Local Immigration Partnership

What are Local Immigration Partnerships?

Local Immigration Partnerships (LIP) and Zonal Immigration Partnerships (ZIPs) are community tables through which the federal government – via Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) – supports the development of coordinated, community-based partnerships and planning around the needs of newcomers.

LIPs bring together a broad cross-section of local and regional stakeholders and engage them in a collaborative, locally driven strategic planning process to improve newcomer settlement, integration, and long-term retention. There are also the Réseaux en immigration francophone (RIFs) that focus on Francophone immigration, and is offered across Canada.

LIPs play a critical role in small urban and rural regions by creating the structures needed to understand local needs, align service systems, engage employers, and strengthen the capacity of communities to welcome and support newcomers. As of 2025, there are over 90 LIPs across Canada, including 26 in British Columbia and Yukon, each working to strengthen community readiness, improve systems navigation, and foster more welcoming, inclusive communities.

A diverse group of professionals high-fiving in a modern office, showcasing teamwork and collaboration.

LIPs across Canada share several core objectives:

Support better coordination in the planning and delivery of settlement and
integration services across multiple sectors, including employment,
education, health, housing, and social services.
Provide a framework for collaboration that enables communities to develop
and implement multi-year strategic plans informed by local data, lived
experience, and shared priorities.
Strengthen local integration capacity to enhance labour-market access, social
participation, community connections, and belonging.
Improve outcomes for newcomers, demonstrated through increased
economic, social, political, and civic participation.
Build community awareness and readiness by increasing understanding of
newcomer needs and contributions among employers, institutions, and long-
term residents.

SOUTH OKANAGAN-SIMILKAMEEN LOCAL IMMIGRATION PARTNERSHIP (SOSLIP)

Source: Government of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

The South Okanagan–Similkameen welcomes approximately 350–400 newcomers each year. Newcomers play a distinctive and important role in sustaining community vitality, filling critical workforce gaps, and supporting essential sectors such as healthcare, childcare, agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing, and small business.

With an aging population and persistent labour shortages, immigration is essential to the long-term stability and resilience of local communities. A Local Immigration Partnership provides the structure needed to align regional stakeholders, coordinate accessible services, support employers, and ensure newcomers have a path to thrive.

Given the geographic spread of the region and often limited public
transportation, coordinated planning is crucial to reducing barriers to accessing language training, employment supports, community connections, and civic participation.

The South Okanagan – Similkameen Local Immigration Partnership (SOSLIP) was established in 2014 and today includes approximately 50 organizations representing local governments, school boards, businesses, and a wide range of service providers:

The Ooknakane Friendship Centre
Local Government: Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, City of
Penticton, Town of Oliver, Town of Osoyoos, Town of Princeton, Village of Keremeos
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development
Société de développement économique de la C.B.
Interior Health
RCMP
Community Foundation of South Okanagan
School Districts (67 & 53)
Volunteers/residents
Okanagan College
Work BC
Faith Groups:
Baptist Church (Penticton), United Church (Summerland), Bahai community representatives
Valley First Credit Union
Penticton Art Council


Social Service Organizations: South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services (SOICS), OneSky Community Resources, Foundry Penticton, Neil Squire Society, South Okanagan Women in Need Society, Lower Similkameen Community Services Society, Access Centre
Businesses and associations:
Total Restoration Services, ProBuilders Supply, Sprouting Shoots, Retirement Concepts, Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, Penticton Women in Business, Vision2 Reality, Foundation, Penticton Industrial Development Association, BC Construction
Association

SOSLIP’s mandate is to coordinate a regional, collaborative approach to newcomer attraction, settlement, integration, and retention. The partnerships play an essential role in a region where communities are geographically dispersed, transportation options are limited, and access to services varies significantly across municipalities.


Since its inception, SOSLIP has supported planning work that has strengthened regional newcomer supports, increased employer engagement, improved coordination among service providers, and advanced community awareness of the importance of immigration in sustaining the region’s demographic and economic future.