Community Resources
Check out the sections below for curated information and links that support New Westminster residents.
Community Resources
- Food Resources and Survival Guide: The calendar lists dates, times, and locations for local food resources while the survival guide provides information related to meeting basic needs, including emergency shelter, drop-in, food and health services. It is updated and maintained by the City of New Westminster.
- Burnaby and New Westminster Community Resource Guide: A comprehensive guide of resources for Burnaby and New Westminster including but not limited to Families and Youth, Food, Housing, and Seniors. It is compiled yearly by Burnaby Community Services.
- S.U.C.C.E.S.S.: One of the largest social service agencies in BC offering programs and services that promote belonging, wellness, and independence.
- 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.
Jobs & Careers
Job Boards
- WorkBC Job Board: Job board of postings across British Columbia created by WorkBC.
- Civic Info BC: Municipal job postings from across British Columbia.
- Job Bank Canada: Job posting site provided by the Government of Canada.
- Civic Jobs: Municipal job postings from across Canada.
- Partnership Jobs: Library-and-information-professional-specific postings from across Canada.
Labour Market Information
- International Credential Evaluation Service: Provides assistance related to evaluation and recognition of foreign credentials.
- Skilled Immigrant Information Centre: Helps find information needed to get a job in your field. An initiative of Vancouver Public Library.
- WorkBC: Offers labour market information, job-seeking tips, and career-development tools. From the Province of British Columbia.
- National Occupational Classification: Provides the Government of Canada’s classification structure and descriptions for more than 30,000 occupations.
- Business in Vancouver Events: Lists local business-related events to attend.
- Canada’s Top 100 Employers: Annual competition to determine the best companies in Canada to work for.
- Salary Wizard Canada: Offers salary comparisons for a wide variety of Canadian jobs.
Income Tax Information
- Community Income Tax Clinics: A list of local tax clinics. (If you know of additional agencies or organizations that are able to assist with the filing of taxes, please contact us so we can add it to this list of local tax clinics.)
Legal Research & Referral
Legal Reference & Educational Resources
- BC Laws: A searchable database for BC bills, statutes, regulations, debates, and gazettes.
- Clicklaw: Understand how the legal system in BC works, find answers to common legal questions, and access 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.
- Dial-a-Law: Practical information on BC law topics provided by People’s Law School.
- Family Law in British Columbia: Includes self-help materials, family law by subject, and advice on resolving family-law problems.
- Law Student Legal Advice Program Manual: Comprised of approximately 1,000 pages of legal information, divided into 23 chapters, created by the law students and volunteer lawyers.
- 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: Non-profit lawyers’ group that provides free legal services throughout BC.
- Amici Curiae (AC) Friends of Court: Non-profit organization that helps clients understand legal procedures and complete legal forms for free.
- Community Legal Assistance Society: Specialized legal aid for disadvantaged British Columbians.
- Legal Aid BC: If you can’t afford a lawyer, you may qualify for help from this organization.
- Vancouver Justice Access Centre: Justice Access Centres operate across the province, with staff available to assist you with issues related to separation or divorce.
Newcomer Information
- Canadian Immigrant: Newsfeed and publication, with links to current information, advice, stories, trends, and guides.
- Welcome to Canada: Information for newcomers to Canada from the federal government.
- WelcomeBC: Information about settling and working in British Columbia.
- NewToBC: Specific information for immigrants and refugees about public libraries and other service provider organizations.
- Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia: Provides a supportive environment for newcomers to British Columbia.
- MOSAIC: One of Canada’s largest settlement non-profit organizations..
- Pacific Immigrant Resources Society: Community-based, non-profit organization serving immigrant and refugee women and their young children.
Language Learning, including English
English Language Learning
- English Language Learning: List of English Language Learning classes and English Conversation Circles offered in New Westminster and the surrounding area.
- Activities for ESL Students: Quizzes, tests, exercises, and puzzles to accelerate your learning.
- ELSA English Language Services for Adults: Enroll for adult classes ranging from Pre-Beginner to Intermediate.
Online Language Learning
- Mango Languages: Language learning resource that helps you learn more than 70 world languages. Log in as a guest but create an account if you want your progress to be saved.
- Clear Pronunciation: Uses audio, video, and interactive activities to help improve English-language pronunciation. Select the Sign In option if you wish to track your progress.
- Practical Writing: Helps English-language writers better structure their message, select the right vocabulary, and choose the most appropriate style, whether writing for work, school or in their personal life.
Canadian Citizenship
- Citizenship Counts: Includes online study guide, flashcards, and practice quiz to help you prepare to apply for Canadian citizenship.
- Citizen Information for New Westminster: A handout of information relevant to New Westminster, BC to add to your overall Canadian citizenship study and preparation.
- Discover Canada: A study guide covering Canadian history, heritage and citizenship to add to your overall Canadian citizenship study and preparation.
Older Adults
General
- Low income bus pass for seniors and the disabled: Get a reduced cost bus pass if you meet certain requirements.
- Programs and services for seniors: Help ensure your later years are safe and secure by learning about programs, services, and information available for seniors.from the Federal Government.
- SeniorsBC: The British Columbia Government’s web portal for seniors includes links to the BC Seniors’ Guide and the BC Information Line.
Housing
- BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations: Program helps low-income seniors and people with disabilities finance home modifications for accessible, safe, and independent living.
- Seniors Services Society of B.C.: Organization provides programs, services, information, and resources for vulnerable older adults.
- Seniors’ Supportive Housing: Provincially funded program provides specially modified homes primarily to low-income seniors who need some assistance in order to continued to live independently.
Volunteer Opportunities
- City of New Westminster Volunteer Opportunities: Information page for volunteer positions offered by the City of New Westminster.
- Community Volunteer Connections: Search engine of volunteer positions compiled across many organizations throughout British Columbia.
- Fraser Health Volunteer Opportunities: Find volunteer opportunities within the Fraser Health service region.
Questions? Contact us for assistance.