Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
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Immigration Partnership News |
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Tomorrow, employers are invited to participate in this Cambridge Chamber of Commerce webinar to hear from experts of Talent Beyond Boundaries and Jumpstart Refugee Talent on how they assist refugees by connecting them with employers seeking talent. This is a great opportunity for local employers looking to diversify their workforce with top talent from refugee sources, as well as for those just curious about this topic. Registration is still open here.
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The Immigration Partnership’s Social Inclusion Working Group is pleased to invite members and leaders of local ethno-cultural and faith groups to participate in the first in-person Multicultural Connections since 2019 . It will take place on June 4, 10am at Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery to talk about employment and voluntarism. On this occasion, participants will share their concerns and insights with Saifullah Muhammad of the Rohingya Community Centre, Fauzia Wafai of Muslim Women of Cambridge and Eliseo A. Martell of the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre. More details and Registration here.
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A place to call home! Many local landlords, groups and residents have stepped up to offer refugees in Waterloo Region a place where stay and the opportunity for a fresh start in our region! We want to meet them. We want to thank them. We want to recognize their generosity and commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive community. Do you know any of them? Please consider nominating those who have gone the extra mile to provide affordable housing solutions for recent immigrants and refugees in Waterloo Region. All the details here.
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For more details on these events and other immigration, anti-racism and community initiatives, follow us on our social media accounts!
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Community Partner Highlights
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Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
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The KW Multicultural Centre (KWMC) and YMCA Immigrant Services are remotely serving newcomers across Waterloo Region.
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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.
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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.
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In Cambridge, the YMCA is providing interpretation services (phone or video conferencing) remotely. Languages include: Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, Persian, Dari, Pashto, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish. If you require an interpreter email interpretations@ckw.ymca.ca.
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Reception House Waterloo Region is remotely serving government-assisted refugees. Refugee arrivals are ongoing in Waterloo Region.
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COMPASS Refugee Centre (formerly MCRS) is remotely serving refugee claimants for claim and settlement supports. Virtual Ready Tours in preparation for hearings are now available through COMPASS. They also provide safe, in-office access to virtual hearings for claimants who need I.T. support and confidential space.
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Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre continues to meet the health needs of refugees. Call ahead.
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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.
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St. Louis LINC and ESL. Mode of delivery is stated on each program areas’ webpages. It is possible that the mode of delivery for any program may change during the course of the year. Visit website for updates.
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Conestoga LINC language classes. Due to COVID-19, all classes are currently being held on Zoom and through emailed practice activities.
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Refugee Integration Updates |
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On April 27, an online information session hosted by FaithLife Financial was held to learn about the donation matching initiative to support Ukrainian refugees in our community. In the session, our e xecutive director, Tara Bedard, shared some facts about how local agencies and community organizations help refugees and how donations will help Ukrainian refugees settle in our community. Watch the recording here.
Donate today, double your impact! Monetary contributions to the Faithlife Financial Donation Matching Initiative can be done here. They are matching donations up to $15,000 into the Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives.
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Visit www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/ukraine to learn how residents of Waterloo Region can support the Ukrainians coming to Canada. In addition, visitors will find helpful information and tools shared by the federal government specifically for Ukrainian individuals and families such as service access instructions, welcome to Canada checklist, SIN for Newcomers, etc.
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Covid- 19 Information and Resources |
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This survey, conducted between Nov 26 and Dec 23, 2021, provides insights into the experiences and reflections of frontline settlement workers in Ontario beyond the first wave of the pandemic that are critical to the sector itself and policymakers from all levels of government who are concerned with the integration of migrants. The survey was undertaken in collaboration with OCASI by the Building Migrant Resilience in Cities/ Immigration et résilience en milieu urbain (BMRC-IRMU).
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Other Information and Resources |
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Did You Recently Get your Canadian Citizenship? Get Ready to Vote in the
Upcoming Provincial Election. Information in Several languages
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Exercise your right to vote! Calling all immigrants and new citizens in Waterloo Region to vote in the upcoming provincial election on June 2. This is your chance to be heard and participate in Canadian politics. Find all the information about where and how to vote and what is required here.
Ontario Election Information in several languages. Important information on how to mark your ballot, accepted ID you must provide to vote and the Ontario Voting Guide has been translated into 38 languages, including English, Français (French), العربية (Arabic), 한국어 (Korean), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ (Punjabi), Español (Spanish), தமிழ் மொழி (Tamil), Українська (Ukrainian), Tagalog, 中文 (简体) (Simplified Chinese), Português (Portuguese), اردو (Urdu) and other languages. Access the translated information here.
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This is a $15 million, attestation-based grant that will provide funds to faith-based and cultural organizations to increase safety and security measures. Eligible applicants must host regular gatherings (i.e., at least once a month) of religious, spiritual or cultural significance. Hosting these gatherings must be a primary activity of the applicant.
