Reports and Publications

In this section, you will find locally produced reports and publications on topics relevant to immigrant integration and refugee resettlement in Surrey and surrounding communities.

Inclusive Design in Practice

A 2023 collaboration between RADIUS SFU and DIVERSEcity on inclusive design in practice for more equitable and community-led solutions.

2022 Child Poverty Report Card

BC First Call: Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition with the support of SPARC BC produces an annual report card with the latest statistics on child and family poverty in British Columbia. This is done in conjunction with the release of the national child poverty report card by Campaign 2000.

Surrey LIP Immigrant Integration Strategy 2016-2019

Surrey Local Immigration Partnership Immigrant Integration Strategy Document.

Surrey LIP Refugee Integration Strategy 2017-2020

Surrey Local Immigration Partnership Refugee Integration Strategy Document.

Project Impact Report on DIVERSEcity’s Food Security Programs (2018)

The DIVERSEcity Food Security Kitchens Garden Program (FSKG) has been running for over 15 years, providing support to over 7,000 clients. The program offers opportunities for immigrant, refugee and low-income families to increase their food security through multicultural cooking groups and community garden activities. DIVERSEcity’s Food Security Program is comprised of the Community Kitchen Program, the Hazelnut Meadows and the Lionel Courchene Growing Roots Community Gardens Program. The FSKG program offers specialized learning opportunities and activities for parents with children aged 0 to 6 years, children aged 6 to 12 years, youth and seniors. The purpose of this report is to present the findings from an evaluation to measure the enduring impact—changes in knowledge, values and behaviors—of FSKG on DIVERSEcity’s clients and their families.

2018 BC Child Poverty Report Card

Surrey Child Care Report, April 2018, by the Surrey Community Child Care Task Force

This report highlights the important child care research that makes obvious the challenges that families face in seeking quality, affordable and accessible child care. It highlights the difficult reality of finding child care facing many south of Fraser families today.

Surrey LIP Immigrant Advisory Roundtable Summary Report: Exploring Newcomers’ Civic Engagement in Surrey (Sept 2018)

The Immigrant Advisory Roundtable (IAR) is a group of 16 Surrey immigrant and refugee residents who serve as a “newcomer voice” in the work of Surrey Local Immigration Partnership (LIP). The IAR launched a survey and consultations in the community to better understand immigrant and refugee residents’ civic engagement experiences in Surrey. Through the survey, the IAR aimed to develop a better understanding of current levels of involvement, to explore challenges to involvement and to identify ways to improve access to volunteer leadership opportunities for immigrants and refugees in Surrey.

Informal English Language Learning: a review of service capacity and demand in Surrey, B.C. (April 2017)

This report was commissioned by the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) as part of its Immigrant Integration Strategic Plan. Despite English Language Learning (ELL) being one of the most important elements of immigrant and refugee settlement in Surrey, there seems to be a lack of available programs to meet the need. This report compiles information on informal ELL as a way to inform and enhance service planning and coordination of English language programming in Surrey.

Mapping Refugee Skills and Employment Needs in Surrey and Abbotsford (2016-17)

The Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC) launched this research project to help connect refugee talent with employers in these two communities. Working with employers in Surrey and Abbotsford, the project endeavoured to:

gain a better understanding of workforce requirements by “key” economic sector
identify the barriers faced by employers when recruiting and retaining refugee talent
coordinate the collection of skill profile information on “job-ready” refugees
develop targeted strategies to connect employers to this talent pool

Mapping Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Migrant Needs in Surrey, B.C. (2016)

DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society commissioned this research to ascertain the needs of LGBTQ+ migrants, refugees and newcomers in Surrey. This report also maps existing newcomer and LGBTQ+ services. Conducted by SFU’s Department of Gender, Sexuality and Gender Studies.

NOTE: Resources from the www.fraservalleyrrt.ca website have been listed separately here.

The Role of Settlement Workers in Healthcare Access

Information about the different types of settlement workers and their ability to provide support to newcomer clients in accessing the healthcare system.

Information Sheet: About the RRT-FV

Information on the Refugee Response Team – Fraser Valley Region, its partners, purpose and Action Plan.

Information Sheet: Syrian Refugee Resettlement in the Fraser Valley 2015-16

Information on the settlement of B.C. Syrian refugees into the seven communities of the Fraser Valley Region.

Information Sheet: Supporting Refugee Clients Who Have Experienced Trauma

Information for settlement workers on trauma, trauma-informed practice, stages of trauma recovery and available community resources.

Information Sheet: Housing Challenges for Refugees, Part 1

Information on the financial challenges associated with housing in the Fraser Valley for refugees, including information on rental rates, vacancy rates, income support rates, and the impact of the transportation loan on newly arrived refugees.

Information Sheet: Housing Challenges and Recommendations for Refugees, Part 2

The housing needs and challenges of refugees in the Fraser Valley were identified through research conducted by the Refugee Response Team-Fraser Valley (RRT-FV), including two online surveys of local service providers and stakeholders, input from refugee clients, and consultation with RRT-FV members and the RRT-FV Housing Working Group.

Information Sheet Housing Facilitated Discussion Prioritized Actions 2016

In November 2016 the Refugee Response Team-Fraser Valley (RRT-FV) hosted a facilitated discussion on housing for refugees in the Fraser Valley. The objective was to identify short-term, achievable actions to address some of the housing challenges faced by refugees in the Fraser Valley as identified by research conducted by the RRT-FV. The information and input gathered in the Housing Facilitated Discussion were summarized and themed, including a list of 28 actions identified by participants. Members of the RRT-FV Housing Working Group reviewed these actions and recommended these for prioritization.

