian culture and other factors that assist with settlement and integration to Vancouver.

The organization’s vision is to empower newcomers to fully participate in Canadian society. Their dedicated staff work with clients, volunteers, community partners and funders to provide a wide variety of programs that address the needs of immigrants and refugees.

And it’s not just newcomers like Julie that MOSAIC can help with employment-related assistance – the organization also operates the Vancouver Northeast Employment Services Centre – the Work BC office for Renfrew-Collingwood – which serves all citizens in B.C. and not just newcomers.

And now MOSAIC’s headquarters has relocated to the Collingwood community, taking up residence in the amenity space at the Wall Centre – Central Park complex (near Kingsway and Boundary) that was granted by the City of Vancouver.

“It’s a beautiful space and we’re excited to be in Collingwood, a community that has great diversity and a wonderful, family-friendly vibe,” says Dianna Lee, MOSAIC’s manager of marketing and communications.

MOSAIC was founded in 1976 to help Vancouver’s many non-English-speaking immigrants navigate the challenges they found in the city.

Since then, the organization has grown to more than 350 staff and 400 volunteers at 28 different sites across Metro Vancouver. The organization also has a thriving social enterprise, MOSAIC Interpretations and Translations Services, which is one of Canada’s leading providers in this sector.

MOSAIC offers more than 40 programs that cover every area of life, including settlement, employment, counselling and language learning, with services available in more than 30 languages. Although many of the programs are directed towards newcomers, MOSAIC’s services include conversation circles, mother’s circles, youth clubs and seniors’ programs that immigrants or citizens can participate in.

MOSAIC also provides services for temporary foreign workers and the LGBT community.

“No matter where you’re from, how old you are or what language you speak, MOSAIC can help you find what you need to live, work and become part of the community here,” says Lee. “MOSAIC will help newcomers to find the support they need.”

Copyright (c) 2017 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News