Library Champions Project

Program History and Current Results

Since 2013, the Library Champions Project has been changing the lives of new immigrants in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Thanks to our partners, including numerous libraries and community agencies, and to funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), we’ve grown every year, consistently exceeding our goals. Even when COVID-19 hit, we were able to adapt and move to deliver online and continued to exceed our targets.

By winter 2021, we had expanded our reach across British Columbia, delivering our services to newcomers, libraries, and service providers in more than 22 communities, including rural areas. Annually, over 200 individuals are trained as Library Champions; in total we’ve trained more than 2,300 new immigrants. Collectively, they’ve reached out to over 116,000 fellow newcomers through one-to-one meetings, group sessions, and emails, and have made over 2.45 million impressions via social media.

But our impact goes beyond numbers. Our Library Champions undergo transformative experiences, gaining skills, understanding different cultures, and forming lasting connections. They have become a vital component of the settlement continuum, guiding other newcomers to resources and services. Our program is more than just a service—it’s an essential part of the integration of thousands of newcomers to B.C.

To download a PDF version of these highlights, click here: Library Champions Project Highlights.

I am proud to be a member of this community and after participating in this project I feel even more connected to it and empowered to contribute to its further growth and success.

The Library Champions Project is an incredible adventure, allowing you to feel like a necessary and important part of a new country. Full of new friendships and valuable information.

Program Numbers per Year

Over the years, participation and program demand has remained high, but social media impressions have increased markedly.

Community	Groups	Attendees of Info Session	LCs Enrolled	LCs Trained	LCs Completed Project	Newcommers Reached	Reps of Orgs Reached	Social Media Impressions
2023-24	23	577	301	258	241	8,340	1,126	194,904
2022-23	20	377	247	208	198	6,051	982	989,816
2021-22	16	296	201	185	177	11,572	484	1,244,017
2020-21	16	263	195	184	175	6,079	406	14,135
2019-20	15	250	181	165	155	5,978	347	2,310
2018-19	15	197	184	175	170	8,303	510	3,617
2017-18	15	179	176	168	166	8,232	699	1,532
2016-17	15	230	195	189	178	9,683	684	7,993
2015-16	16	307	237	219	203	13,675	970	0
2014-15	15	334	207	204	193	13,062	843	0
2013-14	30	664	363	357	345	25,513	2,114	0
Grand Total	196	3,674	2,487	2,312	2,201	116,488	9,255	2,458,324

Numbers by Community Since Inception

Program participation continues to expand, reaching newcomers across the province.

Community	Groups	Attendees of Info Session	LCs Enrolled	LCs Trained	LCs Completed Project	Newcommers Reached	Reps of Orgs Reached	Social Media Impressions
Vancouver	40	896	532	494	468	29,803	2,243	1,487,257
Surrey	31	672	465	434	417	20,868	2,285	143,965
Burnaby & New Westminster	25	404	311	281	274	12,361	821	133,428
Coquitlam & Port Moody	24	466	318	299	289	15,949	960	101,763
Richmond	23	382	277	264	245	13,358	986	306,461
North Shore	22	332	256	243	225	13,709	775	102,360
Langley	8	145	111	106	98	3,777	307	147,626
Regional Groups	7	179	76	62	61	1,739	556	22,695
Maple Ridge & Port Coquitlam	6	80	59	55	52	1,843	86	2,043
Abbotsford & Mission	5	61	52	46	44	1,887	143	1,491
Greater Victoria	3	25	18	16	16	477	42	5,440
Central Okanagan (Kelowna)	1	17	6	6	6	200	11	3,795
Delta	1	15	6	6	6	517	41	0
Grand Total	196	3,674	2,487	2,312	2,201	116,488	9,255	2,458,324

2023 – 2024 Program Highlights

In 2023 – 2024, NewToBC offered 23 cycles of the program, recruiting 301 Library Champions (258 completed training, 241 completed the program). Champions originated from more than 87 countries, reflective of the diverse demographics of new immigrants to British Columbia.

These Champions reached out to 8,340 other newcomers and delivered 1,216 presentations to groups at a range of community agencies. They made more than hundreds of posts on various social media platforms, including ethnic social media platforms, promoting the project and library and community resources. These posts made nearly 200,000 impressions across platforms.

By getting involved, you open doors to not only discovering more about the library but also enhancing essential skills like communication, listening, and presentation.

I’d definitely recommend the program, and I’d do it by saying that it is the most efficient way to connect with other newcomers, learn about the different library services, practice your English in a safe group, and find yourself belonging to the community.

Community	Groups	Attendees of Info Session	LCs Enrolled	LCs Trained	LCs Completed Project	Newcommers Reached	Reps of Orgs Reached	Social Media Impressions
Abbotsford & Mission	1	17	9	5	5	149	28	135
Burnaby & New Westminster	2	64	32	28	28	965	49	77,326
Coquitlam & Port Moody	2	44	23	21	20	588	72	29,782
Greater Victoria	1	8	5	5	5	115	33	133
Langley	1	25	14	14	12	368	7	194
Maple Ridge & Port Coquitlam	2	35	21	20	19	886	29	589
North Shore	1	11	8	5	3	215	9	1.181
Regional Groups	5	129	48	36	36	982	462	18,400
Richmond	2	49	27	27	21	806	44	35,963
Surrey	3	64	61	54	53	1,174	299	7,548
Vancouver	3	131	53	43	39	2,092	184	23,653
Grand Total	23	577	301	258	241	8,340	1,216	194,904