Umbrella Multicultural Health Cooperative

11/05/2025

We are proud to share that Umbrella Multicultural Health Co-op’s Executive Director, Zarghoona Wakil, was warmly welcomed by Hon. Minister Jennifer Whiteside at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.

Minister Whiteside recognized Umbrella Co-op’s leadership and impact in advancing equitable, culturally safe, and community-driven health care for cultural communities and farm workers in B.C.

We are grateful for this acknowledgment and for the opportunity to see Umbella's vision and commitment celebrated at the provincial level.

On this day, our Executive Director joined the British Columbia Association for Community Health Centres (BCACHC) at the BC Legislature’s Lobby Day to advocate for the vital role of 38 Community Health Centres providing accessible and equitable care across the province.

10/25/2025

Thank you, Minister Jennifer Whiteside, for joining us and for your kind words about Umbrella’s work!

We deeply appreciate your recognition and support as we continue advancing equitable, culturally safe health care for all.

10/25/2025

We are deeply grateful for the incredible turnout at Umbrella Multicultural Health Co-op’s 15th Anniversary Celebration!

It was an honour to celebrate this milestone alongside community members, partner organizations, First Nations leaders, elected officials, including Hon. Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Labour, and Hon. Raj Chouhan, Speaker of the BC Legislative Assembly, as well as Umbrella’s founders, board members, and staff.

Together, we reflected on Umbrella’s journey from 2010 to today- beginning as a small cooperative to a vibrant community health centre providing primary care, mental health services, health promotion, and support for the social determinants of health while expanding our impact both locally and nationally through initiatives like the National Cultural Brokers Project, supporting and advocating for cultural brokers across Canada.

We were humbled to receive letters of appreciation from the BC Legislative Assembly, community partners, and the people we serve, reaffirming our shared commitment to advancing equitable, culturally safe care.

Here’s to the next chapter of collaboration, compassion, and community health!



https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7387641011059077120

09/23/2025

Our recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) was a wonderful gathering of members, staff, and board, coming together to reflect on a year of growth, impact, and shared purpose.

Highlights from the AGM:

- Reviewed our annual report and financial statements

- Welcomed three new board members

- Shared our vision for the year ahead

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to support our mission of providing culturally safe, community-driven health care. Together, we’re building a healthier and more equitable future.

05/08/2025

On May 4, 2025, Umbrella Multicultural Health Co-op proudly participated in the annual Fraser Valley Temporary Farm Worker Resource Fair, a collaborative event hosted by a network of dedicated community organizations.

With over 200 participants in attendance, the fair provided a much-needed opportunity for temporary migrant farmworkers to connect with organizations offering legal aid, education, healthcare, and social support.

Our Umbrella Mobile Clinic was on site, sharing healthcare navigation information in the migrant workers' first language and distributing printed resources tailored to their unique needs. The team also engaged participants in foot fungus prevention, thanks to the generous support of Simon Fraser University for providing awareness kits.

Luisa Yared Diliegros Plandiura, coordinator of the Mobile Clinic, shared, “Healthcare is a basic need, and Umbrella Co-op’s presence has provided the opportunity to inform newcomer farmworkers about the healthcare system navigation in BC. The information they receive enables them to reach out to various healthcare providers for specific healthcare needs, which supports farm workers and the healthcare system. The workers also obtained information about healthcare resources, including walking clinics receiving new patients."

Early season outreach like this is key to ensuring health equity and access for all.

03/15/2025

At Umbrella Multicultural Health Co-op, we are committed to continuing to explore new ways to support cultural communities and drive impactful change for newcomers. We are also strengthening the understanding of the role of cultural brokers across Canada. Through the National Cultural Brokers Project, we create meaningful partnerships, drive innovative initiatives, and provide spaces for knowledge-sharing that directly benefit cultural communities and newcomers.

At the 27th Metropolis Conference, Umbrella’s Namira Elshami, alongside our partners from the IRCC-funded National Cultural Brokers Project, presented “Counteracting Polarization: The Role of Cultural Brokers in Bridging Divides.” This session emphasized how cultural brokers can bridge gaps, reduce divisions, and create a more inclusive society. By fostering understanding and collaboration, this work helps cultural communities and newcomers navigate systems and build stronger, more supportive connections in their new environments.

03/11/2025

Our recent Honoring Connections event brought together 30 participants from different organizations to build stronger connections between cultural communities and Indigenous groups.

We began with a circle-sharing session led by Norm Leech, Executive Director of Frog Hollow Neighborhood House. This was followed by an inspiring talk by Indigenous artist James Groening, who shared the rich history behind his art, enriching our understanding of Indigenous culture. The cross-cultural health brokers shared valuable insights on cultural brokering practices.

The event wrapped up with a thought-provoking Case Scenario Session, leaving everyone deeply engaged.

Thank you to all who contributed to making this event a success!

12/24/2024

🎄 Season’s Greetings from Umbrella Co-op!

As 2024 comes to an end, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to all who make our work possible. To our staff, volunteers, partners, and the communities we serve. You inspire us daily with your resilience, collaboration, and shared commitment to building healthier futures.

Together, we’ve made a difference—offering vital services, creating new opportunities, and fostering partnerships that strengthen our impact.

We wish you a joyous holiday season filled with peace, rest, and celebration. Thank you for being part of the Umbrella Co-op family!

12/13/2024

Read another CBNC blog post written by Khudadad Bisharat!
In this post, Bisharat looks at the relationship between newcomers and Canadian Indigenous peoples. He explores embracing Indigenous heritage in Canada.

Head to the link below to read the post:

https://culturalbrokers.ca/index.php?option=com_content...

10/20/2024

We are thrilled to announce that our Clinical Counselor, Alejandra Zibes (she/her), has been selected as a Semi-Finalist for the 2024 CharityVillage Awards in the Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Mental Health category!

Congratulations to all the Semi-Finalists. We are excited to celebrate your incredible efforts at the upcoming conference. Well done, Alejandra, and thank you for your dedication to fostering a more supportive workplace!

Drumroll! We are excited to announce the Semi-Finalists for the 2024 CharityVillage Awards! Congratulations to all Semi-Finalists - we are eager to recognize your outstanding efforts at our upcoming conference.

👏 Thank you to Toronto Pearson, our Presenting Sponsor for this year's conference, for their generous support.

📢 Check out the Semi-Finalists: https://okt.to/UtdEL8

08/21/2024

In collaboration with the National Cultural Brokers Project partners, funded by IRCC, Umbrella Co-op organized the National Cultural Brokers' Gathering: Living Well Together: Weaving Braids of Belonging to facilitate networking and collaboration. We gathered on the ancestral homelands of the Anishnaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and the national homeland of the Red River Métis in Winnipeg, MB.

Over 85 participants from various sectors connected Indigenous people, newcomers, and ethnocultural communities and shared their stories, and a powerful resonance of cultural wealth and ancestral wisdom emerged. Experiences of great loss, displacement, and grief were revealed as well.

Cultural brokering practice creates the possibility for social change and transformation by nurturing new learning, new ways of relating and being together, and the possibility of a truly intercultural society.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped weave the braids of belonging.

07/04/2024

Thank you to Team Primary Care for capturing our journey and FAFM for their generous support.

Check out the video to learn more about our service model and the amazing people behind it. Together, we are making a difference!