Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
June 28, 2021
We reaffirm our Commitment to Anti-Racism
With each passing week, acts of hate and racism, past and present, are brought to light or take place that impact members of Waterloo Region’s Indigenous, Black, Muslim and other racialized communities. In recent weeks, the remains of more than 1,000 Indigenous children and youth have been counted in unmarked gravesites at former residential “schools” – this horrifying tally will continue to climb as new locations are investigated. Numerous Islamophobic attacks targeting Muslim women and spaces have taken place across Canada.

Last week, the Immigration Partnership Council discussed hate and racism incidents and how the Immigration Partnership should respond in ways that are meaningful and respectful of our community. Our partners were clear – residents of Waterloo Region are grieving, they face recurring incidence of trauma, and they do not feel safe and supported.

The Immigration Partnership unequivocally denounces hate and racism in all forms. We reaffirm our Commitment to Anti-Racism. We are committed to acting solidarity with Black, Indigenous and other Racialized residents of Waterloo Region. We will support the efforts of community based organizations leading anti-hate and anti-racism efforts in the region. We will continue to engage in self-reflection and work to help build community capacity for change.

We believe in a community that is welcoming of all and where everyone belongs.
Honouring Lost Children. Sacred Fired

Last week the remains of 751 Indigenous children and youth were counted in unmarked graves near the former Marieval Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan.

Every child matters. We honour their memory and offer our deepest condolences to their loved ones and all Indigenous peoples in Waterloo Region and across Canada.

The Healing of the Seven Generations has lit a Sacred Fire in Kitchener to remember and honour the survivors and the children lost at residential schools. Those who wish to honour the children can donate or visit the site on Frederick Street and participate in the closing ceremony on July 1st at 2pm.
Immigration Partnership Updates
YOU DID IT! #ImmigrantSurvey Goal Surpassed - 1545 Responses!
We are thrilled to share the resounding success of the 2021 #ImmigrantSurvey: 1545 people born outside Canada and now in Waterloo Region shared what matters to them, exceeding our goal of hearing from 1500 immigrants:

  • 1162 survey responses in English
  • 383 survey responses in other languages

All in a pandemic! We want to express our immense gratitude to all 1545 immigrants in Waterloo Region who took the time to complete the survey. We would also like to thank our partners, cultural communities and other members of the community for your incredible support in promoting the survey through social media and other platforms to colleagues, clients, friends, family and more. This is your survey and without you, this would not have been possible!

The data is now being compiled and analyzed. Check back in the Fall to learn from the results.
Sharing Local Business Experience During the Pandemic - 60 Successes in 60 Minutes
Join the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce for the final Manulife Business Success Series webinar of the season on July 7 at 1pm where local businesses will share their successes from the past year and how they achieved it. At the end of the hour, owners and employers will also walk away with 60 ideas that they could implement into their own business. Registration is free.
Follow us on our social media platforms for more immigration events and news!
Community Partner Updates 
Immigrant Services and Interpretation 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
COVID-19 Information and Resources
What Can People Who Are Fully Vaccinated do?
The Public Health Agency of Canada released new colour-coded guidance on what you can safely do if you are fully, partially or not vaccinated. More information here.

The purpose of this Statistics Canada article is to provide information on how employer businesses have used the Government of Canada’s CEWS program, how use differed by industry and business size, and the characteristics of businesses that have used CEWS. 

A new article released today in Economic and Social Reports highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected economic activity in the provinces and territories. For instance, manufacturing sales in Ontario were severely impacted at the beginning of the pandemic, as shutdowns in the auto sector led to record declines before production ramped up as initial restrictions eased. Learn more here.
Other Information and Resources
The Latest Data on Permanent Resident Arrivals to Waterloo Region 

Quick Facts:
  • There were 1,225 new permanent resident arrivals to Waterloo Region in the first quarter of 2021. This is 11% higher than 2020 Q1 and 41% higher than 2019 Q1.  
  • So far in 2021, 60% of new arrivals have come to Kitchener, 25% to Waterloo and 15% to Cambridge.  On a monthly basis, April 2021 arrivals moved even higher with 540 new arrivals during the month - the highest monthly total since February 2016 during the height of the Syrian resettlement process. 
  • So far in 2021, Waterloo Region has received the 5th highest number of new arrivals among Ontario census divisions - Toronto received 20,945 in the first 4 months of 2021, Peel: 7,925, Ottawa: 3,065, York: 3,140, and Waterloo Region: 1,765 (ahead of Halton, Hamilton, London/Middlesex, and other municipalities).

The new guide will give aspiring Canadians an unpolished picture of Canada’s history, including extensive information on its darker moments such as the Treaties and the history of residential schools; the history of slavery in Canada and the Underground Railroad; discrimination against Chinese immigrants through the head tax; the Komagata Maru incident that saw more than 350 South Asian migrants denied entry to Canada; and more.

