Unlocking Opportunities for Newcomers

Immigrant Advisory Council

Our aim is to ensure that Burnaby's newcomers have a voice in shaping the services and resources available to them. We want to create a welcoming and inclusive community where everyone, regardless of their background, can thrive. This involves providing valuable input to community service providers, sharing insights and practices that celebrate diversity, and actively engaging with different ethnic communities to foster understanding and participation. Together, we're working towards a more inclusive and vibrant Burnaby.

In addition to BIPT members, the work of this Local Immigration Partnership is supported by an Immigrant Advisory Council. The Council provides feedback on the BIPT and its work, shares and promotes promising practices and research, serves as a resource for community service providers and reaches out to ethno-specific communities to share committee information and encourage participation in its work.

Are you interested in becoming an Immigrant Advisory Council Member? Contact Us

Contact Us

"Together, we're building a more inclusive and vibrant Burnaby, where newcomers have a voice and a place to thrive."

Meet Our Council Members

  • Country of origin: Somalia

    Languages Spoken: Somali

    Brief Bio:

    As a newcomer from Somalia, I'm eager to contribute to my new community in Canada. I want to actively engage in initiatives supporting fellow newcomers, collaborating with government associations and organizations to aid in their integration. Drawing from my unique experiences, I aim to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment. Committed to social cohesion, I'm excited to channel my energy into initiatives promoting inclusivity and support for those starting their new life in Canada. I look forward to making a positive impact and enriching the multicultural fabric of this society.

  • Country of origin: Columbia

    Languages Spoken: Spanish

    Brief Bio:

  • Country of origin: Syria

    Languages Spoken: Armenian, Arabic

    Brief Bio:

    A professional individual, with 5+ years of experience as a Settlement Worker in Schools (SWIS). Four years of extensive local and overseas community volunteering experience with ethno-cultural minority community. Experience of supporting immigrants and refugee families with diverse cultural backgrounds. Possessing working knowledge of settlement, employment, language and healthcare resources.10+ years of university lecturing experience with excellent communication and group facilitation skills.

    Education:

    • Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering (University of Aleppo/Syria)

    • Education Assistant Diploma (Burnaby Continuing Education)

  • Country of origin: South Sudan

    Languages Spoken: Kiswahili, English, Intermediate Arabic

    Brief Bio:

    I am hugely humbled by the opportunity to join the Immigrant Advisory Council and push forward the community’s participatory ethno-specific, research, and newcomer’s services agenda. I am a father, husband, brother, and professional having studied bachelor’s degree in economics, at Moi University, in 2014.

    Having borne the horror of Africa’s longest and deadliest civil war, I narrowly escaped to neighboring Kenya where l stayed in a refugee camp for over 10 years and later made history to be the first in my village to join the university!

    Settling in a new country is tricky. However, arriving midst of the pandemic makes it intense, and that is how l felt when I arrived in Canada during the summer of 2020. With personal resilience and the welcoming community of Burnaby, I was able to join the NewToBC program where I volunteered as a Library Champion which creates awareness and strengthens community integration, and later joined Burnaby Public Library workforce.

    I have over 5 years of experience working with international humanitarian organizations including the Catholic Relief Service (CRS) and I am a sharp fanatic for community engagement through transformative projects, sustainability, empowerment, equality, and equity. I envision the In-Between City to arise and shine in diversity!

  • Country of origin: China

    Languages Spoken: Cantonese, Mandarin

    Brief Bio:

    It is a great pleasure and honor for me to continue to be an active member of the Immigrant Advisory Council for BIPT since I joined the committee in late 2014.

    As a new immigrant landing in Canada in mid-2014, I have settled down in Burnaby and started a new journey with my family in this beautiful city that we call home ever since. Similar to other new immigrants, there were no short of challenges living in a new country, but I have made huge accomplishments in my life thanks to my endeavors and other people’s very kind help. Not only have I changed career and advanced in the supply chain industry, but I have also obtained my first professional certification as CPIM after completing supply chain and project management courses at BCIT. In the meantime, I am blessed to be a father of two lovely children, both of who were born in Burnaby.

