ABOUT US

PIRS is a Lower Mainland, non-profit, community based organization that was founded in 1975. The goal of PIRS is to ensure that immigrant women and their young children can participate fully in Canadian community life. This is done through the development and implementation of responsive programs and services. These programs and services provide new Canadian women with opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and confidence needed to participate more actively in the community while providing their children with quality child care and literacy-building opportunities.

Key Milestones

• 1975 – PIRS founded

• 1985 - Leadership development and support (LEAD) program implemented

• 1992 - Building Bridges group facilitation program implemented

• 2005 - 30th anniversary of PIRS

10 Facts About PIRS

• PIRS was started in 1975 with one group of Chinese-speaking women and children at Strathcona Community Centre.

• PIRS program participants come from all corners of the world and speak more than 40 different languages. The main languages include Mandarin, Spanish, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Dari, and Korean.

• About 600 women and 350 children participate in PIRS programs every year.

• 12 Board Members and 25 Committee Members volunteer their time and talents with PIRS.

• There are about 60 paid staff at PIRS.

• We have over 100 volunteers working with paid staff in programs, in the office and on special events. Many of our volunteers are immigrant women.

• PIRS receives funding from: all three levels of government; the United Way; individual donations, fundraising, and special events.

• The current budget for PIRS is $1 000,000.

• Fees comprise a little more than 1% of total revenues. Our program participants can only afford to make a small contribution to program costs.

• PIRS programs are located in Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster.

Donate to PIRS on-line through Canada-Helps! Click on the icon to go to our secure page.