Clients can expect improved accessibility and upgrades to MOSAIC’s multi-purpose service centre at Highgate Village Mall in Burnaby.
With an estimated 100 attendees, MOSAIC marked the Highgate office’s official grand opening on Friday, March 3 as clients, partners and guests from federal and local government bodies attended a ribbon cutting ceremony.
MOSAIC CEO Olga Stachova expressed her thanks and highlighted the importance of having ongoing support from government funders amidst rising operational costs and the cost of living in the Metro-Vancouver region.
“This location will provide services to immigrants and refugees of all ages,” Stachova said. “There will be a wide range of services — from supporting vulnerable youth and families, digital literacy training, support for seniors and connecting them to the community to combat social isolation, to employment training and upskilling programs.”
The Burnaby-Edmonds area in which the Highgate mall is located, sees one of the highest concentrations of refugee and newcomer households in the city. Nearly 60 per cent of the Burnaby population are immigrants, according to the Statistics Canada 2021 census.
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley commended MOSAIC for serving the newcomer community and added that he and most of Burnaby City Council are immigrants themselves.
“Since 1976, MOSAIC has been an integral part of community development, helping newcomers to our city, [to] get on their feet and settle to life in the Pacific Northwest, and we all know that’s not easy,” Mayor Hurley said. “As one of the most culturally diverse cities in Canada, we are always extremely proud to add another MOSAIC location here in Highgate where it’s so needed. The new branch will make it easier for our residents to access the essential services and resources available to newcomers through MOSAIC.”
For clients like Aminullah Ebrahimi, starting a new life in Canada presented its own challenges after leaving Afghanistan with his family following the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
“Starting life in Canada at the beginning was full of stress and I thought I was going to face a lot of problems,” Ebrahimi said. “But with the help of MOSAIC, this stress reduced to zero. Adopting to the Canadian environment [would be] impossible without the motivation and hardworking endeavor of MOSAIC staff.”
Ebrahimi’s former employment in helping international allies, both civilian and military in Afghanistan made him a target, prompting a move to neighbouring Pakistan with his family. While his family has yet to join him in Canada, Ebrahimi considers himself fortunate for MOSAIC’s support during his time away from loved ones.
“[The staff] are not only good at paperwork; they find their ways to your heart and mind, [helping] to not feel the distance of your home country and your family.”
MOSAIC thanks the B.C. government for its support in making the grand opening possible through its community capital project grant.
MOSAIC’s Highgate location offers support with Settlement, Employment and Seniors programs, Moving Ahead Program, Career Path for Skilled Immigrants Program, and its Preparing Women and Workplaces for Success Program. Staff can provide support in multiple languages. Contact: Highgate.reception@mosaicbc.org to learn more.
