S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Celebrates 25 Years of Welcoming Newcomers at YVR through the Community Airport Newcomers Network

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Celebrates 25 Years of Welcoming Newcomers at YVR through the Community Airport Newcomers Network

ON 27 OCTOBER 2017.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2017

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Celebrates 25 Years of Welcoming Newcomers at YVR through the Community Airport Newcomers Network

Vancouver, BC – The Community Airport Newcomers Network (CANN), operated by S.U.C.C.E.S.S., celebrated two remarkable milestones today: 25 years of welcoming immigrants and refugees at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and a cumulative total of more than one million newcomers served since the program’s inception. A celebration was held at Vancouver International Airport to mark the occasion.
“Congratulations on marking the 25th anniversary of the Community Airport Newcomers Network at Vancouver International Airport,” said the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. “The CANN program plays a central role in welcoming newcomers to Canada. Last year alone, more than 31,000 newcomers were served by CANN in over 20 languages. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is proud of the success of the program and the work they do to make Canada a better place.”
CANN is often the first point of contact for immigrants and refugees arriving at YVR. Funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the program refers newcomers to services at over 200 settlement partner organizations across the country, ensuring they are connected to key settlement resources at their final destinations. In 2016, as part of the Syrian Initiative, CANN helped to welcome more than 3,000 Syrian refugees at YVR.
“S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is very proud as the provider of the Community Airport Newcomers Network at YVR,” said Queenie Choo, CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. “The program assists almost all newcomers arriving at YVR, serving approximately 40,000 people each year. I’d like to thank Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada believing in this program to support the new arrivals to Canada.”
CANN’s port-of-entry services at Vancouver International Airport are delivered through two streams: the Settlement Program, which serves all categories of newcomers, and the Resettlement Assistance Program, which serves government-assisted refugees, privately sponsored refugees and blended visa office-referred refugees.
“I would like to offer CANN a heartfelt thank you for their dedication over the last 25 years at YVR. We have enjoyed many great partnerships with them over the years,” said Reg Krake, Director of Customer Care, Vancouver Airport Authority. “Looking forward, we will continue to work with CANN to help newcomers start their new journeys in Canada.”
At the celebration event, Pamela Zenda, a former Resettlement Assistance Program client, and Chielo Monderondo, a former Settlement Program client, shared their experience of receiving services from CANN. Both credited the program for helping them to feel more prepared and at ease for their new life in Canada.
About S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Established in 1973, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is one of the largest not-for-profit social service agencies in British Columbia. It provides comprehensive services in settlement, language training,
employment, family and youth counselling, business and economic development, seniors care, housing and community development. For more details, please visit www.success.bc.ca.
About the Community Airport Newcomers Network (CANN)
The Community Airport Newcomers Network (CANN) is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and operated by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Since October 1992, CANN has delivered port-of-entry services at Vancouver International Airport and has served more than one million newcomers to date. The program assists approximately 90% of all newcomers at YVR each year. For more information, visit www.cannyvr.ca.
 S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Celebrates 25 Years of Welcoming Newcomers at YVR through the Community Airport Newcomers Network