July 15, 2019

Happy Monday! Here are some upcoming events and information:

Events and Programs
1. “Cambridge Scottish Festival” concert (July 19, 5:30-11:30PM) - This concert will feature some celtic rock music and bands including the Mudmen and American Rogues. It is an all ages show. For more information or to attend: https://calendar.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/default/Detail/2019-07-19-1730-Cambridge-Scottish-Festival-Concert
2. Mini-Conference: Affordable housing and inclusive neighbourhoods (July 23, 6:30-8:30pm) - This event, hosted by Waterloo Region Yes in My Backyard, is a chance for citizens of Waterloo Region to begin to push back against Nimbyism and exclusivity in our neighbourhoods and to advocate for our cities to allow for more affordable housing options. This meeting brings together four experts on the subject, time for questions and discussion groups. To register: https://www.facebook.com/events/2328027414119404/?ti=as
3. “Making Space: Building Community with Intention and Courage” discussion (July 24, 6:30-8pm) - Friends of Crime Prevention will be hosting a discussion about safe spaces, brave spaces and inclusive spaces, from a diverse range of perspectives. For more information or to register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/making-space-building-community-with-intention-and-courage-tickets-64804467908
4. Everyday Excel Summer Course (July 24, 1-5pm) - Good statistical analysis starts with good data. To produce a quality dataset for analysis you need to know how to organize and work with the data you collect. This course, brought by the Laurier Summer Institute of Research methods, will provide you with tips and practical tools for this process by mastering the Microsoft Excel program. Registration: https://coursestore.wlu.ca/catalog?pagename=14963262233zgqP
5. “In Her Shoes” Employment Training Program for Youth (various dates) - YW Kitchener-Waterloo will be facilitating an employment program for female identified, transgender and non-binary youth (ages 15-30) who are experiencing barriers to employment. Participants will learn digital literacy, customer service, retail & online business, and employability skills. They will also earn minimum wage, equivalent to 30 hours/wee k . For more information or to register: https://inhershoesyw.com/pages/ihsyouth


Resource and Information
6. “Language training options for newcomers to Canada” video - This video produced by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC) describes the language training and learning opportunities offered through the Settlement Program. It also provides what newcomers can expect from different types of language programming (i.e. formal language training, employment-related language training and informal language learning). For more information see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1l4fgkOFGE&feature=youtu.be (English)
7. “Understanding the Canadian Language Benchmarks” video - This video produced by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC) explains the national standards framework and its value for language professionals and learners. This video is primarily aimed at language trainers, administrators, service provider organizations and other partners with an interest in learning more about how to describe and measure the language ability in English as a second language of adult newcomers. For more information see: 
8. "Less Telling, More Asking: Meaningful Youth Engagement at a Glance" - It is the newest resource developed at the Children and Youth Planning Table (CYPT) to introduce the concepts of youth engagement and adult allyship, with input from local youth, the knowledge of CYPT members, local child and youth-serving organizations, and national and international research. More information: https://childrenandyouthplanningtable.ca/youth-engagement-adult-allyship-resource/#intro
9. 2019 Creative Day for Social Good -CD4SG- (Oct 17-18) - Capacity Canada, in partnership with Intertek Catalyst, Conestoga College, HIM&HER, Manulife, Google and the creative community will provide free design and marketing work to non-profit organizations across Canada through CD4SG. Now accepting applications from non-profits (Deadline: Sep 6, 2019) at https://capacitycanada.ca/creativeday/
10. Interim Pathway for Caregivers - The Interim Pathway for Caregivers is a limited time pathway to permanent residence for qualifying in-home caregivers and their families. it is intended for immigrants with experience in Canada as a home child care provider or home support worker seeking to apply for permanent residence. Information about the process, here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/caregivers/interim-pathway/eligibility.html#status-in-canada


Surveys and Community Engagement
11.  "One Stop Hub" survey  - The Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, Immigration Partnership Waterloo Region, and other Community partners are seeking local employers to fill out this short survey about their feedback on a business focused Immigrant Talent Hub to better identify their needs for attracting, engaging, and recruiting Immigrant talent in Waterloo Region. For more information or to participate:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5RKJK26

In the News
12.  How Google Translate is helping refugee claimants to navigate daily life in Toronto (CBC News) -
13. Paramount Fine Foods CEO provides work opportunity to refugees upon their arrival in Canada (CBC News) - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/paramount-fine-foods-refugee-hiring-1.5209491
 14.  Canada announces 3-year permanent residence pilot for eligible agri-food workers (CIC News) - 
15. New immigration pilot program to offer permanent residency to migrant farm workers (The Star)
16. New Ontario draws will target Express Entry candidates with tech experience (CIC News) -
 17. Foreign caregivers say changes aimed at helping them realize their immigration dreams come with a costly catch (The Start) - https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/07/09/foreign-caregivers-say-changes-aimed-at-helping-them-realize-their-immigration-dreams-come-with-a-costly-catch.html
18. 130 new families create population boom in Cap-Pelé (CBC News) - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/immigration-cap-pel%C3%A9-family-1.5205393
 19.  Interim Pathway for Caregivers reopens to new applications (CIC News) - https://www.cicnews.com/2019/07/interim-pathway-for-caregivers-reopens-to-new-applications-0712483.html#gs.ptpv70
20. Express Entry candidates with CRS scores as low as 300 invited in latest Alberta draw (CIC News) - https://www.cicnews.com/2019/07/express-entry-candidates-with-crs-scores-as-low-as-300-invited-in-latest-alberta-draw-0712487.html#gs.ptq0ga
21. Canada updates list of eligible Global Talent Stream occupations (CIC News) -
22. How asylum seekers and resettled refugees come to Canada (CBC News) - 


The Immigration Waterloo community calendar ( www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/calendar ) is a great source of information about local programs and events for newcomers. Subscribe for a digest of events coming up in the next week. You can add your own relevant events at  www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/submitevent . 

This Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly update and past archives are available on the Immigration Waterloo Region news feed at  www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/news . You can share this update or encourage others to subscribe by going to:  www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/subscribe . Feel free to send suggestions or relevant events/resources to include by emailing  [email protected] .

Dan and Alejandra

Dan Vandebelt ( [email protected] ) and Alejandra Amezquita Gutierrez ( [email protected] )
Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca