ISANS announces the continuation of Settlement Online Pre-Arrival program through $13.1 million in funding from IRCC

January 16, 2019

The four-year project will expand program offerings and incubate innovation in service delivery of pre-arrival service for immigrants and refugees. 

HALIFAX – Today, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced $13.1 million dollars in funding for ISANS to continue its Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA) program. This groundbreaking program developed and overseen by ISANS ensures that immigrants arrive prepared for their new life in Canada.

“Our mission is to help immigrants build a future in Nova Scotia. This funding will allow us to better prepare newcomers for their arrival in Canada through SOPA’s expanded pre-arrival services, alleviating some of the stresses associated with the settlement process,” says Jennifer Watts, CEO of ISANS.

Created in 2015, SOPA works to improve linkages between pre-arrival and post-arrival services for newcomers helping them find and retain employment in Canada. By participating in the program, immigrants will arrive in Canada better prepared, more confident and enter the workplace sooner. Since its inception, SOPA has served 4,334 clients with pre-arrival services.

“We are so pleased to continue offering SOPA for newcomers destined for the Canadian workplace and we are very excited the core program has been enhanced with employment counseling and more services for refugees and youth,” says Andrew Leverman, Project Lead – Settlement Online Pre-Arrival.

The continuation of this groundbreaking program will support ISANS to working with the six SOPA implementing partner agencies across the country. This allows the SOPA program to offer province specific information and resources to newcomers. With these funds, ISANS will be able to enhance courses and innovative delivery platform through new technological developments allowing for faster and more streamlined services. To learn more about SOPA, please visit the website, www.arriveprepared.ca

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For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Clancy Waite | Coordinator, Public Relations | 902.406.0217

Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)

6960 Mumford Road, Suite 2120, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3L 4P1

phone: 902.423.3607, fax: 902.423.3154 www.old.isans.ca

About ISANS

ISANS is the leading deliverer of settlement services in Atlantic Canada and provides the full range of programs and services along the settlement and integration continuum to 7,000+ clients annually in 100+ communities across Nova Scotia. ISANS is also the primary contact in Nova Scotia on refugee, settlement and immigration issues for 2,000+ organizations, employers, government departments and individuals annually.