Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
April 19, 2021


We are in this together but impacted unequally.
Let’s help everyone stay healthy, Waterloo Region.
Immigration Partnership Updates
Misinformation and disinformation about vaccines is negatively impacting our health decisions, vaccine acceptance and trust in immunization advice from public health and healthcare professional. We have updated our COVID-19 and Immigration in Waterloo Region webpage with the latest multilingual vaccine resources from reliable sources:


  • A third Vaccine Bulletin developed by Women’s College Hospital, Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, TAIBU Community Health Centre and Refugee 613 is now available. It explaining who the vaccines were tested on and why the vaccines were tested on people of ethnically and racially diverse backgrounds. The bulletin is available in 12 languages: Arabic, Bengali, English, Farsi, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, and Urdu.
April 21: "#ImmigrantsWork Initiative Comes To Waterloo Region" Webinar
Area employers are invited to join a new webinar of the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce’s Manulife Business Success Series, in partnership with the Immigration Partnership, to learn about "#ImmigrantsWork", a pilot project with a business-focused approach that we are pleased to bring to the Region with World Education Services. Participants will also hear about the current state of immigration in Canada and how to inform future solutions for the age-old problem of immigrant talent access and job mismatch. Registration now open.
Community Partner Updates 
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
Federal, Provincial and Local Updates
Immigration
Measures
To learn more about other measures or changes on Immigration legislation,
visit the

The Government of Canada is rolling out a one-time special immigration program to grant permanent residence to 90,000 essential workers and international graduates who are actively contributing to fighting the pandemic and accelerating Canada's economic recovery.


Six thousand caregiver applications will be prioritized by the end of 2021; 1,500 by June 30, 2021. More information.
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.
COVID-19 Information and Resources

Starting April 20, 2021, select pharmacies across the province are booking appointments for AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for eligible people ages 40 or older in 2021. You must have an appointment to get vaccinated at a participating pharmacy. Contact a participating pharmacy near you to book an appointment.

This Statistics Canada article focuses on vaccine willingness among certain populations that may have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, among people designated as a visible minority, 74.8% reported being very or somewhat willing to receive the vaccine.

Self-screening kits are available for small and medium sized businesses (up to 150 employees) in Waterloo Region to slow and contain the spread of COVID in workplaces. It is brought by the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, Cambridge Chamber of Commerce and Communitech. To order your FREE workplace self screening kits, visit chambercheck.ca.  

A new Statistic Canada report brings together diverse findings that illuminate changes in quality of life since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and provides valuable insights through examining these results through a well-being lens.
Other Information and Resources

The Volunteer Action Centre Waterloo Region invites you to share a volunteer story of someone you know during the National Volunteer Week that runs from April 18 to 24 to recognize the significant contributions of volunteers in our community. More information here.

Vincent Bowry, member of the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region and co-founder of the Waterloo Region Black Innovation Centre, talks in this CBC article about a new innovation hub that wants to support local Black entrepreneurs through mentorship, funding and acceleration programs. More information with Craig Norris in "The Morning Edition - K-W." 

Shelley Campagnola, Executive Director of Compass Refuge Centre, is one of the authors of "Finding Refuge in Canada: Narratives of Dislocation," a collection of personal narratives about the refugee experience in Canada. There will be an virtual event this Tuesday, April 20, organized by the Waterloo Public Library to launch the book and speak with the authors.

Organizations interested in applying to become a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) in 2021, the application submission period is from April 30 to July 30. The organization must have been incorporated for at least two years to be eligible to apply to become a SAH. Learn more about other eligibility requirements on the IRCC website.

This report from Migration Policy Institute and the Durable Solutions Platform offers examples of promising initiatives that promote the resilience of refugees and host communities, and examines how they might apply to the Syrian refugee context.

