Providing programs for young people, resources for teachers and artists, and advocacy for arts in education throughout British Columbia.

Arts Umbrella is Canada's visual and performing arts institute for young people ages 2 to 19. Our mandate is to deliver the highest quality visual and performing arts training to young people in the community regardless of their financial means. Arts Umbrella helps children to develop creativity, independent thinking, technical skills, talent and personal growth, inspiring kids for life.

A community-based social services organization dedicated to providing necessary practical supports to young people at risk, while challenging and encouraging them to take steps toward successful independent living.

The BCIT Venture Development Centre is now offering its newest entrepreneurial training program: Exploring Self Employment is designed to help prospective entrepreneurs understand what it really takes to go into business for themselves.

A nonprofit society made up of citizens of the community concerned with the growing numbers of children being coerced into and exploited within the sex trade. Our main goal is to increase public awareness about the problem by providing education and prevention strategies for youth, their families, educators and service providers.

Support the development of healthy learning communities, throughout the Columbia Basin, in which each member of the community has strong basic skills for lifelong continuous learning. Promote and develop work in Columbia Basin communities to enhance literacy through fully accessible programs and services.

his is a boldly designed 45-seat café that includes a take-out deli and bakeshop. More importantly, it is a cook training facility for the Youth Internship Program. In addition to running a full-service restaurant and bakery, we put on wellness, nutrition and cooking workshops for community groups and local residents. 374 Powell Street Vancouver, BC V6A 1G4 Phone: (604) 696-9096 Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 10am to 2pm

We, in partnership with Langara College, have been successfully delivering a HRDC funded self-employment program since 1995. We have helped with the creation of over 450 new businesses which brings over $5 million into the economy each year.

DIVERSE city community resources society is a registered non-profit agency offering a wide range of services and programs to the immigrant and refugee communities of Surrey, Delta, White Rock and Langley. DIVERSE city community resources society is accredited by the `Council on Accreditation’ (COA) and its services are delivered through five main departments, namely:

• Family Services
• Settlement and Integration Services,
• Language Programs
• Career Services
• Interpretation and Translation Services

Douglas College offers one of the largest, most progressive Self Employment programs in the country. Since 1995, we have helped more than 1,700 people turn their dreams of self employment into reality. The first step to starting your own business begins with attending an information session

FORED BC Society is a charity whose focus is environmental stewardship & community sustainability. FORED provides community sustainability programs including educational workshops, resources, tools & best practices templates, and an award-winning magazine, Landscapes. Our programs involve youths, business, schools, government, labour, First Nations, and leaders across all sectors.

The Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia (ISS) is a not-for-profit charitable organization that provides settlement, community, English-language, training and employment services to immigrants, refugees and students in Canada.

Comprehensive information and referral service for the Lower Mainland. Provides information on and referral to, community and social services, including counseling, health, financial assistance, housing, employment, education, recreation, cultural, and legal services. Service is funded by the United Way of the Lower Mainland and the City of Vancouver. Hours: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

BC schools are committed to ensuring schools are safe, healthy and inclusive places. Increasingly schools are seeking evidence-based programs and practices, as well as tools to evaluate the success of their efforts. To assist in these efforts, the Institute for Safe Schools (ISS) offers a resource library for interested members of the public. Additionally, we have an ambitious research and resource development commitment.

The foundation provides funding to support alternative medicine and economic education. The Foundation also supplies support to organizations that help people who fall through the social safety net of government programs for the needy. Most of these groups operate around the area of Main and Hastings in Vancouver and care for that very needy population. Some support is also given to existing charitable organizations that come to the Board's attention.

A multilingual non-profit organization dedicated to addressing issues that affect immigrants and refugees in the course of their settlement and integration into Canadian society.

The Self Employment Program is a federal initiative supported by Human Resources Development Canada and is designed to assist potential entrepreneurs with start up, including income support through a SEP grant which is equivalent to the applicants insurance benefits or a flat rate of $300 a week whichever is greater, for an initial 40-week period.

The main Self-Employment program provides 100 hours of formal workshops, plus ongoing support and consultation to help you successfully complete your business plan and launch your own business. A good business idea and a sound business development strategy are two factors that contribute to having a successful business. Self-discipline and dedication are equally important critical success factors.

NOW Canada Society provides programs, ongoing support, hope and wholeness to female youth who have been victims of sexual exploitation in our community and province.

"To support the development of entrepreneurs and the growth of businesses in our communities."
"To bring economic improvement through the development of entrepreneurs in the community."

