The Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) is an Immigrant Welcome Centre with more than 40 years of experience in helping individuals and organizations to connect across cultures. We provide information, support and tools to help immigrants and refugees reach their goals. By engaging people through networks, education and arts programming we create a welcoming community. ICA has been a member of the GVPDAC since its creation in 2001.

ICA Website

The African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI) is a non-profit organization committed to a united and strong community by cooperatively organizing and supporting events and activities to meet the needs of Africans, people of African descent and friends of Africa on Vancouver Island. 

AHAVI Website

The Muslim community in Victoria began with a small number of Muslim families and grew until it reached more than 1500 Muslims. Initially, Friday Jummah prayers and Eid prayers were arranged by Muslim brothers and sisters at different community halls and in the living room of a rented home. Over time, the Muslim community grew as Muslims from different origins settled in Victoria and the surrounding regions. Each year a new group of about 70 Muslim students arrives in Victoria.

Now, by the Will of Allah, we have built the first Masjid on Vancouver Island. With more than sufficient capacity for current crowds, along with a burial prep room, a children’s baby-sitting area, and a large-size storage, the Masjid currently satisfies the diverse requirements of the Victorian Community (both Muslims and non-Muslims).

BC Muslim Association Website

The India Canada Cultural Association (ICCA) is a registered, non-profit society mandated to celebrate and raise awareness about the power, diversity and colour of India's rich culture - to create a stronger and more cohesive Victoria community.

ICCA Website

Our Black-Led, Black-Serving, Black-Oriented organization is an art & Cultural organization whose main mandate is to advance awareness and understanding of the richness and diversity of African culture and traditions through the promotion of a broad range of cultural, educational, and artistic activities, events, and programs. Since 2017, we have been advocating for the International Decade for People of African Descent.

Our organization, African Art & Cultural Community Contributor CCC. Inc. (AACCCS) has been mandated to act as the Community Convener for people of African Descent living in British Columbia, in addressing the rise in hate and racism in our province through the BC Resilience Project.

Issamba Website

The Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) provides services to an estimated 20,000 Aboriginal people living off reserve in the Greater Victoria area; as well as the 5,000 residents from the First Nations communities in the southern Vancouver Island region, in addition to a sizeable Aboriginal population from across Canada.  Addressing the Community's immediate needs, VNFC delivers Career and Employment services, Health and Social programs, vibrant Youth initiatives and dynamic Arts and Cultural practices.

VNFC Website

The Jewish Federation of Victoria and Vancouver Island is committed to building strong, vibrant and enduring Jewish Communities on Vancouver Island, in Israel and in the world by nurturing those values, practices and traditions which sustain and enrich Judaism and the Jewish people.

JFVVI Website

Ours is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-generational congregation. Our Church came to Canada from Ukraine, but our faith in God is for everyone.

St Nicholas the Wonderworker Catholic Church is an Eastern Church, one of several referred to as a Byzantine Church, descended from the traditions and customs of Greece and Ukraine rather than Rome.

If you are a Catholic, your Sunday obligation is fulfilled by attending the Holy and Divine Liturgy (Mass) in our church. We hope you will feel at home praying with us. Please come visit us often and bring or tell a friend.

St Nicholas Parish

Two Ukrainian Churches had been established in Victoria for more than two decades before a small number of people, first infrequently and later on a regular basis, met to learn Ukrainian dancing.

From this handful of enthusiasts was born the Veselka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble (today Veselka Dance Association). Performances by this group, at different venues in and around Victoria, provided a higher profile for the Ukrainian community.

Before long it became evident that a larger number of Victorians were of Ukrainian background than was initially believed. Stimulated by the lively and colorful Ukrainian dancers, interest grew in other aspects of our culture. Veselka soon found itself acting as a contact group to which Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians looked for additional information and services.

In the early spring of 1979, we became a registered Cultural Society. Today the Centre is a home for various organizations: the Veselka Ukrainian Dancers and the Ukrainian Studies Society.

Annual events such as Easter Traditions, Malanka (Ukrainian New Year) and Ukrainian Christmas Eve Traditions are open to the public. They serve as a learning opportunity for various aspects of Ukrainian Culture such as making special breads, cuisine, Easter egg writing, embroidery, music, performing and visual art.

Ukrainian-Canadian Cultural Society

Crisis Response

At the request of police, our highly trained staff provide immediate on-scene emotional and practical crisis support to victims and witnesses of crime or trauma during office hours. We also provide telephone support after hours to victims and witnesses of crime or trauma at the request of police.

Support and Referral

Our highly knowledgeable staff provide follow-up and ongoing emotional and practical support as well as referrals to a wide range of community and government resources. We can also assist with the completion of forms such as a Crime Victim Assistance Program application and registration with the Victim Safety Unit. We work closely with community-based victim services programs, making referrals to the Spousal Assault Victim Support Program, Regional Domestic Violence Unit, Vancouver Island Men’s Trauma Counselling Society, Victoria Child Abuse Prevention & Counselling Centre and Victoria Sexual Assault Centre. Please note that we are not a counselling service, but we can help you navigate available resources that meet your needs.

Greater Victoria Police Victim Services Website

VICCIR's principal activity is to provide mental health counselling to immigrants and refugees living on Vancouver Island.

We offer our services on a sliding fee scale, based on clients' ability to pay. We work with specially trained interpreters as required. In this way we seek to remove barriers to quality service and care for both individuals and families, whatever their economic or cultural context.

VICCIR website

Vision

To learn from one another, to celebrate our unity in diversity, and to work respectfully together for the well-being of the community and the world.

Mission

To foster an environment of trust between people of different faith traditions, where open and respectful dialogue can take place;

To promote collective and co-operative action that fosters intellectual understanding and social interaction, facilitating practical application of wisdom arising from each spiritual community.

Victoria Multifaith Society Website