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The April #IntlEdNow Twitter chat organized by World Education Services (WES) explored what the higher education community is doing to help not only Ukrainian students and international students fleeing Ukraine, but also displaced students globally. Here is a summary on some of the key insights of that conversation.
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As we enter the third year of the pandemic, the time is opportune for Canada to assess the impact on immigration-related programs, the government response and the degree to which these programs have recovered. See this analysis presented by Policy Options Magazine which contrasts pre- and post-pandemic programs for the period 2018-21 across permanent and temporary immigration, international students and citizenship.
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The Conference Board shares what Human Resources leaders told them they are planning to do to make a difference on the long-term impact of this humanitarian crisis. These insights will help organization adopt, adapt or be inspired to take action.
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This report led by the Migration Policy Institute examines the different narratives that tend to emerge in communities welcoming forced migrants, looking at a variety of geographic, socioeconomic, and historical contexts. It also explores two categories of interventions that aim to address negative narratives about refugees and asylum seekers: information campaigns that aim to defuse threat narratives and “contact-building” initiatives that seek to build connections between refugees and host communities.
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National Day of Action Against Anti-Asian Racism |
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May 10 is National Day of Action Against Anti-Asian Racism. Tomorrow, join the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion at 1pm ET for this interactive panel where Asian leaders gather to share insights on the progress of Canada's readiness to denounce and address anti-Asian racism. This webinar will be offered in English with live French interpretation and closed captioning in both languages.
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Virtual Events and Webinars |
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Online English and French Conversation Circles, Mondays and Tuesday in May and June, 3-4:30pm |
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Newcomers looking to improve their communication skills in English and French, make new friendships, learn about community resources and stay connected, YMCA of Three Rivers is offers conversation circles on Mondays and Tuesdays during May and June. |
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Tonight: Watch Asian Heritage Month Celebration on Facebook Live, May 9, 6:30pm
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Everyone is invited to tune in to the Asian Heritage Month National celebration on Facebook Live at 6:30pm (ET), May 9, 2022. This live event highlighting this year’s theme and celebrating the 20th anniversary of the official declaration of May as Asian Heritage Month will feature performances, tributes, interviews and much more! |
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A Walk in the Park. Newcomers 55 and Over, May 10- June 28, 12-2pm |
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The Cambridge Newcomer Outreach Program invites Newcomers 55 in cambridge to join its 'A Walk in the Park" activity to enjoy social time with other seniors in their community, become more comfortable speaking Discuss the Canadian culture, food, healthcare system, and other topics English in a group setting. More information, email at info@kinbridge.ca or call 226-789-0469. |
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The State Of Global Human Mobility More Than Two Years Into The Pandemic, May 10, 9am ET |
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How has the situation evolved in the second year of the pandemic? What steps have governments been taking to restart international travel and migration in safe and efficient ways? This discussion will examine the state of mobility during the second and now third years of the pandemic. The conversation accompanies the launch of a new IOM-Migration Policy Institute (MPI) report that draws from the IOM database to sketch the state of mobility across world regions.
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Crisis in Ukraine: Implications for the Health and Settlement Sector, May 11, 1pm |
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As the humanitarian crisis unfolds in Ukraine, professionals from the health and settlement sector across Canada have been preparing for the arrival of evacuees from Ukraine and have even begun to support new arrivals. This panel brings together professionals from the health and settlement sector. Panelists will describe how they have prepared to welcome evacuees from Ukraine and what differences and/or challenges they have seen or anticipating seeing as they support evacuees from Ukraine. |
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A Walk in the Park. Young Mothers Group, May 12-30, 12-2pm |
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The Cambridge Newcomer Outreach Program is organizing "A walk in the Park" event for newcomer youth 29 and under in cambridge to enjoy social time with other young mothers in their community, become more comfortable speaking Discuss the Canadian culture, food, healthcare system, and other topics English in a group setting. More information, email at info@kinbridge.ca or call 226-789-0469. |
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Join the Achēv webinar to learn about the free, 13-week Ready, Set, Start Program for internationally trained Accountants and Nurses. The following topics will be covered: Application support, sector-specific English language training, labour market information, possible financial incentives and support in finding employment. |
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Positive Sponsors Experiences – Telling the Stories and Sharing the Success, May 25, 1-2:30pm EST |
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In this Roundtable, the OCASI's Allies for Refugee Integration program (ARI) will share positive examples of sponsorship experiences and success stories, as well as positive examples of sponsors and settlement organizations working together to support newcomers, how settlement organizations and sponsorship agreement holders can further contribute to the success of private sponsors and the value of connecting sponsors together to share their stories and more.
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Is Multiculturalism Compatible with Nationalism? May 26, 9:30am-3:30pm EDT |
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This CERC in Migration and Integration workshop builds on the relevant literature by political theorists, political scientists and sociologists to discuss whether multiculturalism is compatible with nationalism and whether there are feasible forms of ‘progressive patriotism’ today, which would redefine liberal nationalism in more inclusive ways. |
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COVID 19 Coverage and other News |
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