0 W. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1G7
Phone: 604-683-0073 ext 279
Contact Name: Wendy Pederson

A non profit society that provides nutritious well balanced meals to marginalized residents of the DTES who have various barriers to a healthy lifestyle. Currently provided 3 meals/day to Portland Hotel residents, 9:00-10:30 breakfast, 12:00-1:30 lunch, and 5:00 -6:30 dinner.

Central to the University's involvement is the belief that communities themselves know best what they need; that the role of the university is to foster development, supply some of the resources needed so the communities can move forward, and act as a catalyst for social change and personal transformation.

Our purpose is to encourage higher performance throughout Canada's public education system. Our mission is to develop new Canadian knowledge on school improvement and foster the understanding of its use. We support public schools and those who work with them to improve performance outcomes for all students.

The S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Self-Employment Program is a professional business development program designed to give you the knowledge and skills needed to start and operate a successful business. We provide workshops in business, sales and marketing, financial planning, manual and computerized bookkeeping, word processing, web design, the internet, and much more.

The Family Education and Support Centre is a not-for-profit society that has provided programs to the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows since 1971. We offer information, education and encouragement to enable people to make healthy choices relative to their personal, community, and family lives.  For more information, please see our brochure.

For those who want to get away from the revolving door of corporate downsizing, self-employment is becoming a popular alternative. Along with the joy of finally doing what you love, you have put yourself in the driver's seat!

Based in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, B.C. Tradeworks Training Society helps foster sustainable independence by providing job-related skills, training and knowledge and work opportunities. We believe that in order to be most effective we must be responsive to the community and sensitive to the individual by providing a safe, supportive and equitable learning and working environment.

Our RITE/WRITE ( Men and Women Reaching Independence through Employment) program is a gender specific, six week, group facilitated employment program that is NO COST to participants. It enables participants to recognize and overcome their barriers to employment, make informed and appropriate career choices, and obtain and maintain employment .
Since 1998 our programs have assisted those with multiple barriers to employment. Each office employs an Addictions Counsellor, Anger Management Specialist, Personal Development Facilitator, Employment Counsellor and Job Developer with the skills and expertise to identify, address and help resolve barriers to employment.
Clients with unique barriers may also be referred to the appropriate service program/agency. Clients learn both through workshops and one-to-one counselling. Hear what our clients say!

Triumph Vocational Services is a voluntary employment program for persons with disabilities who are interested in expanding their life and work skills and finding a job. Triumph offers Pre-Employment and Planning & Employment Services, which corresponds with each person’s vocational experience.
Triumph Vocational Services programs are offered jointly by WCG International HR Solutions and Back in Motion Rehabilitation. Our teams include Registered Rehabilitation Professionals, Vocational Coaches, Job Developers, Psychologists, Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists.

One hundred authors and 12,000 readers converge for discussions and readings on Granville Island. Spreading the Word, VIWF's education program, offers programs for schools in French and English and free author visits and event tickets for inner city schools.

9 E. Hastings Street, Vancouver,
Phone: 681-0001

The Depot has 13 full-time and 7 part-time employees. By providing full refunds for bottles, it supports many poor people, and 'binners'. Project Accomplishments: recycled almost 25 million containers paid out over $1.75 million in refunds to mostly poor customers provided jobs to inner city residents who were previously receiving welfare created the Crossroads and Lanes Neighborhood Clean up Project, which is cleaning up the city by removing litter, and graffiti from the downtown core.

Welcoming students from 6 months to 96+ years, the Victoria Conservatory of Music is the professional music school for the whole community. It offers instrumental and vocal instruction, theory, composition, music therapy, and orchestras and ensembles.

Victoria READ Society's Mission is to help students of all ages in the greater Victoria area learn basic academic skills through small classes, individualized help and a supportive, caring environment.

Westcoast Community Enterprises, a Division of The Centre for Community Enterprise Inc. has been working to create healthier community economies since 1977. In collaboration with the Government of Canada, Westcoast has helped over 1000 enterprising people launch their own business.

Our Mission: The YMCA is a charitable association dedicated to the development of people in spirit, mind and body as well as the improvement of local, national and international communities.

The program begins with a 10-week, full-time classroom session focusing on practical business plan development. A network of motivated people, office space and services, business launch support, and access to 15 internet-savvy computers is also provided. There is financial support for 48 weeks. Each participant must be willing to commit personal equity into the business as well.