The Society's History
The Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS) was established in 1976, when an increasingly diverse immigrant population started moving north due to the high wages paid in jobs in forestry and mining. As more immigrant children attended the local schools, the number of incidents involving racism rose steadily. Consequently, a group of concerned citizens began a local immigrant-serving agency with the assistance of the Immigrant Services Society of Vancouver, British Columbia.
The first major flow of refugees came from Uganda in 1978. Shortly afterwards (1978-1991), many refugees began arriving from Southeast Asia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Russia, Central America, the Middle East, and Africa. At the time, Prince George was receiving the third highest number of refugees in the province. Since 1991, however, the government decided to keep all the government-sponsored refugees in the lower mainland. Nevertheless, many refugees from other provinces have been attracted to Northern British Columbia by the high paying jobs in the local industries. As a result of the varied immigrant communities, this region receives a lot of family class immigrants.
From 1978 to 1991, the main role for the agency was the settlement of refugees. The special advisory and welcoming refugee committee was established. The community was very responsive to refugees' needs. The agency did not have the host program funded by the Immigration Department, but a volunteer host program was soon established. The reception committee would go to the airport with settlement staff and assist refugees in shopping and interpreting, introduce them to their ethnic communities, organize receptions, family nights, and birthday parties, take them to outdoor activities and Sunday church, offer friendship, provide casual work opportunities, and teach English in their homes.
Since 1991, the agency has gone through tremendous changes. Due to high unemployment in the northern region, forest and mining industries are facing crises. The immigrants and refugees who are coming to the north are having a hard time getting permanent well-paying jobs.
In the northern region of the province, IMSS is the only settlement agency providing direct service to immigrants and refugees. The society is well-established in the north as a central resource and information center for smaller agencies and for professionals. The agency also provides orientation counselling and assistance to immigrants in the neighbouring communities.
Mission: The Immigrant & Multicultural Services Society is a non-profit community serving agency, providing settlement and integration services to immigrants and refugees throughout Prince George and the northern region. It strives to promote multiculturalism and racial harmony and to eliminate racism in the pursuit of equality and social justice for all Canadians.
Vision: To build a healthy and just Society which values Canada’s Cultural Diversity.
Organization's Structure
The society is comprised of a local membership of individuals and ethnic groups. Representatives from each ethnic organization and similar clubs or organizations are invited to join the society. The Board of Directors is elected from the members at the annual general meeting. Membership in the society is open to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada regardless of their race, religion, gender, or country of origin.
