In the media

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Discover the latest media coverage on VLMFSS. These articles and highlights provide insights into our mission, projects, and the positive changes we bring to our community.

Whether you want to learn more about us or gain a deeper understanding of our efforts, this page offers a glimpse into our agency’s journey.

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Articles

Assanand earns distinction

In 2014, YWCA Metro Vancouver recognizes Shashi Assanand, a former Ugandan refugee in Canada for almost 40 years, as a “woman of distinction”. She was honoured for her work against violence on women and supporting the settlement of new immigrants.

YWCA Woman of Distinction Award

Perspectives, the newsletter of the BC Association of Social Workers, acknowledges Shashi Assanand as recipient of the 2014 YWCA Women of Distinction Award for Community Building.

10 Vancouver women doing amazing things

Daily Hive features VLMFSS founder Shashi Assanand for her passion and drive to create a new model of services for immigrants and refugee women dealing with family violence.

Trail-blazing Social Worker Shashi Assanand Retires

Shashi Assanand retires as Executive Director of VLMFSS after 26 years. Her legacy includes revolutionizing family support services for immigrant families, offering counseling in over 24 languages. VLMFSS continues her advocacy and offers the Shashi Assanand Bursary for first-generation immigrant or refugee female students pursuing helping professions.

Collaborations on projects

Older Women’s Dialogue Project

Shashi Assanand, founder of VLMFSS participated in BC Law Institute’s Older Women’s Dialogue Project as part of the advisory committee. This Project explored pressing law and social policy issues impacting older women and addressing the barriers to quality of life for older women.

Want to take a part in our mission?

VLMFSS relies on media and public support to spread our mission and vision. If you like the work we do, we can use your help to promote our work. Talk to us.

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Phone

Mon-Fri from 9am to 5pm

604-436-1025
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Email

Get in touch with us

ed@vlmfss.ca

We provide free, confidential, culturally responsive, and women-centred services

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Free

You can contact us by phone, text or email. All our programs and services are of no cost to you.

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Multilingual

You can speak to us in over 24 languages, including English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic, Persian, Dari, Pashto, Telegu, Gujarati, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and many more.

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Women-centred

We provide a safe and supportive environment that prioritizes women's unique experiences and challenges.

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Confidential

We understand it can be hard to talk about family violence. What you tell us will be kept private.

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Culturally responsive

We value cultural diversity and provide tailored support that respects your unique needs, beliefs and perspectives.

Contact VLMFSS
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Your donation provides crucial support to those in need

Your contribution can help break the cycle of violence and offer hope to those in need. Even a small donation can make a big difference in the fight against family violence.

We thank and wish to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to all our donors who have made a significant difference in the lives of the women and children we are serve. Their names could be anonymous, but the impact of their generosity is visible on the faces and smiles of the women and their children who have benefitted the most from their kindness.

Their steadfast support and dedication were highly instrumental in building a brighter future and in restoring hope among immigrants, refugees, and visible minority women-survivors of family violence.   

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Lapu Lapu Day Tragedy

Lapu-Lapu Day Tragedy

The Vancouver Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Society (VLMFSS) continues to support everyone impacted by the tragic events that occurred during the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, on April 26th, 2025.
We extend our deepest condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this act of violence.
Lapu-Lapu Day is meant to honor Filipino resilience, courage, and unity, all the values that are deeply embedded in our community’s spirit. What should have been a joyful and empowering cultural celebration has instead become a moment of collective grief.

We stand in solidarity with the Filipino Canadian community, the broader Vancouver public, and all those impacted. Now more than ever, we aim to join and support our community with compassion and resolve to support one another.

VLMFSS is dedicated to working with local partners, mental health professionals, and community leaders in times such as this to provide emotional, legal, and logistical support to those affected by violence. Anyone in need of culturally responsive support services, or community resources is encouraged to contact us directly via our helpline at (236) 865-1194.

We also invite our allies and community members to honor the lives impacted by continuing to stand against violence in all its forms and to uplift the values of peace, cultural pride, and mutual care that define who we are.

In Solidarity,
The VLMFSS Team

Let's work together to end family violence

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