S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation supports immigrants by helping them receive opportunities to start their life in Canada. As a recent report from Statistics Canada shows, temporary foreign workers in Canada are more consistently transitioning into permanent residency, compared to previous cohorts in years prior. As such, organizations like S.U.C.C.E.S.S. look to play a key role in enabling the integration of new arrivals to Canada.

But the foundation does more than just serving newcomers, seniors, youth and families – S.U.C.C.E.S.S. aims to help them find their place, offering programs and support for nearly every individual to help those who need it most.

“We want to stay very inclusive and open to meet everyone’s needs,” says Queenie Choo, CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. British Columbia. “We serve anyone, including those with mental, physical and social needs.”

Founded in 1973, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has become a key social service agency for immigrants and individuals on their Canadian journey. By supporting people on their path to Canadian citizenship, Choo says the organization hopes to make things equitable.

What ‘success’ means

Since starting in 2012, Choo has overseen a variety of the organization’s programs. She emphasizes that S.U.C.C.E.S.S. operates under several lines of service, with their major program categories being integrated services for newcomers and affordable housing.

“We have resettlement programs, as well as language training, employment and entrepreneurship workshops,” says Choo.

Choo says S.U.C.C.E.S.S. also prioritizes creating an active community. For immigrants, establishing a sense of home is essential. Furthermore, newcomers have civic responsibilities like voting.

“(Having civic responsibilities) is a way to get to know the community, the province and the country,” says Choo.

Ultimately, she says S.U.C.C.E.S.S. relies on a holistic approach, one that considers not just the person, but the community.

“There are programs for permanent residents and there are programs for temporary residents, so depending on their background and needs, we will find a way to help,” says Choo.

Equal or equitable

Choo notes how immigrants and newcomers are severely disadvantaged compared to residents as opportunities do not come often. Accessing social services is no easy task; challenges like the language barrier and culture difference make it all the more inconvenient. Choo says this disparity is so drastic that, at times, it makes integrating into Canadian life difficult and obtrusive. As an immigrant herself, Choo says she understands the added complexity of being a newcomer.

As such, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. looks to improve fairness in the job market. The organization encourages employers to hire immigrants and provides resources to make the hiring process smoother.

People proficient in English also have a head start, so S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has started providing language learning resources for newcomers, resources which, previously, would not have been known.

“It’s important to look at equitable wages and equitable job opportunities, so (immigrants) have a seat at the table and not be discriminated against because they are newcomers,”says Choo.

For parents with children, informing them about how to enroll in the school system is a step towards making things more equitable as well. Between work, education and language programs and more, Choo hopes that S.U.C.C.E.S.S. can continue to help new arrivals find their way and find success.

“All in all, there’s a lot of orientation to a new community and there’s a lot of challenges to find out what a local community is like,” says Choo.