    Having benefited a lot from this wonderful city, I have been giving back to the local community as a committee member, mentor and volunteer. I will continue to do so to make Burnaby a better place for immigrants and local people. I am proud to have contributed to Burnaby’s success today, and I am looking forward to being a part of Burnaby’s future success.

  • Country of origin: Korea

    Languages Spoken: English, Korean

    Brief Bio:

    Vivienne holds a bachelor's degree in media and communication and recently earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. She also completed the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at Vancouver Career College and obtained her certification in 2020.

    Since 2018, she has been supporting families from diverse cultural backgrounds as a Family Resource Worker at Burnaby Family Life. Vivienne facilitates the Nobody’s Perfect Korean parenting program for Burnaby Family Life and S.U.C.C.E.S.S., and has also led the program for single parents at Mosaic. Currently, she serves as a Settlement Practitioner at S.U.C.C.E.S.S., providing support to Korean-speaking newcomers navigating their settlement journey.

    Vivienne is committed to fostering inclusive communities and is passionate about promoting the well-being and successful integration of families and immigrants in Canada.

  • Country of origin: China

    Languages Spoken: English, Mandarin

    Brief Bio:

    Lana Wei is the project coordinator of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’s Employment and Entrepreneurship Services division. She has previously worked for the Immigrant Women Entrepreneurship Program and WorkBC Self-Employment Program at S.U.C.C.E.S.S. As an immigrant and a global citizen, she holds strong belief in interculturalism and engages herself in fostering equal opportunities for all to realize their full potential.

  • Country of origin: Ukraine

    Languages Spoken: English, Russian and Hebrew

    Brief Bio:

    I was born in Ukraine, but immigrated to Israel when I was a teenager and lived there for 17 years. Then immigrated to Canada in 2012. I am a Registered Social Worker with more than 10 years of experience working with immigrants. I love to help others using my skills and knowledge.

  • Country of origin: India

    Languages Spoken: Tamil, English

    Brief Bio:

    Periystel immigrated to Canada at thirteen years old with her family. She witnessed her parents face the same struggles that many immigrants go through. The biggest struggle for her was watching her parents’ extensive education and international work experience dismissed for their lack of Canadian credentials and work experience. As a result, Periystel has developed a burning passion to help newcomers to Canada find their way and settle into their new home. She especially wants to help older immigrant families with their transition into Canadian life. Her dream is to one day collaborate and be involved in creating and implementing government policies aimed at helping older immigrants find their place in the Canadian economy in a meaningful way.

    Periystel graduated from Simon Fraser University in 2021 with her undergraduate degree, double majoring in History and Political Science along with an African Studies Certificate. She looks forward to meaningfully contribute to the lives of new immigrants, so that they may not only live in Canada but thrive.

  • Country of origin: Columbia

    Languages Spoken: Spanish

    Brief Bio:

    I have a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master in Business Administration. Life brings different paths for us, I accepted to have a family which has been my priority than my career. There are no regrets for this amazing choice because overall family is the most important one. I have been participating in many local activities with my family. We love this green city of Burnaby which offers diverse geography places to enjoy all year round, mountains, lakes, many parks and a beach.

    I can understand all the challenges that we face when we come to a new country, stress, disappointments, isolation, and depression. We left everything behind; our family, our friends, and our country to start a new life .You are not alone as we have many immigrant supporting programs right here at our neighborhood in Burnaby.

    I decided to give back to Canada and help many immigrants to start with the right foot and succeed in all areas of their lives.

  • Country of origin: Taiwan

    Languages Spoken: Mandarin, Taiwanese

    Brief Bio:

    I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Taiwan, a Diploma in Hotel Management from Switzerland, and an MBA from the University of Victoria.

    For the past fifteen years I have worked for TELUS Communications in both marketing and customer solutions and currently lead a team of customer service representatives in the Burnaby call centre. Prior to this, I was the director of sales and marketing at a five-star hotel in Taipei.

    Canada is one of the world’s most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms touched me deeply when I first considered immigrating, due to the inclusiveness of all peoples who call Canada home.

    I chose Burnaby as my home, as it is centrally located within Metro Vancouver, with easy access to neighbouring cities.

    Burnaby is a very welcoming and inclusive community for everyone to live in. My vision for the city is that it is inclusive for all, not only immigrants and refugees.