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Richmond Local Immigration Partnership
Richmond Local Immigration Partnership (RLIP) brings together local community leaders and organizations to build an inclusive and welcoming community, where established residents and newcomers feel a sense of belonging and connection.
Our Role in
the Community
Engage community leaders, groups, agencies, and institutions to identify community priorities that impact immigrant inclusion.
Collaborate on initiatives that address community priorities and supporting efforts that create meaningful, lasting impact.
Strengthen community capacity to develop coordinated approaches to immigrant inclusion.
Our Partners
RLIP engages with local community stakeholders from across different sectors. Our team believes that immigrants and newcomer voices are critical in this work. Using a collective impact framework, we bring local community stakeholders and the Immigrant Advisory Table to plan, co-design, and guide initiatives that supports our strategic immigration priorities.
Read more about our immigration service partners.
Meet the Team
Co-Chairs
S.U.C.C.E.S.S., a multicultural and multi-service agency, is the signatory of the LIP Agreement with Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It is responsible for the activities and deliverables outlined in the agreement.
Chimo Community Services is the co-chair for the RLIP and provides guidance on the best ways to address community priorities.
Staff
The project team provides support to the RLIP Council, Immigrant Advisory Table and Working Groups, and ensures that projects activities meet the set deliverables and outcomes.
To contact RLIP, please email RichmondLIP@success.bc.ca
Region
According to the City of Richmond, the city was home to approximately 218,048 residents in 2021, 60.3% of whom were immigrants. Richmond’s immigrant population increased by about 6.2% (around 13,705 people) since 2016. The top three countries of birth for recent immigrants are China, the Philippines, and India [1].
We acknowledge that the work of Richmond Local Immigration Partnership take place on the ancestral and traditional territories the Sc̓əwaθn Məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen People), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Stó:lō, and Stz'uminus Peoples.
Source: City of Richmond. (2025, June). Fast Facts About Richmond.
Our Mandate
The Richmond Local Immigration Partnership’s (RLIP) mandate is to foster a more welcoming and inclusive community and to improve the integration & inclusion of newcomers.
The RLIP will:
Support collaboration, coordination, and planning at the community level to foster a more welcoming and inclusive community and improve settlement and integration for newcomers and the community at large.
Share promising practices and information on issues, strategies and trends related to immigration for organizations, government, and service systems.
Guiding Values & Beliefs
1.
Participation in an environment that promotes acceptance, honesty, accountability, collaboration, trust, and fairness.
2.
New Ideas and creative strategies which will enhance the delivery of immigration services in Richmond.
3.
Inclusiveness and diversity in all facets of its work.
4.
Inclusiveness and diversity in all facets of its work.
Member Agencies
Members come from all areas of the community – government, education, libraries, employers, health, business associations, faith groups, and community and social service organizations. Members have committed their experience and expertise to plan, guide and support community-level research and consultation towards the development and implementation of an Immigrant Integration Strategic Plan for Richmond.
Member Agencies will:
Share their expertise in developing the RLIP Strategic Plan to reflect on community needs and priorities.
Collaborate on identifying solutions to service needs and gaps for immigrants living in Richmond.
Lead initiatives that address community priorities.
Immigrant Advisory Table
The RLIP Immigrant Advisory Table (IAT) consists of individuals who represent a range of countries of origin, length of time in Canada, occupational background, ages, gender, and various other form of diversity. Members will possess experience, knowledge, abilities, or skills related to immigrant settlement and integration in Richmond and are non-partisan. Members of the Immigrant Advisory Table make a minimum one-year commitment.
Roles and Responsibilities:
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Review the LIP Strategic Plan to ensure it reflects immigrant and newcomer needs and priorities.
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Provide input to the RLIP and its work by participating in Council and working group meetings.
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Act as a resource for Richmond community service providers. Help lead or co-lead the implementation of strategic priorities in collaboration with the RLIP members.
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Reach out to ethno-specific communities to share RLIP information and encourage participation in its work .
Bimla Kannangara
Originally from Sri Lanka, Bimla Kannangara is an Administrative Analyst at Vancouver Coastal Health, based in the Richmond Community Centre. With over a decade of experience in healthcare administration, project leadership, and e-commerce operations, she brings a diverse skill set and a strong commitment to organizational and community development.
In addition to her public sector role, Bimla manages her own bookkeeping business, supporting small to medium-sized enterprises across Canada. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Management and a Master of Business Administration from a Canadian institution.
Having arrived in Canada in 2022 and earned her permanent residency in 2025, Bimla is passionate about supporting newcomers, especially those arriving with limited knowledge of local systems. Drawing from her own journey, she strives to help individuals and families thrive and build meaningful connections within the Canadian community.
Halas Rashid
I am Halas. I am Kurdish and from Iraq.
I came to Canada in 2023 with my husband and my son. I am working hard to build a new life for my family. Before I came to Canada, I worked for 13 years as an auditor at the University of Sulaymaniyah. I also have a bachelor’s degree in accounting. I have experience working in human resources and natural resources.
Now I am studying and improving my English. I want to grow, learn new skills, and find good opportunities in Canada. I enjoy learning about community services and how things work in my new country.
Nuh Topkaraoglu
Nuh Topkaraoglu was born in Germany and raised in Turkey. He has his bachelor degree as a librarian and finished master degree on cataloging digital photographs. He worked 9 years as a librarian at universities. In 2021 he started to work as a lecturer at Tarsus University. He focused on medical documentation, quality at health services, ethics and sociology of health systems. In 2023 He moved to Canada as a foreign worker. He is still working at FedEx as a courier. On the other hand he is a 12 experienced photographer with an associates degree. He is married and has 2 daughters.
Olivia Li
Olivia is a passionate community volunteer dedicated to welcoming and supporting newcomer in Richmond.
She had extensive in community service, helping people connect with local programs and resources while fostering a sense of belonging.
Beyond her volunteer experience, Olivia is deeply passionate about cultural arts. She had led
many traditional Chinese handicraft workshop for non-profit organizations and community groups, using natural materials such as dried flowers and bamboo to inspire creativity and cultural exchange.
Olivia believes that every small act
of kindness can bring warmth and strength to the community. Through her efforts, she hopes to help build
a more inclusive, caring, and vibrant community.
Sylvia Li
Sylvia is an immigrant from China and currently lives in British Columbia, with a degree in fashion design, 11 years of experience in human resource management for Fortune 500 companies, and teaching E-RYT200 yoga in China.
She has a wide range of interests, is passionate and caring, advocates for multicultural and humanistic care, is actively involved in schools, school boards, library, community volunteering, she is still working hard to learn and find career goals.
Sylvia currently teaches yoga and volunteers at an adult day center, she hopes to help more people with her love and rich skills. She is excited and proud to be a member of the Immigration Advisory Group and help migrants integrate into their new lives.
Yin Yao
I've been a resident of Richmond, BC, for almost two years now, and I appreciate living in such a highly international city. I've been welcomed by an incredible sense of community and diversity—from the cuisine and language environment to the genuine interpersonal connections.
I was born in Shanghai, China, where I developed my skills while working in management for a large state-owned enterprise. My professional background has given me a talent for communication and a strong ability to build positive relationships within a community.
My goal is to serve new immigrants, just like myself, by working together to navigate challenges. I look forward to contributing my energy and experience to help shape an even more welcoming and distinctive local Canadian culture right here in Richmond.
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