The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) provides free settlement services to permanent residents, refugees, temporary foreign workers, provincial nominees, naturalized Canadian citizens, and international students.
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Settlement Services
Settlement services can help you and your family to learn about the community as you begin your new life in Canada. A settlement worker will meet with you to help you find the resources you need to successfully settle and build connections in your new community.
CBAL settlement services provide:
- One-on-one support to help you navigate local services and access information
- Individual and family needs assessments, goal setting and referrals
- Help with opening a bank account, finding a place to live, finding a family doctor, registering your child for school, accessing legal services, locating childcare and other things you will need in your first days
- Help with employment and orientation to Canadian workplace culture
- Assistance in completing forms and applications
- Connections to social and cultural groups and referrals to community programs
- Monthly workshops on a broad range of topics
- Support in dealing with the transition to Canadian life and work culture
- English language assessment and both formal and informal training (both online and in-person)
English Language Programs
Language programs aim to help clients improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. This is important for work, but also for life outside of work. CBAL provides a range of classes and tutoring options to help meet client needs.
Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) is a free language training program for eligible adult learners. Certified instructors use everyday tasks and real-world examples to support learners from levels Literacy to Canadian Language Benchmark Level 8.
Language services include:
- English language classes (including LINC)
- Informal conversation groups
- Workplace language support
- One-to-One tutoring
- IELTS & CELPIP Preparation
All services are funded by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and British Columbia Settlement and Integration Services (BCSIS).
For more information about CBAL settlement and language services email Carolyn Amantea, Lead Settlement Worker, camantea@cbal.org.
Success Stories
Leaving everything behind to start a new life can be scary, but that’s exactly what Lani did ten years ago. When she moved to Castlegar she made friends at an ESL family literacy program. She says, "When you meet people who have all come from a different country you connect." Read more ... |
Pam improved her English conversation skills with CBAL, then went on to earn a diploma in Business Administration at Selkirk College. She and her husband run three thriving businesses.
Read more ... 
Eric didn't think he would have a second chance at learning. A volunteer tutor helped him prepare for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language) and after passing he went on to graduate from BCIT at the top of his class! Read more ... |
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August Paw and Thaw Thi are Karin refugees from Myanmar (formerly Burma) who spent most of their lives in a refugee camp. They had the goal to become Canadians. In 2013, they achieved their goal - with a lot of hard work, the support, guidance and instruction of CBAL settlement worker Pam Bailie, and the help of many community volunteers. They continue to attend language classes and encourage their family members and other students by their example. Read more ... |
To learn about these FREE services contact the settlement worker in your community:
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East Kootenay Region
Cranbrook cranbrooksettlement@cbal.org 250-581-2112 Creston crestonsettlement@cbal.org 250-402-9448 Elk Valley elkvalleysettlement@cbal.org 250-946-6474 Golden goldensettlement@cbal.org 250-344-8392 Kimberley kimberleysettlement@cbal.org 250-427-6027 Windermere Valley windermerevalleysettlement@cbal.org 250-341-7188 |
West Kootenay & Boundary Region
Boundary boundarysettlement@cbal.org 250-584-4449 Castlegar castlegarsettlement@cbal.org 250-687-4714 Nakusp aslsettlement@cbal.org 250-265-3736 Nelson nelsonsettlement@cbal.org 250-505-6047 Trail trailsettlement@cbal.org 250-368-6770 |
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We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology. . |