Photo: ‘Fernie‘ by ‘Mitch Winton‘ / KootenayRockies.com.
About EKZIP
East Kootenay Zonal Immigration Partnership (EKZIP)
Communities across Canada are recognizing the importance of newcomers while making immigration a main component of their plans for the future.
Local and Zonal Immigration Partnerships are a means to systematize local engagement of service providers and other stakeholders to assist in a successful integration process for newcomers and provide more welcoming and inclusive communities. The East Kootenay Zonal Immigration Partnership (EKZIP) is a multi-sector partnership designed to:
- Support welcoming and inclusive communities, inspiring a deeper sense of belonging for all residents.
- Improve the integration and retention of immigrants and newcomers in the East Kootenay region.
- Strengthen the region’s ability to better address the needs of newcomers.
- Unite diverse voices to address challenges and celebrate opportunities in nurturing cultural diversity.
- Evolve reflecting the changes and shifts that our communities are experiencing.
The work of the EKZIP is driven by community-focused assets and needs. The EKZIP is about collaboration, community and inclusiveness, and together we make a positive difference for our community members of today and tomorrow.
EKZIP serves the municipalities of Golden, Invermere, Cranbrook and Fernie, as well as the municipalities and communities in close proximity to these hub centers (i.e.: Radium through Canal Flats, Wasa, Elkford and Sparwood, and the surrounding regional districts).
Our Story
EKZIP was born from a shared desire to move beyond siloed efforts and toward a coordinated regional approach. Since its formation, EKZIP has united diverse voices to address challenges and celebrate opportunities in immigrant integration.
2022
Initial consultations for an immigration partnership in the West Kootenays
2022
2023
WKLIP funding and formation
2023
2024-2025
Interest and Feasibility Study in East Kootenays
2024-2025
April to June 2025
EKZIP funding secured and formation
2025
July - Sept 2025
Hire Staff and EKZIP logo creation
2025
Oct & Nov 2025
First regional meetings
2025
December 2025
Website launch
2025
March 2026
Community Strategic Plan
2026
April to June 2026
First EKZIP regional Initiatives
2026
What is a LIP and a ZIP?
Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) and more recently Zonal Immigration Partnerships (ZIPs) have been funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada since 2008 to develop and implement plans to improve newcomer settlement and integration. LIPs do not provide direct service to immigrants; rather they are community planning tables that work to strengthen community capacity to receive and support newcomers. Settlement services and LIPs and ZIPs complement one another and benefit the entire community. When people have access to the right support and services, everyone benefits!
Welcoming, inclusive communities provide opportunities for immigrants to participate economically, socially, politically and culturally. LIPs and ZIPs conduct community-level research in an effort to better understand community assets, gaps, and the needs of newcomers. The work of the EKZIP will be driven by community-focused needs and will evolve to reflect the changes and shifts that our communities are experiencing. The EKZIP is about collaboration, community and inclusiveness, and together we will make a positive difference for our community members of today and tomorrow.
Who We Are
East Kootenay Zonal immigration Partnership (EKZIP)
With support from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) is honoured to serve as the coordinating agency for this project. While CBAL holds the contract, EKZIP itself is a community-driven collaboration—designed for the East Kootenay region, by the communities involved. EKZIP is led by Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) and supported by a growing network of partners including municipalities, chambers of commerce, libraries, employers, and community organizations.EKZIP is one of over 26+ LIPs, ZIPs and RIFs in British Columbia and part of the national network of more than 90+ LIPs and ZIPs across Canada. We are excited to engage in innovative and timely initiatives that will help to make the East Kootenay region a place that everyone can call home.
The East Kootenay Zonal Immigration Partnership (EKZIP) is a critical response to regional growth in newcomer populations. The EKZIP strives to enhance community knowledge of the challenges faced by newcomers. The EKZIP helps municipalities and community service providers gain essential skills and competencies to effectively meet newcomer needs and tap into newcomer assets. The growth of newcomer populations in the region must be accompanied by a growth in programs and services that support settlement and integration. The EKZIP plays a vital role in supporting collaboration and coordination amongst service providers to ensure duplication is avoided, gaps are filled, and service delivery is consistent and seamless. The EKZIP supports partners and other interested groups to adapt programming and policies to reflect newly acquired knowledge and competencies. CBAL has mechanisms in place to assess the impact of the EKZIP on the East Kootenay as a welcoming and inclusive region and will update implementation plans as required.
About CBAL
The Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL) has been providing federally- and provincially-funded settlement and language services to newcomers in 11 communities around the Canadian Columbia Basin region since 2014. CBAL’s work in the settlement sector began with its inception in 2001 where one-to-one tutoring and informal language classes were key programs in those early days.
In 2020, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) launched in the West Kootenay, with a focus on the communities of Castlegar, Nelson and Trail. Stemming from the success of RNIP in settling newcomers to the region, an IRCC-funded feasibility study was conducted in early 2022 to assess our communities’ appetite and capacity for the development of a LIP. It was found that the region was ready to develop this community asset and CBAL was awarded the contract to undertake this project in June 2023. In early 2025, a feasibility study was completed in the East Kootenay region and found that the East Kootenay Region was ready to develop a similar immigration partnership spanning a broader zonal region including Golden, Invermere, Cranbrook, and Fernie… called a Zonal Immigration Partnership (ZIP).
EKZIP Members
The EKZIP Partnership Council is comprised of diverse representation from the business, community services, education, government, recreation, arts, culture and settlement sectors.
Our Mission
We believe that welcoming newcomers strengthens our communities. EKZIP works to improve access to services, foster collaboration, and build a shared regional response to immigration and settlement.