Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
|
|
Immigration Partnership Updates |
|
Are you looking for the opportunity to give back to your community? Are you passionate about building a welcoming and inclusive space for immigrants and refugees in your neighbourhood? Do you have any ideas to improve the settlement and integration processes for newcomers in Waterloo Region? Join the Immigration Partnership Council. New members will help us enable immigrants to reach their full potential, building community, partnerships, collaboration and innovation.
Click the image above to listen to Pari Karem, Chair of the Immigration Partnership Council, as she talks about the reasons for becoming a member of this amazing team of diverse and experienced professionals.
|
|
The #RacialEquityWR Campaign is underway! Some Waterloo Region residents have already picked up their #RacialEquityWR lawn signs at their favorite local library and accepted our social media challenge to declare their stance on racism and support their neighbours. We invite you to participate too!
How to participate in the campaign?
-
Get a free #RacialEquityWR Lawn Sign. You can pick up a FREE #RacialEquityWR lawn sign at the Kitchener Public Library, Waterloo Public Library or Idea Exchange Library locations, and display it in front of your home or business.
-
Take our social media challenge. Once you have your lawn sign, take a picture of your sign placed on the lawn of your house or your organization and share it on social media (Twitter, Fb, LinkedIn). Create a short message to go with it on how you take action against hate, and be sure to add the #RacialEquityWR hashtag.
-
Encourage others to take action against racism. Promote the #RacialEquityWR campaign with your friends, family, neighbours and co-workers.
Participate to show your solidarity, share how you take action against hate and help spread the message of embracing diversity, belonging and equity for all.
for detailed information on how to get involved in the campaign.
|
|
Follow us on our social media platforms for more immigration events and news!
|
|
Community Partner Highlights
|
|
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
-
The KW Multicultural Centre (KWMC) and YMCA Immigrant Services are remotely serving newcomers across Waterloo Region.
-
The YMCA language assessment centre is doing online language assessments. New clients can call to book an appointment. YMCA school settlement workers are available and continue to serve clients remotely.
-
In Kitchener-Waterloo and area, KWMC is providing interpretation services remotely (phone or videoconferencing) in over 50 languages. Visit https://kwmulticultural.ca/interpreters or email interpreters@kwmc-on.com if you require an interpreter.
-
In Cambridge, the YMCA is providing interpretation services (phone or videoconferencing) remotely. Languages include: Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, Persian, Dari, Pashto, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish. If you require an interpreter email interpretations@ckw.ymca.ca.
-
Reception House Waterloo Region is remotely serving government-assisted refugees. New refugee arrivals have resumed in Waterloo Region.
-
The Compass Refugee Centre (formerly Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Supports) is remotely serving refugee claimants. Hearings and other processes have begun again.
-
Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre continues to meet the health needs of refugees. Call ahead.
-
Carizon’s Newcomer Mental Health and Well-Being Program: A Promise of Partnership is currently offering both online and in-person supports to refugees living in Waterloo Region. For more information on current groups, trauma counselling, supports for connecting to mental health resources and workshops, call 519 743-6333 or email promise@carizon.ca.
-
Conestoga and St. Louis programs LINC and ESL programs are closed during the Summer break. They will open in September for the Fall period.
|
|
Federal, Provincial and Local Updates |
|
Municipal Government
To learn more about the latest information, measures and changes to legislation due to COVID-19 Outbreak across the region, visit the Region of Waterloo website.
|
|
It brings information on home-based Covid-19 vaccination program, what vaccination clinics are closed, return to school and more.
|
|
Provincial
Government
To learn more about the latest information, measures and changes to legislation due to COVID-19 Outbreak across Ontario, visit the
|
|
The Ontario government is providing an additional $307 million to help municipalities and Indigenous community partners deliver critical services, create longer-term housing solutions and keep people safe.
|
|
Federal
Government
To learn more about the government support for individuals, businesses and industries during the COVID-19 Outbreak, visit the Government of Canada Website.
|
|
While Canadians should continue to avoid non-essential travel worldwide, the Government of Canada recognizes that proof of vaccination credentials will support the re-opening of societies and economies.
|
|
Get Ready to Go Back to School in September |
|
As a new school year approaches, we want to tell newcomer parents and children that you are not alone! There are many resources available to help you to make your transition to school as smooth as possible and to learn what actions to take related to the Covid-19 pandemic and back to school.
|
|
|
|
The Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir has friendly settlement workers to orient and accompany students and their family by helping them to become better acquainted to life in Canada and to integrate into their new environment. Some of the services available are: One on one meetings with students and their family, student and parents orientation, informational workshops for parents and mentors, and more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Public school students have until this Friday, August 20, to change mode of learning. More updates on in-person learning and remote learning at elementary schools here and at secondary schools here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Check the Waterloo Catholic District School Board's Mentally Healthy Return-to-School webpage! It contains resources for families to promote positive mental health in the coming months and to set the stage for a smooth transition back into school in the fall.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Newcomer’s Guide to Elementary and Secondary School in Ontario
Settlement.Org has developed these guides that provides information about Elementary and Secondary schools in Ontario and suggestions that will help newcomer parents understand the Ontario education system and how to support their children in school.
|
|
|
|
COVID-19 Information and Resources |
|
Home-Based COVID-19 Vaccination Program
|
|
Region of Waterloo Public Health has expanded criteria for home-based vaccination to include anyone having difficulty accessing a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a regional vaccination clinic, doctor’s office or pharmacy. Check the expanded criteria here.
A public health nurse will contact the individual to schedule vaccination in their home. It may take up to one week for an appointment for the vaccine.
|
|
Other Information and Resources |
|
|
|
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has an open consultation on a series of questions that will help inform immigration levels planning for 2022-2024 on three themes: the impact of immigration on communities; immigration, the economy and the labour market; and fostering welcoming communities.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Cambridge Times' Q&A series features Muslim leaders, highlighting experiences with Islamophobia and what it means to be Muslim. In this edition, Abiha Syed, Director of Muslim Women of Cambridge and Community Engagement Coordinator at Immigration Partnership, talks on how residents can be allies to the Muslim community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
In this session of Café New Canadians, panellists discuss the issue of bias, racism and discrimination at the workplace, share their insights on diversity and inclusion in Canada and prepare newcomers to the country to combat discrimination.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Association for Canadian Studies shares the research results of its national SPO and Newcomer survey collected between May and June, 2021 and with the aim of determining the key challenges facing newcomers prior to and during the pandemic, as well as identifying opportunities for growth within the sector.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) calls on Ontario government to establish a legislative regulatory framework to directly address systemic racial discrimination in policing across the province. The OHRC have developed a framework for systemic change that includes essential steps for eliminating discriminatory practices from policing across the province.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retail salespersons was the top job posted in Waterloo Wellington Dufferin in July 2021. FindYourJob.ca saw over 18,000 postings last month, which was the second month in a row that saw a record high for job postings in a month on the site.
|
|
|
|
Covid-19 and Community Virtual Events and Webinars |
|
Canada Connect Program: YMCA Immigrant Services August Event Series, Aug 18-25, 7pm |
|
Join the YMCA Immigrant Services online every Wednesday evening in August to meet representatives from various Waterloo Region organizations and spend the month discovering your new home. These sessions help newcomers settle into their new communities.
|
|
Immigration and Trauma Session for Turkish Women and Youth, Aug 16, 8:30pm |
|
Coalition of Muslim Women of KW invites Turkish women and Youth to a session on Immigration and Trauma on Monday Aug 16 at 8:30pm. Join zoom at https://bit.ly/2TlGELr
|
|
The National Newcomer Navigation Network, Aug 17, 1-2pm |
|
This Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project webinar will profile one city’s attempts to breakdown the silo between health and settlement services, as well as the formation of the new National Newcomer Navigation Network (N4) whose aim is to support newcomer-serving professionals across sectors to connect, learn and collaborate, with the ultimate goal of ensuring an equitable experience. |
|
Is Google the Answer to Your Next Job? Aug 24, 1-2pm |
|
Lutherwood invites job seekers to this webinar to learn how to use Google to their advantage for their digital footprint, look at new positions, search for companies of interest and find the names of hiring managers to add this detail to your cover letter. |
|
CCDI Webinar: Inclusive Marketing, Aug 26, 1-2pm Eastern |
|
This Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion webinar will tackle the subject of diversity and inclusion in marketing. It include tips and guides on how to create the sort of inclusive marketing plans needed to deliver a successful campaign. |
|
COVID 19 Coverage and other News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
