Relais services

1. What is Relais Francophone?

The Relais Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique cooperative offers free and confidential settlement, integration and employment services to Francophone immigrants settling in British Columbia.

Discover our free settlement services for permanent residents, temporary residents (temporary workers and foreign students), refugees and foreign-born Canadian citizens (naturalized within the last 10 years).

In addition to offering one-on-one support in the form of private consultations, the Relais Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique organizes a number of monthly activities and events, including :

• Information sessions: understanding taxes in Canada, how to find housing, how to obtain Canadian citizenship, understanding Canada's healthcare system and how the school system works in British Columbia.
• Workshops on employment topics: tips for writing CVs, help with cover letters, how to develop your professional network, discovering career change options, etc.
• Social activities to enable you to meet other members of the French-speaking community (women's support group, friendly soccer match, welcome evening, etc.).

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2. What is a "facility agent"?

Relais Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique's settlement agents are skilled professionals specially trained to help newcomers settle and establish themselves in Canada. Whether they are already immigrants or still in their country of origin, our settlement agents are there to welcome you at the airport, help you enroll your children in school, facilitate your integration into Canada and provide you with information in French and other languages.

As an essential resource, our settlement agents can :

• Inform you about all aspects of settlement in Western Canada.
• Support you in your job search.
• Put you in touch with employers looking for French-speaking or bilingual candidates.
• Assist you with various administrative procedures (obtaining health insurance, social insurance number, driver's license, etc.).
• Tell you what you need to know and do to settle in Canada.
• Assess your needs and refer you to French-speaking organizations.
• Put you in touch with members of your community.

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3. What services do you offer?

We offer a range of settlement, integration and employment assistance services to Canadian immigration status holders, as well as to citizens naturalized within the last 10 years. Relais Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique's settlement agents are available to support and guide you in your development in British Columbia.

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Facility services

• Installation assistance
• Housing search
• Obtaining a driver's license and car insurance
• Obtaining a social insurance number
• Various administrative procedures
• Information on everyday life (banking services, transport, civic life, etc.)
• Information sessions and workshops
• Help with tax returns

Social integration

• Group social activities to meet new people and make friends
• Connect with members of your community
• Discover the history of First Nations, their historical and current challenges, and how to actively participate in national reconciliation (Aboriginal Connections)
• Focus on inclusion and the fight against all forms of discrimination (Inclusive Connections)

Employment assistance

• Adapting to the Canadian job market
• CV proofreading
• Interview preparation
• Networking
• Putting you in touch with employers
• Bilingual job information workshops and job fairs

Note : Le Relais Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique cannot provide recommendations on immigration procedures or visas/travel documents for your particular situation.

Immigrating and settling in Canada

1. Can you help me immigrate to Canada?

No. Unfortunately, the Relais Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique is not authorized to provide advice on immigration opportunities and procedures in Canada.

To find out how to immigrate to Canada :

• Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, where you'll find all the information you need on immigration programs and procedures. 
• Use the Coming to Canada tool to determine which immigration programs you qualify for.
• Consider hiring a private immigration consultant to represent you in your dealings with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Such professionals are authorized to advise and support you in your immigration application.

You can also consider several options for settling in British Columbia:

An application for permanent residence, which you can submit :

• or at federal level by creating a profile in the Entrée Express pool (which requires you to take one or more language exams and have your qualifications assessed: http: //www.cic.gc.ca/francais/immigrer/qualifie/index.asp).
• or at the provincial level through British Columbia's Provincial Nomination Program (PNP).

or :

Application for a temporary work permit. This could include :

• Youth mobility if you are under 35;
• A closed work permit binding you to your employer;
• The Mobilité Francophone program, which came into effect in June 2016.

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2. I've just arrived in Canada and I don't have a network of contacts. What should I do?

