New Directions English Language School

Anastasia Chyz-LeSage, Director of Settlement and Resettlement Operations, IRCC, addressed LINC classes, from literacy to level 4, at the summer Graduation Ceremony held at Spirit Square, Douglas Park, Langley, on June 11, a beautiful, sunny Thursday morning.

New Directions English Language School Community Program Coordinator, Margaret Ann, welcomed many community partners and the 270 newcomer participants. The company, in operation for over 35 years, connects newcomers to the community while they learn Language skills for daily life and basic employment.

Yvonne Hopp, President, New Directions English Language School said, "It takes a community to make a successful LINC class; our amazing instructional team is supported by these dedicated partners in our community, RCMP, the City and TOL, Trinity Western University, and our funder, IRCC, without whom we'd not be here."

We all at New Directions were deeply honoured to welcome distinguished guests who joined us in celebrating this special occasion, including Anastasia Chyz-LeSage, Director of Settlement and Resettlement Operations, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Nathan Pachal, Mayor of the City of Langley; City of Langley Councillors Delaney Mack, Rosemary Wallace, Leith White, Margaret Kunst (Township of Langley), and Barb Martens (Township of Langley); Rahim Sayidov, BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction; Ines Montoya, Trinity Western University; Wayne Wiebe, Rotary Clubs of Langley; and Constable Phil Colter of the Langley RCMP.
We thank you all✨

Teacher Vanessa's LINC 1/2 class enjoyed their first visit to the Langley Senior Resources Society for a game of bingo!

The outing provided a wonderful opportunity for students to practise their listening skills in a real-life setting while interacting with members of the local community. It was also a chance to become acquainted with the Langley Senior Resources Society and learn more about the valuable services it provides to seniors in Langley.

The journey there was just as enjoyable as the activity itself. Students took a pleasant and scenic walk among the trees and crossed the beautiful Nicomekl Trail bridge, taking in the natural surroundings along the way.

Everyone had a great time, and we look forward to future visits and more opportunities to connect with our community!✨

On June 11, we gathered to celebrate a major milestone for our students who successfully completed their language levels. Their hard work, dedication, and resilience continue to inspire us all.

We were deeply honoured to welcome distinguished guests who joined us in celebrating this special occasion, including Anastasia Chyz-LeSage, Director of Settlement and Resettlement Operations, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Nathan Pachal, Mayor of the City of Langley; City of Langley Councillors Delaney Mack, Rosemary Wallace, Leith White, Margaret Kunst (Township of Langley), and Barb Martens (Township of Langley); Rahim Sayidov, BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction; Ines Montoya, Trinity Western University; Wayne Wiebe, Rotary Clubs of Langley; and Constable Phil Colter of the Langley RCMP.

Several students shared heartfelt testimonies about their journeys and experiences learning English at New Directions English Language School—a place where, in their own words, they found belonging, encouragement, and support; a place where they felt seen, valued, and empowered to succeed.

As one of our guests remarked, New Directions English Language School is so much more than a language program. While English instruction is at the heart of what we do, it is also the vehicle through which we create a safe and welcoming environment for newcomers to connect, build relationships, and develop a sense of belonging within Canadian society.

An achievement like this is never the result of a solo journey. It takes a dedicated network of supporters, and we are profoundly grateful to the community that makes these successes possible. Thank you for lifting our students up, investing in their potential, and helping them achieve their goals. Together, we are building stronger, more connected communities.

Celebrating National Indigenous History Month
Teacher Mike shares his experience in Experiential Learning through Drum-making with Stephen Armstrong, hosted by Langley Community Services Society and funded by the National Newcomer Collective for Truth and Reconciliation on May 27, 2026

A Recount of Indigenous Drum Making
Firstly, I would say that I feel very lucky and humbled to have been selected to participate in such an event. The event started out with our host ‘Hem Tumus’ introducing himself and sharing some personal information about his life. We followed with a round-robin introduction and learned some brief information about each person’s organization and job.

The Drum making itself was methodical and personal. Each person was given a circle of hide, a wooden drum ring, and a strand of sinew. Wrapping the sinew through the hide holes and crisscrossing them was the most memorable part to me, as it looked differently for each person and made me think of dream catchers. The sinew was sticky as it was coated with wax, and at the halfway point and ending points, we would connect several strands of the sinew together on the underside by wrapping them together like a rope.