To support the increased refugee targets under the 2021–23 Immigration Levels Plan, this CFP will help build capacity in communities where government-assisted refugees will be resettled. This process will fund new resettlement service providers under IRCC’s Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP), as well as projects that enhance the delivery of case management services under the IRCC Settlement Program in specific communities.

This Policy Points publication by the International Migration Research Centre (IMRC) investigates the importance of interpretation and translation services in resettling and integrating refugee and immigrant newcomers within the Waterloo Region.  In interviews and survey responses, participants identified interpretation services as an important part of living in diverse communities.

Your Voice Against Racism is a campaign by local newspapers that aims to shine a spotlight on diverse and marginalized communities in a series of photo essays discussing diversity and inclusion and social justice with a goal of creating change in our communities. Want to join the conversation? Send your answer to the question: "How can our community fight racism together?" along with your photo to editorial@waterloochronicle.ca.

From October 6-8, Metropolis Canada and the Association for Canadian Studies will host Metropolis Canada’s 4th Annual Forum on Measuring Identities: Multiculturalism @50: Diversity, Inclusion and Eliminating Racism. The Forum has extended the deadline until July 7 for submissions for workshops, roundtables and individual presentations. Details here.

Rangers Reach – Kitchener Rangers Community Fund is encouraging BIPOC students in Waterloo Region to apply for a $1,000 scholarship to be used at a Canadian post-secondary institution of their choosing. The deadline for completed and signed submissions is Monday July 26th, 2021 at 5:00 p.m.

Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) is calling for proposals for its 2021 Virtual OCASI Professional Development Conference. The conference will bring together frontline workers, program coordinators and managers from OCASI member agencies and other refugee and immigrant serving organizations. It will be held in a virtual space on October 20-22. Deadline for submissions: Monday, July 19, 2021.

The Settlement and Integration Sector at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) presents the very first Settlement Outcomes Highlights Report. This report is the first in a series of publications that will explore the settlement and integration outcomes of newcomers to Canada. Compiled from existing data and research, it includes evidence on both clients of IRCC’s Settlement Program and non-clients.
Covid-19 and Community Virtual Events and Webinars
Let us Stop Hate by Reporting It virtual Session, June 30, 8:30pm
The Coalition of Muslim Women- KW invites the Turkish Community for an important virtual session about hate crimes, hate incidents, and discrimination motivated by racism, Islamophobia, Xenophobia and how to report them.
This session will be in English with the peer worker Seminur Okan with Ekram Al Momani as a guest speaker.
Life in Canada Webinar for Somali Community, July 1, 7:30-8:30pm
The Coalition of Muslim Women- KW invites Somali Community on July 1 at 7: 30 pm to talk about "Life in Canada:" What are the challenges, concerns, suggestions, where to seek help, policies and regulations.
Workplace Sexual Harassment Information Workshop in Tigrinya and English, June 29, 6-7:30pm
Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre and Waterloo Region Community Legal Service host this interactive discussion about legal issues surrounding workplace sexual harassment. It will discuss inappropriate and harassing behaviours in the workplace and how to address those issues with your employer.
Before You Apply to Sponsor, July 6,
3-5pm
Join this interactive webinar by Refugee Sponsorship and Resettlement programs that will provide the key information about engaging in the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. Attendees will learn about sponsorship: who is eligible to be sponsored, who can be a sponsor, the cost of sponsorship, and an overview of the application process.
Let's Be Neighbours- Newcomers' English Conversation Circle for Seniors, July 6-Aug 24, 4-5pm
Let's Be Neighbours- Newcomers' English Conversation Circle for Seniors by the Kinbridge Community Association is designed to support seniors throughout their settlement and resettlement journey. It offers seniors opportunities to improve their English language skills. More information, email rihanate@kinbridge.ca or call 2267890469.
Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program: Preparing a Settlement Plan, July 9, 3-5pm
This interactive webinar will provide an in-depth look at the financial and settlement responsibilities of sponsors under the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) program: Why the settlement plan is central to the application, how to calculate the application budget, where to find the application guide and how to read it with ease.
Let's Be Neighbours- Art based workshop for newcomer seniors, July 8-Aug 26, 4-5pm
Enjoy social time while learning about including art in your life. Meet other members of the community.  
More info with newcomer staff at rihanate@kinbridge.ca or call 2267890469. This program is offered by the Kinbridge Community Association in partnership with the City of Cambridge and is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Pandemic Recovery: Building Resilience Workshop, July 25, 6:30-8pm
Join the Canadian Muslim COVID-19 Task Force for an evening workshop, with both spiritual and medical leaders, on building resilience during the recovery stage of the pandemic.
COVID 19 Coverage and other News








Your Voice Against Racism: Karl Nieva Waterloo Chronicle, June 25, 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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