A recording of this Canadian Institute of Health Research webinar is now available. Topics include: Virtual mental health accessibility for immigrant populations, understanding clients needs in a changed work environment and access to virtual services for government assisted refugees. More info here.
Covid-19 and Community Virtual Events and Webinars
Talk2WomenInTrades: Session 4, April 20, 6-6:45pm
Rewarding careers in the trades are for everyone. Conestoga's School of Trades and Apprenticeship will host a virtual Talk2WomenInTrades session to explore career pathways and future job opportunities. This session will feature guest speaker Ashley Stirbys-Boshcoff, Millwright Apprentice to to learn how she decided to get into the skilled trades the pathway Ashley followed to get into the trades and more.
Tech Jam From Home- Virtual Job Fair, April 22, 12-5pm
Join Communitech for its "Tech Jam From Home" where Canadian companies of all sizes will participate by hosting virtual booths and showcasing their open roles. Job seekers can attend to check out both tech and non-tech positions, learn more about participating companies, attend live video sessions, chat in real-time with company reps and more.
Join Idea Exchange to practice your English speaking skills while you connect with other parents in town. Each weekly meeting will include a pop-in visit by a local organization with family related resources to share. Then we will enjoy a group activity, followed by some small group time to chat with new friends about all things parenting.
COVID-19 Vaccines: Status & Supporting Vulnerable Populations, April 22, 1-4pm
The Connecting Ottawa 2021 Conference will address the status of COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario, vaccine myths and hesitancy, and legal issues related to immigration and travel and employment. See here Full agenda for the conference.
Using Canva for Business, April 21, 6:30-7:30pm
This free Waterloo Region Small Business Centre webinar will teach participants how to use Canva to create graphics for social media, website and marketing materials to expand their online brand. 
What Are Entry Jobs Really About? Transportation and Agriculture Edition, Apr 22, 4-5pm
Did you know you can gain good-waged employment without earning a degree? The Workforce Planning Board is hosting this online event for youth to learn about some entry-level jobs that do not require post-secondary education and need only short-term training. More information on upcoming sessions on Film Industry and Health Care here.
CMW Coalition of Muslim Women of KW Needs Assessment Report Launch,
April 27, 4:30-6pm
With funding from Department of Women and Gender Equality, Coalition of Muslim Women of KW hired Common Cause Consulting to conduct a Needs Assessment for Muslim women to determine the programming and services needs of Muslim Women within Waterloo Region. This comprehensive study is first of its kind in Waterloo region and will be presented on April 27.
Converging Crises in long-term care, health system inequities, and federal-provincial relations, Apr 23, 30 & May 7, 2pm
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is hosting a series of three online events on long-term care and health system reform in Canada: Session1: Learning from past health care reform efforts, April 23. Registration. Session2: Strategies for Moving Forward., April 30 Registration. Session 3: A human rights based approach to equity in health and seniors care, May 7. Registration.
Converging Crises in long-term care, health system inequities, and federal-provincial relations, Apr 23, 30 & May 7, 2pm
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) is hosting a series of three online events on long-term care and health system reform in Canada: Session1: Learning from past health care reform efforts, April 23. Registration. Session2: Strategies for Moving Forward., April 30 Registration. Session 3: A human rights based approach to equity in health and seniors care, May 7. Registration.
QueerKPL Book Club, April 28, 6-7pm
Samra Habib, 2020 Lambda Literary Award Winner, will share her feelings and thoughts in this Kitchener Public Library event while introducing her new book “We Have Always Been Here.” She will share her journey of becoming refugee and experience living in Canada.
Telling Stories Celebrating Diversity in Local Community, April 29, 6:30pm
Do you know the history that lives where you live? Do you know the value of your new neighbours, different from you both culturally and physically? Woolwich Township with Bring on the Sunshine are hosting an interactive discussion to explore new ways of coming together and building on the strengths of the community.
COVID 19 Coverage and other News




Ford government backtracks on playground closures Kitchener Today, April 18, 2021






Waterloo Region reaches vaccination milestone Kitchener toda, April 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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