Support referrals to Settlement Services in the Bow Valley during onboarding and when supporting Permanent Residency applications.
See below on this page for details about how to complete this commitment.
⚠️ Instructions To Complete This Commitment:
Commitment: Support referrals to Settlement Services in the Bow Valley during onboarding, and when supporting Permanent Residency applications.
Please complete all of the below requirements.
Part 1: Embed the supported referral process in your onboarding for new employees.
Play the 5-minute Introduction to Settlement Services in the Bow Valley video during onboarding.
Provide eligible employees (Permanent Residents of Canada, Refugees, anyone who has applied for PR) with the Client Registration Form link or QR Code and help them to complete the form if needed.
If foreign-born employees are not eligible for settlement support, they can still contact settlement.programmer@banff.ca to be connected with appropriate support and services.
Deadline to complete part 1: December 1st, 2025
Part 2: Connect with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley to facilitate supported referrals when employees transition from temporary resident to Permanent Resident of Canada (PR).
Meet or liaise with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley to establish a supported referral process. This means that when your employees transition from temporary residents to Permanent Residents of Canada (PR), you refer them to free and confidential supports with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley.
You may attend the WIC group check-in meeting (date to be scheduled), or troubleshoot individual workplace meetings at a one-to-one meeting.
What if you don’t know when employees become Permanent Residents (PRs)?
Settlement Services in the Bow Valley understands that employers may not always know when employees become Permanent Residents of Canada. This commitment is about building awareness and connections with all employees, no matter their immigration status.
When temporary residents become Permanent Residents, they receive a new Social Insurance Number (SIN). Employees should give their updated SIN to their employer. This is a good time for employers to introduce the supported referral process.
Submit Evidence When You have Completed This Commitment
Once you have completed each of the above requirements, upload your evidence using our online form as soon as possible. This allows time for review and feedback.
Evidence may be in the form of a document, email, newsletter, meeting minutes, social media post, etc.
Deadline to submit all evidence for the 2025 WIC: 3PM, Monday, December 1st, 2025.
Evaluation Plan
The Settlement Services in the Bow Valley (SSBV) team will ask you to describe how your organization shares the Settlement Services in the Bow Valley introductory video and referral form with new employees or employees who are becoming Permanent Residents of Canada. SSBV will determine whether your organization has met the requirements of this commitment based on:
Your established referral processes
Evidence of referrals from your organization
Attendance at the WIC group check-in meeting and/or other communication during the WIC 2025 period showing you have made a good faith effort to implement this commitment
⏰ Key Dates:
Important dates to remember:
By December 1st, 2025: Deadline to complete 2025 WIC commitments and submit all evidence.
✅ Why This Commitment Is Important:
In the Bow Valley, we have a strong network of settlement and language services to help newcomers thrive. These services can help newcomers to Canada:
navigate immigration processes
maintain legal status in Canada
understand life in Canada, including rights & responsibilities
improve official language fluency
access community services, resources, and opportunities
develop and assess workplace skills
build social networks and connect with the community
It can be difficult for newcomers to Canada to know where to begin to access these resources.
Fortunately, the team at Settlement Services in the Bow Valley can provide both direct support and supported referrals to other services for newcomers to Canada.
By helping your team members connect with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley’s free and confidential services when they arrive in the community, start a new job, or apply to become a Permanent Resident of Canada, you’ll be connecting them with critical information at an important time of transition.
At the same time, you’ll help open a door to the full range of free community supports available to visa holders and Permanent Residents of Canada.
These services will accelerate your team members’ settlement journey and encourage new locals to stay and thrive in our welcoming community.
Intended Outcomes:
Improved access to trusted settlement support
Staff are connected early with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley, helping them navigate life in Canada with confidence and support.Smoother onboarding and immigration transitions
Newcomer staff receive timely referrals during key transitions, such as starting a job or applying for Permanent Residency, reducing confusion and stress.Stronger retention and belonging for immigrant staff
Supporting access to community and immigration resources helps newcomers to Canada feel welcome, more connected to the community, and more likely to stay and grow in the Bow Valley.
What if your employees aren’t eligible?
The more local employees who know about services like Settlement Services in the Bow Valley, the more likely they are to refer a friend or co-worker. This helps more people learn about the support available, even if they are not eligible themselves. It builds stronger community awareness and connection.
📝 Resources:
1: Video - Connect to Settlement Services in the Bow Valley
Learn more about Settlement Service in the Bow Valley, including services offered to Permanent Residents of Canada (PR), including refugees living in the Bow Valley, as well as resources for businesses and community partners.
To watch and share the video:
Google Drive: Connect to Settlement Services in the Bow Valley
2: Form: Settlement Services Client Registration
Use the online Client Registration Form to connect employees with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley.
Information collected in this form will be kept confidential and used only by Settlement Services in the Bow Valley for the purposes of delivering free, confidential, settlement support services.
Whether sending this form to new hires directly or filling it out on their behalf, please use plain language to explain the benefits of the services, and how the personal information collected will be used.
Here’s some language you can use:
Asking new employees to complete the form themselves:
“As you saw in the video we just watched, our community offers free support services for newcomers to Canada.
We encourage you to complete this form to connect with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley.
Your contact information will not be shared, and Settlement Services in the Bow Valley will only contact you to tell you about the free services available to you.”
Filling out a form on behalf of new employees:
”As you saw in the video we just watched, our community offers free and confidential support for newcomers to Canada.We would like to share your contact information with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley. They will only contact you to tell you about the free services available to you.
Do I have your permission to give Settlement Services in the Bow Valley your contact information?”
Form Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SettlementClientRegistrationForm
Form QR Code:
📧 Contact:
Supporting Agency
For questions and support to complete this commitment, please contact:
Settlement Services in the Bow Valley
Heather Bates (she/her)
Community Connections Coordinator
Email: heather.bates@banff.ca
2025 WIC Commitments
Bronze Commitments
(Minimum Required)