Use of Powell River Employment Program (PREP) Society’s immigration services program this past year has increased and is expected to continue to grow, and that has administrators looking for a larger space.
PREP executive director Lyn Adamson appeared before City of Powell River’s committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, December 13, to present her idea and see if the city would be willing to partner up.
Adamson told the committee the organization’s immigrant-services program, directed to help newcomers navigate the process of settling in Powell River, had 109 individual contacts in 2016, about 35 more than the previous year.
“Our numbers are up and we expect the trend to continue,” said Adamson.
She explained that the program has an “austere budget” and has outgown the current space on Marine Avenue.
Adamson said she was aware of a number of other non-profit societies that are looking for new space. She suggested that by sharing space there may be efficiencies that could be generated.
Adamson said she will be organizing a meeting in early January to have a look at available land and vacant office space and would like to have representatives from the city at the meeting.
City chief administrative officer Mac Fraser said he and city director of infrastructure Tor Birtig would be willing to attend.
Mayor Dave Formosa suggested the group of non-profits look at vacant office space as the city currently has a large surplus.