Here are some tips for meeting new people:

• Consult our calendar and take part in our activities and workshops. It's a great opportunity to learn more about life in Canada and meet other newcomers. 
• And don't miss our annual fall event, Journée d'accueil, which celebrates the diversity of British Columbia's francophone community. It's a great opportunity to have fun and make new friends!
• Do volunteer work. It's a great way to gain Canadian work experience, get references, get involved in your community and build a network. 
• We're always on the lookout for volunteers to help us with various administrative projects and events. Please contact us if you are interested.
• You can also visit Volunteer.ca to search for volunteer opportunities in your community.
• Use social networks. There are some very welcoming Facebook communities where you can ask questions about everyday life, and perhaps take part in group activities.
• Get out into your community : visit places of worship, parks, playgrounds and community or civic associations. It's a great way to meet people and get to know your community. 

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3. Is it possible to live in French in British Columbia?

Although French is one of Canada's two official languages, British Columbia is an English-speaking province. Most services, businesses and infrastructures (public transit, urban signage) use English only as the language of communication.

English is ubiquitous in British Columbia, and you need to be prepared to speak and understand the language for shopping, public transport and job interviews. If you're a permanent resident, you can take advantage of free English courses(write to us to find out more).

However, it's estimated that there are around 300,000 Francophones and Francophiles in British Columbia, which means that it's possible to meet people who speak French. What's more, numerous organizations and associations support the francophone community and help spread the word throughout the province. 

Utilities

• Provincial public services, i.e. those under the authority of the province of British Columbia (driver's license, health insurance, hospitals, etc.), are most often offered in English only. However, you may be served in French if you request it.
• Federal public services (Revenue Agency, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canada Post, etc.) should be able to serve you in French. Don't hesitate to ask for services in French if they're not readily available!

Francophone organizations

• A range of community organizations and associations work to promote the French language and culture throughout the province. Consult the Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique to learn more about these organizations.

Education

• There are French-language and immersion schools in many cities and regions of British Columbia. Consult the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique for more information.
• Collège Éducacentre offers college-level training in French.
• Simon Fraser University (SFU), through its Office of Francophone and Francophile Affairs, offers several university programs in French.

Health

• RésoSanté maintains a directory listing over 1,000 French-speaking healthcare professionals practicing across the province.
• The role of the Provincial Health Authority's Francophone Services (PHSA) is to help francophones understand the health care system in BC.

French-speaking professionals

• The Fédération des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique publishes an annual directory of francophone and francophile professionals and services in the province.
• The Société de développement économique de la Colombie-Britannique supports entrepreneurs and can guide you if you want to work for yourself.
• The Vancouver Francophone Chamber of Commerce brings together francophone businesses and entrepreneurs in the Greater Vancouver area.

4. How do I find accommodation in British Columbia?

For information on finding accommodation in British Columbia, visit our Practical Information page, Housing section. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact our Relais Francophone de la Colombie-Britannique agents.

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5. How do I exchange/obtain my driver's licence in British Columbia?

For information on exchanging or obtaining a driver's license in British Columbia, see our Practical Information page, Transportation section.

6. What do I need to know about medical care?

In British Columbia, it is compulsory to subscribe to health insurance, known as the Medical Services Plan (MSP). You can also download the MSP brochure from PHSA (Provincial Health Services Authority). The MSP covers certain medical expenses. o find out more about health insurance in British Columbia, visit our Practical Information page, Health section.

7. What is the cost of living in British Columbia?

The cost of living in Canada and British Columbia may vary according to the standards of your country of origin. To estimate the cost of living according to your family situation, your income and the region where you live, you can use Welcome BC's online tool, called the "Cost of Living Calculator".
Click here to access the Cost of Living Calculator.

However, it is generally accepted that the cost of living in Vancouver is high, especially when it comes to housing. For more information, see our Practical Information page, Housing section.

What's more, British Columbia is one of the most expensive provinces in Canada when it comes to car insurance. For more information, visit our Practical Information page, Transportation section.