“The faster newcomers adapt and learn the Canadian way of life, the faster they contribute to our society and grow our economy.”
About WelcomeAide
We're a British Columbia nonprofit with a simple goal: make sure no newcomer in our province has to figure things out alone.
Our Story
In 2011, my family and I immigrated to Canada from Iran with little to no English proficiency. Like hundreds of thousands of newcomers before us, we arrived with determination and hope, but very little understanding of the systems we would need to navigate in order to build a new life.
The learning curve was steep. Obtaining a Social Insurance Number, opening a bank account, building a credit history, enrolling in school, finding a family doctor, securing housing, setting up a phone plan, understanding the tax system. Each of these steps required research, paperwork, and patience. We learned together, one challenge at a time, and we eventually found our footing. But the process was far more difficult and time-consuming than it needed to be.
Canada has an extraordinary network of settlement agencies, community organizations, and government programs dedicated to helping newcomers succeed. The people who work in this sector are passionate, knowledgeable, and deeply committed to the communities they serve. However, the demand for their services has grown significantly, and even the most dedicated organizations face constraints. Wait times for appointments can stretch into weeks or months. Email inquiries may take days to receive a response. Phone lines are often overwhelmed. And for a newcomer who needs an answer right now, in their own language, at ten o'clock at night, those delays represent a real gap in support.
This is not a failure of the system. It is an opportunity to strengthen it.
That is where WelcomeAide shines. Our mission is to complement the vital work already being done by settlement agencies and community organizations by providing an accessible, multilingual, AI-powered platform that newcomers can turn to at any hour of the day. Bank accounts, credit building, health cards, housing, phone plans, school enrollment, taxes, public transit, employment, legal rights, government forms. All explained clearly, available in over 20 languages and growing, and accessible from anywhere in the world.
Furthermore, WelcomeAide is not only for people who have already arrived in Canada. It is for people who are still preparing to come. A family in the Philippines, a student in India, an engineer in Nigeria, or a couple in Syria. Anyone, anywhere, can access our platform and begin learning exactly what to expect, what documents to prepare, and what steps to take the moment they land. By the time they arrive, they are not starting from zero. They are prepared, informed, and ready to begin building their new life from day one.
WelcomeAide does not replace the human connection that settlement workers provide. It bridges the gap between when a newcomer needs help and when that help becomes available. It ensures that no one has to navigate the most overwhelming period of their life without guidance simply because it is after business hours or because a caseworker's schedule is full.
When newcomers settle faster, everyone benefits. They enter the workforce sooner, start businesses, pay taxes, and contribute to the communities that welcomed them. Investing in newcomer success is not just the right thing to do. It is one of the smartest investments a country can make in its own future. We are building WelcomeAide for every family like mine.
- Erfan Aghdasi, Founder of WelcomeAide Society
The Problem We Are Solving
With over 500,000 newcomers arriving in Canada each year, settlement services across the country are stretched thin. In British Columbia, newcomers frequently wait weeks to connect with a settlement worker. During those critical first weeks, many struggle to find a family doctor, understand their tax obligations, enroll their children in school, or access the benefits they are entitled to.
Language barriers compound the problem: while over 200 languages are spoken across Canada, most settlement resources are only available in English and French. Newcomers who need help the most are often the least able to access it.
WelcomeAide bridges this gap. By combining artificial intelligence with deep knowledge of Canadian settlement systems, we provide immediate, multilingual support that helps newcomers access the right services at the right time. We do not replace settlement workers - we ensure newcomers are better prepared and better informed when they do connect with human support.
Our Mission
We're here to remove the barriers between newcomers and the help they need. We use AI to provide immediate, multilingual settlement support to every newcomer in British Columbia.
Our Vision
A British Columbia where every newcomer - no matter what language they speak, where they come from, or what their situation is - can get the information and support they need to build a good life, starting from their very first day.
Our Approach
We work alongside existing settlement agencies and community organizations - not in competition with them. Our technology supports what the people on the ground already do and fills the gaps in the current system, so no newcomer slips through the cracks.
Our Values
These are the principles behind everything we do.
Accessibility First
Every newcomer deserves access to the information they need - no matter what language they speak, how comfortable they are with technology, or how familiar they are with Canadian systems. We design everything with the people who need it most in mind.
Cultural Humility
We approach every interaction with respect for people's different backgrounds and life experiences. What we build is shaped by the communities we serve - not imposed on them.
Innovation with Purpose
We use AI and technology because it helps solve real problems for real people - not because it's trendy. Every feature we build starts with an actual need a newcomer has.
Community Partnership
We don't replace existing settlement services - we make them stronger. WelcomeAide works alongside settlement agencies, government offices, and community organizations to make the whole support system work better together.
Transparency & Trust
As a nonprofit, we answer to the communities we serve. We're open about where our funding comes from, how we handle data, and what our AI can and can't do.
Equity & Inclusion
We're committed to tackling the systemic barriers that hit hardest for newcomers from marginalized backgrounds - including refugees, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.
Our Team
WelcomeAide is built by a community of volunteers, advisors, and board members who genuinely care about helping newcomers succeed.
Board of Directors
Our board brings together experienced nonprofit leaders, immigration policy experts, technology professionals, and community advocates from across British Columbia. Board member profiles will be published following our inaugural board meeting.
Advisory Council
Our advisory council includes settlement workers, newcomers with lived experience, AI ethics researchers, and representatives from partner organizations. Their guidance ensures our programs remain grounded in real community needs.
Volunteer Team
WelcomeAide is powered by dedicated volunteers who contribute their skills in technology, community outreach, content creation, translation, and event coordination. We are always looking for passionate individuals to join us.
Interested in joining our team? We are always looking for passionate individuals who want to make a difference.
Join Our Team