Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Project

About the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and WorkplacesProject

The Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program (WICWP) is a three-year initiative that supports inclusive and vibrant communities across B.C. The goal is to build communities where:

• newcomers can realize their full potential,
• racism is eliminated and
• cultural diversity is valued and celebrated.

There are five program elements which make up the core WICWP program. These elements include:

• Community Partnership Development
• Knowledge Development and Exchange
• Public Education
• Demonstration Projects
• LEgacy Project

This three-year pilot program is intended to be a vehicle to lead and influence systemic change, and is not intended to provide direct services to clients. More specifically, the program objective is to fund initiatives that will foster welcoming communities around B.C.

As such, this program is about capacity building at the community, provincial and regional levels, developing broad, long-term partnerships across sectors and stakeholder groups, and serving as a catalyst for systemic change.

For more information about the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Project, please visit The WelcomeBC website

The Surrey Foundation's WIC Project

The Surrey Foundation has embarked on a series of projects geared to increasing Surrey's ability to be an inclusive community and promote appreciation of diversity and inter-cultural understanding that consists of:

Community Partnership Development

• In March, 2009, fifty-five community agencies, local government departments, health facilities, faith groups, and other community leaders participated in a Community Partnership Development Forum where a vision and action plan to develop the City of Surrey into an even more welcoming and inclusive community was produced.

Knowledge Development and Exchange

• From November, 2009 to June 2010, the Surrey Foundation and our Community Partners created Four Research Projects that look at strategies for creating welcoming and inclusive communities in four essential life areas: Community, Family, Economics and Education. This information is accessible on the WIC Website.

Public Education

• A documentary film that presents stories from the lives of some Newcomers in Surrey was released to the public via DVD, special screenings and on-line streaming in June 2010.
• A website that includes a Newcomers Guide, resources, stories and strategies that will help all people in Surrey create a welcoming & inclusive community launched in June 2010.

 Demonstration Projects

• On June 17, 2010, an information forum was held to introduce the funding opportunity for four community driven demonstration projects that will implement one or more strategies identified in the life area research from the Knowledge Development and Exchange projects.
• From May 2010 to April 2011, after school programs for children aged 6 - 12 will be developed and delivered with the support from Surrey Youth Leaders, to explore diversity and building relationships
• A Kidz Diversity Forum is added to the City of Surrey's 2010 Kidz Conference on November 19, 2010.
• A Community Forum will be held in 2011, that will draw together the research, projects, people and stories that have been elements of the Surrey WIC project.

For more information on the Surrey Foundation's Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Project, please feel free to contact:

Kim Angel, Senior Project Manager Email

or by calling the Surrey Foundation office at 604-591-2699

This project is made possible through funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia