Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
May 17, 2021


We are in this together but impacted unequally.
Let’s help everyone stay healthy, Waterloo Region.
Immigration Partnership Updates
Employers that Go Above and Beyond to Provide Employment of Refugee Workers
The Immigration Partnership and Reception House Waterloo Region are very pleased to recognize area employers for supporting the employment of refugee workers through the Working Together Employment Project. 

The Working Together Employment Project is an initiative led by Reception House Waterloo Region that helps refugees access employment while improving their English communication skills by enrolling in a Conestoga College three month on-the-job language course.

Through this program, JD Sweid Foods, Accumetal Manufacturing Inc. and Tigercat Industries have hired hundreds of refugee newcomers into stable jobs, allowing them to use their skills and capacities. These amazing employers have given HOPE to refugee families who came to Canada seeking to rebuild their lives! Listen as they share their rewarding experience of hiring refugees in this video clip and get in touch if you are interested in doing the same: NWhittington@regionofwaterloo.ca.
May 19: What Employers Need to Know When Hiring International Students
Charlene Mak, International Student Advisor, and Junying Tan, Safe Travel, Arrival and Quarantine (STAQ) Program Coordinator at Wilfrid Laurier University will join the next Manulife Business Success Series organized by the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Immigration Partnership. In this session, employers will learn the guidelines for hiring international students while they are studying in Canada and the benefits of hiring them upon graduation. Learn the do’s and don’ts.’ Registration now open.
May 19: Portraits of Resilience: International Students Webinar
This Wednesday at 12:15pm our Executive Director, Tara Bedard, will moderate a webinar on "Portraits of Resilience: International Students" featuring experts from the Concordia University, Carleton University and Ryerson University who will talk about their research on international student resilience.

This event is part of the "Migrant Resilience in canadian Cities: People, Institutions and Policies" webinar series hosted by the Building Migrant Resilience in Cities Network. For more information, email bmrcirmu@yorku.ca. Registration is open.
Follow us on our social media platforms for more immigration events and news!
Community Partner Updates 
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
City of Waterloo is Calling for Website Reviewers. Paid Opportunity
There will soon be a new website available for all neighbourhoods information in Waterloo. To make sure the information presented is easy to use, Waterloo residents are invited to assist with reviewing the new website.

Residents across the city that might be familiar and unfamiliar with neighbourhood activities are encouraged to consider this paid participation opportunity. A broad range of experiences are needed to review the new website. To express interest in participating, please complete this online form by May 25th.
Family and Children’s Services to host its third “Hearing Black Voices, Black Community Forum”

The Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region invites community members to join the Hearing Black Voices, Black Community Forum to hear updates on actions taken since the last meeting, introduce their new Service Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and provide information about ongoing work within the organization. Registration is open.
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.
Provincial
Government
To learn more about the latest information, measures and changes to legislation due to COVID-19 Outbreak across Ontario, visit the
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.

The Budget 2021 is promising improvements to immigration that
  • deliver a modern immigration processing platform
  • support racialized newcomer women
  • enhance the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
  • accelerate pathways to permanent residence
  • streamline Express Entry, and
  • enhance capacity and service standards within the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Client Support Centre
COVID-19 Information and Resources
Covid-19 Vaccine Information Session in Farsi, May 25, 7-9 pm 

The Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre and kitchener Public Library are hosting a Covid-19 vaccine information session in Farsi on how to register in Waterloo Region and get information about safe isolation sites. To register, email elizabeth@kwmulticultural.ca or call call 519 590 3063.

The Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto recently released a report revealing a disturbing rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in Canada: More than 1,100 attacks against Asian Canadians have been reported one year into the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Listen to Dr. Iain Reeve, researcher, educator and policy analyst, in this The Conference Board of Canada’s Leadership Perspectives podcast explaining what’s changed in our intake numbers and the characteristics that set the COVID-19 immigrant cohort apart.

The Conference Board of Canada reports that immigration levels are recovering. Permanent resident admissions dropped substantially during the first six months of the pandemic, but processing capacity improved over 2020. It also states that high levels of immigration will bring $50 billion more in public revenues.
Other Information and Resources
Celebration of the Citizenship Week: May 17 to 23, 2021
May 17 marks the start of the Citizenship Week! From today until May 23, Canadians will have the chance to express pride in our shared history, our diverse heritage and our collective achievements, as well as to celebrate the rights and responsibilities shared by all Canadian citizens. It is also an opportunity to highlight the tremendous contributions of immigrants to their communities and the Canadian economy. See several ways to celebrate this week here.

To promote policy-relevant research by emerging scholars, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is running the 2021 National Essay Challenge for graduate students in Canadian universities. One of the requirements is that participants must be a graduate student enrolled at a Canadian university for the 2020 to 2021 academic year.

Applications are open to become a member of the ERG – Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative. One of the roles of this group is to provide advice to the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development on promoting Black Community organization inclusion, targeting barriers to the full participation of Black Canadians in Canada and more.

"Intersections and Innovations: Change in Canada’s Voluntary and Nonprofit Sector" is the first comprehensive resource about Canada’s voluntary sector that was recently published by The Muttart Foundation. By understanding more about itself, the sector can continue to develop and find new ways to serve Canadians and those in need outside our nation. It is now freely available online.

The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program Travel Resumption Resource Kit for Refugee Sponsors has been updated. The changes include: Updated to reflect change in timing of the second in-Canada test (Day 10 to Day 8); resources section updated to include links to multi-language resources on the Day 8 test; and more.

These Association for Canadian Studies (ACS-Metropolis) surveys will be looking for solutions to help the settlement sector be more responsive, collaborative and resilient when it comes to supporting newcomers achieve better economic outcomes. The newcomer survey is available in English, French, Arabic and Chinese.
Covid-19 and Community Virtual Events and Webinars
Supporting the Mental Health of Refugee Claimants, May 18, 1-2pm
Join the Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project's monthly webinar series! On this occasion, the Centre for Refugee Resilience will presents its approach to addressing the barriers newcomers face in accessing mental health support, recognizing the trauma and crisis they are experiencing, and responding to cultural needs.  
Young men Leading Change Event,
May 18, 7pm
The KW Multicultural Centre invites young BIPOC men ages 17-25 from anywhere in Ontario talk with Black trans journalist Tiq Milan next Tuesday at 7pm. The event continues with two days of workshops and discussion on June 12-13, and finishes with a podcast in the following weeks. The theme is "How can men prevent discrimination and harassment in our workplaces?". The full details are here. 
Young men Leading Change Event,
May 18, 7pm EST
The KW Multicultural Centre invites young BIPOC men ages 17-25 from anywhere in Ontario talk with Black trans journalist Tiq Milan next Tuesday at 7pm. The event continues with two days of workshops and discussion on June 12-13, and finishes with a podcast in the following weeks. The theme is "How can men prevent discrimination and harassment in our workplaces?". The full details are here. 
Rhythm & Blues Presents - Black Girl Excellence: Who We Are (Ages 9+),
May 19, 6-7:30pm
Rhythm and Blues Cambridge along with the Kinbridge Community Association will be hosting this "Black Girl Excellence: who we are" event focusing on exploring why representation matters, female black Canadian history, and discussing how we practice self-care. There will be live spoken word and musical performances, as well as prize giveaways!
Cambridge Newcomer Outreach Program
This program, led by the City of Cambridge and Kinbridge Community Association, offers opportunities for newcomer youth ages 15-29 to get to know members of their community, participate in study groups, as well as learn about their new community. There is also programming to newcomers who are 55 years old and up. To learn more please email info@kinbridge.ca.
Anti-Black Racism: A Year in Review and the Launch of the BLISC, May 25,
11am-12pm
Join Skills for Change on a year’s journey of reflection in the aftermath of the global outcry on Anti-Black Racism. The session will examine the progress made and what more can be done to address Anti-Black Racism. During the event, Skills for Change will launch its Black Leadership Institute on Social Action for Change that will lead efforts to address Anti-Black Racism and systemic inequalities affecting Black Communities.
Asian Heritage Month: Explorations of identity, perceptions and belonging, May 25, 1-2:30pm
The University of Waterloo invites community members to attend "Explorations of Asian Identity, Perceptions and Belonging," event in honour of Asian Heritage Month. This virtual event will feature a moderated panel discussion that explores Asian-Canadian identity and anti-Asian racism, particularly in light of the rise in hate crimes over the past year.
ARI Roundtable: Big Picture Policy Recommendations, May 27, 1-2:30pm
This roundtable hosted by Refugee 613 will share learnings from its Allies for Refugee Integration pilots, focusing on the big picture policy recommendations for IRCC and what it could mean for Settlement Providing Organizations (SPOs) and Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) on an organizational level. 
Addressing Islamophobia, Racism and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment Report,
May 27, 6pm
The Coalition of Muslim Women KW invites community members to a community round table to discuss hate incidents and discrimination reporting and response. It will share some information on the actions taken to address Islamophobia, Racism and Anti-immigrant sentiment.
COVID-19’s Impact on Migration and Borders in Canada, the USA and Mexico Forum, June 28-29
From June 28-29, 2021, The Metropolis North America (MNA) Migration Policy Annual Forum will hold a virtual forum in partnership with the University of Manitoba and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) aimed at showcasing the research from the CIHR funded project on the differential impacts of COVID-19 on immigrants, Indigenous peoples and vulnerable communities in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
COVID 19 Coverage and other News



Laurier denounces anti-Semitic video by student Kitchener Today, May 16, 2021

 

The Immigration Waterloo Region calendar has information about local programs and events for newcomers. Subscribe for a digest of events coming up in the next week or add your own events to share.
Feel free to send suggestions or relevant events/resources to include to the Immigration Waterlooo Region weekly by emailing Dan Vandebelt (dvandebelt@regionofwaterloo.ca) and Alejandra Amezquita Gutierrez (AAmez@regionofwaterloo.ca)
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