Information Sheet: English Language Training Programs

Information on English language training programs, including LINC, English Language Assessments and CELPIP.

RRT-FV Online Survey: Findings and Recommendations (May/June 2016)

The Refugee Response Team-Fraser Valley (RRT-FV) Online Survey was created to better understand the service needs, challenges and issues of refugees in the Fraser Valley. Responses were obtained from a variety of service providers and stakeholders involved in the resettlement and integration of refugees in the Fraser Valley, and this report summarizes the key findings and recommendations that emerged from the survey responses. It was open from May 20 to June 1, 2016, and received a total of 74 completed responses from individuals representing 41 organizations and private sponsor groups as well as two local residents in the Fraser Valley.

RRT-FV Online Survey: Findings and Recommendations (Oct/Nov 2016)

The Refugee Response Team-Fraser Valley (RRT-FV) Online Survey was created to better understand the service needs, challenges and issues of refugees in the Fraser Valley. Responses were obtained from a variety of service providers and stakeholders involved in the resettlement and integration of refugees in the Fraser Valley, and this report summarizes the key findings and recommendations that emerged from the survey responses. It was open from October 24 to November 8, 2016 and received a total of 34 completed responses from individuals representing 24 organizations and private sponsor groups in the Fraser Valley.

RRT-FV Online Survey: Findings and Recommendations (Jan 2017)

The Refugee Response Team-Fraser Valley (RRT-FV) Online Survey was created to better understand the service needs, challenges and issues of refugees in the Fraser Valley. Responses were obtained from a variety of service providers and stakeholders involved in the resettlement and integration of refugees in the Fraser Valley, and this report summarizes the key findings and recommendations that emerged from the survey responses. It was open from January 9 to February 1, 2017 and received a total of 42 completed responses from individuals representing 20 organizations and private sponsor groups in the Fraser Valley.

Summary Report: Employment Facilitated Discussions (June 2016)

In June 2016, the Refugee Response Team-Fraser Valley (RRT-FV) organized three facilitated discussions on employment supports and labour market attachment for refugees in the Fraser Valley. The purpose was to bring together service providers and stakeholders involved in the employment of refugees to share information, develop a coordinated approach to refugee-specific employment supports, and facilitate labour market attachment for refugees. These discussions were informed by research conducted by the RRT-FV, including focus groups with refugee clients and an online survey of local service providers and stakeholders. A total of 40 individuals took part, representing 27 organizations from different communities of the Fraser Valley. Input gathered from these discussions was summarized and organized.

Summary Report: Housing Facilitated Discussions (Nov 2016)

In November 2016, the Refugee Response Team-Fraser Valley (RRT-FV) organized a facilitated discussion on housing for refugees in the Fraser Valley. The purpose of the discussion was to bring together service providers and key stakeholders to: share information amongst stakeholders, identify short-term, achievable solutions to housing challenges faced by refugee families, and contribute to the development and/or improvement of housing supports for refugee families in the Fraser Valley. The discussion was informed by research conducted by the RRT-FV, including two online surveys of local service providers and stakeholders, input from refugee clients, and consultation with RRT-FV members and the RRT-FV Housing Working Group. A total of 25 individuals took part, representing 17 organizations such as immigrant serving agencies, housing services, and different levels of government.

Our Community Our Voice (2016)

The “Our Community, Our Voice” Refugee Research Project, led by Simon Fraser University Surrey, involved intensive research into the realities of Surrey’s refugee populations. This project was guided by 22 community stakeholders, staffed by 12 research assistants (including seven refugees), and incorporated a diverse array of research techniques, including a literature review, community consultations, and focus groups that involved a broad cross-section of refugees, service providers and community leaders.

Surrey LIP Welcoming Spaces Final Report (2014)

One of 7 projects of the Surrey Welcoming Communities Projects, the Surrey Welcoming Spaces Project was designed to assist organizations to create spaces and places that are welcoming to all.

Surrey LIP Approaches to Building a More Welcoming and Inclusive Community, Surrey (March 2014)

This report is one of several Refugee Myth Busting Campaign activities aimed at increasing the understanding of refugee newcomer needs and their assets and contributions to the City of Surrey.

Surrey LIP Art and Storied by Child Refugees, Surrey (2014)

A book composed of art and stories by children who came to Canada as refugees from Burma, Burundi, Eritrea, Honduras, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. The children used the language of the expressive arts including clay, painting and storytelling to share their experiences and stories. They explored the idea of home, displacement, belonging and their feelings around integrating into Canadian society. The aim of the project was to let the children share with each other and with their Surrey community in order that their stories may be heard, and so that those of us involved in their lives have the opportunity to question some of the myths that exist, so that we may bear witness and listen.

Surrey LIP Refugee Backgrounder Definitions and Categories (2014)

Definitions of the different categories of refugees and some back information about refugees.

Surrey LIP Resource Guide: Supporting Children with Refugee Experience (2014)

The purpose of the resource guide is to provide school staff and other professionals who engage with refugee children with a framework for understanding children with a refugee experience background. The aim is to look at what the children may have experienced or may be experiencing, what they bring with them from their journeys away from home and to Canada, and to explore some ideas on how best to support the integration of their worlds and support their resettlement in Canada. For an extensive guide please refer to Students from Refugee Backgrounds: A Guide for Teachers and Schools, Ministry of Education, October 2009.