Once the drum had been put together, we found that the outside of the hide still had flaps that hung out. To solve this, we were given another strand of sinew to wrap around the outside. I remember pressing my thumb against the outside of the hide with the sinew between my thumb and the hide. It required a lot of pressure to keep the hide down, as it is a dense material. Once this was finished, we moved on to the last part of the drum making.

The last part was having our instructor go around and visualize the spirits contained within our drums and possibly explain why they are there. I was more and more interested as he came around the table towards Shrawani and me, as we were 6th and 7th to be looked at. First, he looked at mine and gasped when he said: “We have our first drum with two spirits!” I can’t explain the excitement when I heard this. He explained that my drum had an owl (which I later looked up and resonates with understanding and wisdom) and a transformative spirit (which resonates with helping to make important decisions and change). Next, he visited Shrawani and noticed that hers had a hand print in the hide. He explained that this is a symbol of (as we say in English) ‘a helping hand’. This is a spirit for someone who enjoys assisting and helping people through their trials and tribulations.

Finally, we finished off our session with some amazing food from ‘Tradish’. It was traditional bannock bread and some special organic-sourced jam and cookies. Thank you, Yvonne and New Directions, for the opportunity for Shrawani and me to participate in the event. Also, thanks to LCSS for hosting and leading this event!

Our heartfelt gratitude to
# Stephen Armstrong and his organisation https://redsockeyeconsulting.ca/
# National Newcomer Collective for Truth and Reconciliation https://www.nnctr.ca/
# Ana Marie Panczel, Langley LIP Coordinator , Langley Community Services Society
# Sarah Mierau https://www.tradishcanada.ca/

Celebrating National Indigenous History Month

Teachers Mike Chrzanecki and Shrawani Sen had the phenomenal opportunity to take part in Experiential Learning through Drum-making with Stephen Armstrong, whose ancestral name is Xem-Tu-Mus, from Kwikwetlem First Nation.
The National Newcomer Collective for Truth and Reconciliation funded this workshop in collaboration with Langley Community Services Society.
Sarah Mierau of Tradish served the participants delicious bannock, jam, cookies, and tea that nourished their bodies as they went through this experience.
Our heartfelt gratitude to
Armstrong https://redsockeyeconsulting.ca/
# National Newcomer Collective for Truth and Reconciliation https://www.nnctr.ca/
Marie Panczel, Langley LIP Coordinator, Langley Community Services Society https://www.lcss.ca/
# Sarah Mierau https://www.tradishcanada.ca/

Celebrating BC Seniors’ Week 2026: Experience Matters
At Langley Seniors Resource Society, Margaret Ann, New Directions LINC Events Coordinator, attended the kickoff to the Rise and Shine Breakfast on June 1st. (Seen here with Sherri Martin, Manager of Programs at LSRS).

June 1–7 is BC Seniors’ Week, a time to recognize and celebrate older adults and the many ways they contribute to families and communities across the province.

BC Seniors' advocate, Dan Levitt, who was the guest speaker at the event, has tirelessly championed the rights of seniors for 30 years at the provincial, national, and international levels. This year’s theme, ‘Experience Matters’, highlights the value of a lifetime of knowledge and the importance of sharing perspectives, especially with younger generations.

(Dan Levitt in photo with LSRS senior, Kate Ludlum, Executive Director, and Sherri Martin)

The Office of the Seniors Advocate is an independent office of the B.C. provincial government acting in the interest of seniors and their caregivers. https://www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca/

Welcome to June!✨

A beautiful morning well spent! New Directions' LINC 1-2 students had a wonderful time attending the Langley City Mental Health Awareness Day at Timms Community Centre

The highlight of the morning was a soothing, relaxing live harp performance by Rosemary Simituk. Not only did everyone get to unwind, but the students also loved learning all about how this incredible instrument works!

Days like today remind us of the importance of community, self-care, and taking a moment to breathe. It was so special watching everyone share these peaceful moments together with friends. 💚

Eid Mubarak!✨Wishing you all happiness and health from all of us at New Directions.

At the City of Langley Asian Heritage Celebration on Saturday, May 16th, New Directions participants included (left to right): Instructor Mehdi, who performed on the violin and showcased his recently published book, Quest; Instructor Selin, dressed in traditional Turkish attire, who also offered tastings of Turkish tea and dessert; young Zara, who crafted handmade cellphone charms; Aldergrove LINC 4 student Yasmeen, who created beautiful henna designs; and Instructor Judy, who displayed her paintings and handmade bags.