Lethbridge Family Services
Immigrant Services
Visit us:
703 - 2nd Avenue South
Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 0C4
Office Hours:
Monday & Tuesday: 8:30am - 8:00pm
Wednesday & Thursday: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Friday: 8:30am to 12 noon
Phone: 403-320-1589
Fax: 403-317-7654
E-mail us:
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How can I get my foreign training assessed?
How do I register my children in school?
What Canadian laws do I need to know?
How do I get around Lethbridge?
For employers
What are the different types of immigrants?
How do I understand their culture and language?
How can I improve my English?
There are many ways. You may have you English level assessed by the Southern Alberta Language Assessement Services (SALAS); they provide English language assessments for immigrants, refugees, private clients and foreign workers. Depending on your level of English when you get to Canada, you could be placed in a Language Instruction for New Canadians program delivered in Lethbridge through Flexibility Learning Systems or Lethbridge College.
- The Lethbridge Public Library Read-On program provides one-on-one help with reading, writing, speaking and listening for adults and children. We also offer literacy sessions at the Immigrant Services office.
- You can also work on your English skills by being matched with one of our Community Connections Program volunteers, call 403-320-1589 for information.
- Every week Immigrant Services hosts Conversation Circles for new immigrant men and women to practice their English:
- Men's Conversation Circle, Saturdays 10 a.m. to 12 noon
- Women's Conversation Circle, Sundays 2 to 4 p.m.
Where will I live?
Lethbridge has a wide range of places to live -- apartments, condominiums, houses, both for rent and to purchase. We work closely with the Lethbridge Housing Authority to find affordable accomodations for newcomers. Another source of information on local rental property is Homefinders. Local real estate agents can help you find rental accomodations or purchase a home.
How do I find a job?
There are many employment agencies in Lethbridge who will work with newcomers. Flexibility Learning Systems and Lethbridge College offer employment services to ESL students. Employment agencies in Alberta may charge fees for some services, but they cannot charge a fee for finding you a job. Other employment services include:
- Alberta Employment and Immigration is located in the Lethbridge Provincial Building, 200-5th Ave. South, and includes a career library and consultants.
- Select Recruiting and HR is a full-service recruitment and staffing agency specializing in Executive, Permanent, and Temporary placements.
- Fifth on Fifth Youth Services provides a variety of programs and services for youth ages 15 to 30 years of age, including academic development, career development, employment and social development.
- JobLinks is located at 416 - 8th Street South and provides employment assistance for people with disabilities.
- ALIS (Alberta Learning Information System) has a listing of on-line employment search tools.
How can I get my foreign training assessed?
Your foreign training will need to be assessed. The International Qualification Assessement Services (IQAS) compares educational qualifications from other countries with Alberta's educational standards. There are other assessment services located across Canada and the US, but IQAS is the only one officially connected with the Government of Alberta.
How do I register my children in school?
There several options for parents in Lethbridge: Lethbridge School District #51 and Holy Spirit Roman Catholic School Division #4 cover most school. Immanuel Christian Schools and Ecole la Verendrye (francophone school) may provide some other choices.
- To register your children you may go to you nearest school and speak to the Principal, or you can contact our School Based Settlement Support workers to assist you, call 403-320-1589.
How do I find a doctor?
Basic information about your medical coverage is available here. Call us at 403-320-1589 to arrange for Alberta Health Care Insurance coverage. The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons has a current list of doctors who are accepting new patients. The Alberta Dental Association and College has a similar listing for dentists in the area.
What Canadian laws do I need to know?
We offer You and the Law information sessions almost every month, call 403-320-1589 to find out about the next session. These sessions go over Canadian laws, policing and your rights and responsibilities. The Lethbridge Regional Police Service is the local police force.
Some important laws that may apply to you and your family:
- Children under 12 years of age cannot be left at home alone or care for younger children.
- All children aged six to 16 years must go to school.
- In Alberta, you must be 18 years old to buy or drink alcohol.
- It is against the law to use, buy or sell drugs such as marijuana, heroin or cocaine.
- It is against the law to make sexual remarks or advances if the other person is not receptive.
- It is against the law to hit anyone, including your spouse or children, either in your home or in public.
- It is against the law to threaten to hurt anyone.
How do I get around Lethbridge?
The City of Lethbridge has several different types of maps to give you local information about getting around the city. LA Transit (Lethbridge city bus) provides bus service to most parts of the City. There is currently no bus service to the communities around Lethbridge. Lethbridge has a creat system of trails and paths for walking, running and cycling. Greyhound provides ground transportation to major cities across Canada.
For employers
What are the different types of immigrants?
We define Newcomers as anyone who is in the process of immigrating or has recently landed as an immigrant to Canada. There are several categories of immigrants:
- Family Class immigrants are closely related to Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.
- Independent Immigrants are also known as Economic Class are admitted on the basis of a point system that account for things such as age, health and labour-market skills required for cost effective integration into Canada's labour market.
- Refugees seek protection by applying to come to Canada.
In December 2009, there were 65,187 immigrants in the family class, 22,844 refugees, and 153,458 economic immigrants among the 252,124 total immigrants to Canada. There were 282,711 Temporary Foreign Workers present in the country.
Can I hire an immigrant?
When a newcomer arrives in Canada (either as a refugee or another class), one of the first things they obtain is a Social Insurance Number. Like any other Canadian, they require a SIN number and/or card to obtain employment. Social Insurance Numbers that begin with the number “9” are issued to temporary residents (not Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents). They may be foreign students and individuals on work visas. These individuals must have prior authorization to work in Canada. Temporary Foreign Workers are in Canada under a specific work-visa and can only be employed by the employer listed on that visa.
Once a newcomer has become a Permanent Resident (the outdated term is “landed immigrant”) they have most of the same rights as any other Canadian: they can receive most social benefits, including health care coverage; they can live, work or study anywhere in Canada; they pay taxes; they are protected under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and respect all Canadian laws at the federal, provincial and municipal levels; and they can apply for Canadian citizenship.
There are only a few things Permanent Residents cannot do: vote or run for political office; hold certain jobs that have a high-level security clearance; or remain in Canada if convicted of a serious criminal offence and have been told to leave the country.
How do I understand their culture and language?
Research has shown that there is a strong business case for having a diversified workforce. As society increases in diversity, a similar workforce will attract new customers. There is some general information on the Alberta Employment and Immigration website about diversity in the workplace.
It's important that employers understand that your employees' support is ciritcal to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce. Talk to your staff about the new employees. There is help is available:
- contact Immigrant Services at 403-320-1589, we can provide specific cultural and diversity awareness sessions to employers.