Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
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Immigration Partnership News |
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Recording Available: "Waterloo Region's White Supremacy Awareness & Action"
Workshop with Selam Debs
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In April, members of the Immigration Partnership, Children and Youth Planning Table and Wellbeing Waterloo Region had the opportunity to participate in the workshop "Waterloo Region's White Supremacy Awareness & Action" facilitated by Selam Debs, Anti-Racism Coach, Consultant and Trainer specializing in anti-Black racism, equity, inclusion and implicit bias awareness.
In the workshop, participants reflected on how whiteness is socially reproduced as the aspirational default; characteristics of white supremacy culture; how this impacts all of us, even very early on in young children; and much more. ICYM! A recording of the workshop is available here - It will only be available until June 9.
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Immigration Partnership is pleased to partner with the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce to present the next of its Manulife Business Success Series webinars on May 18 at 1pm. In this session, local employers will learn about the work permit process and the Global Skills Strategy. They will also receive information on where employers can find foreign workers and how they can retain them through permanent residence programs like Express Entry. More details and registration 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, Roberto Villamar of the Immigration Partnership's Work steering Group and Eliseo A. Martell of the Kitchener Downtown Community Health Centre. More details and Registration 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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KWCF Launches Community Engagement Toolkit |
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Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation has recently launched a Community Engagement Toolkit to help developers, not for profits and others in the affordable housing space engage residents in the development of places and spaces. Learn more and download the toolkit: www.kwcf.ca/news/engagementtoolkit.
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The Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion of the Region of Waterloo, Fauzia Baig, invites community organizations to be part of a community conversation that will inform the decision-making on how the new Upstream fund will work. This $2.1 million annual fund will support community driven action that aligns with the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan. This will support a variety of action including Truth and Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and improving the Social Determinants of health for all.
Those interested in hosting a conversation or participating in one held by a community group (to be determined) or the Region (Thursday, May 19, 6-7:30pm or Thursday, May 26, 2:30-4pm), please complete this contact information form. Additionally, those interested in providing online feedback can complete in this survey by June 3rd.
In addition, the Region is committed to supporting partners in exploring an alternative mental health & addiction crisis response model for the community. To learn more and be a part of this process, please email Fanis Juma at FJuma@regionofwaterloo.ca.
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Refugee Integration Updates |
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Donate today, double your impact! FaithLife Financial has partnered with the Immigration Partnership to support Ukrainian refugees in our community. They are matching donations up to $15,000 into the Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives!
Donations can be done here.
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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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Other Information and Resources |
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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.
We also encourage you to attend the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce's Provincial Election Local Candidate Forums this week. Admission is free:
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Waterloo Riding on Tuesday, May 17, 10-11:30am. Register here.
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Kitchener Centre Riding on Tuesday, May 17, 2:30-4pm. Register here.
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Kitchener-Conestoga Riding on Thursday, May 19, 10-11:30am. Register here.
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Kitchener South-Hespeler Riding on Thursday, May 19, 2:30-4pm. Register here.
Ontario Election Information in several languages. Important information on how to mark a ballot, accepted ID to vote and the Ontario Voting Guide has been translated into 38 languages. To access this information, visit the Elections Ontario website.
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Recruiting internationally educated health-care professionals (IEHPs) to work in underserved communities is not new. However, challenges in keeping them in these communities persist. The Conversation brings the insights of immigration researchers who have documented the challenges of retaining newcomers in Canada’s small communities, with a recent focus on IEHPs.
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Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights |
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May 17 is a day to celebrate sexual and gender diversity and to reject the discrimination, violence and stigma that members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities continue to experience in Canada and globally. The theme for this year’s International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) is "Our Bodies, Our Lives, Our Rights," a reminder that everyone must have the right to make decisions about their bodies and their lives.
2SLGBTQ+ people are one of the most vulnerable groups worldwide that has to face many barriers to be recognized and respected. LGBTQ + immigrants even face unique challenges in accessing housing, safety, social services and work.
We have gathered some educational resources and information to raise awareness of why it is important to continue working to eliminate the current inequalities related to this group in Waterloo Region (WR).
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SPECTRUM —Waterloo Region's first-ever rainbow community space— welcomes newcomers and immigrants! Rainbow newcomers looking for support may be interested either in the Rainbow Multicultural Connect group or the legal aid clinic.
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The present study aims to extend the current literature by exploring the experiences of discrimination and its impacts on well‐being among racialised LGBTQ+ newcomers living in Waterloo Region and representing a variety of intersecting identities (i.e. ethno‐racial background, LGBTQ+ identity, newcomer status).
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For this Fact Sheet, Outlook worked in collaboration with the Solidarity Alliance, a Rainbow Community Council working group. Solidarity Alliance is an innovative partnership between local agencies committed to increasing safe access to services for LGBTQ immigrants and refugees in Waterloo Region.
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Virtual Events and Webinars |
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What Can We Learn From Development Interventions On How To Promote Inclusion And Reduce Xenophobia?
May 17, 8:30am ET
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This discussion will look at what has been effective to build socially cohesive and inclusive societies—including lessons from post-conflict settings on how to build intergroup trust—as well as examples of promising ideas on paper that may have fallen short in practice, and why. This event is being organized jointly by MPI, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Enabel (the Belgian Development Agency) on the margins of the first IMRF. |
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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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BVOR Special Info Series – Intercultural Communication Between Sponsors and Newcomers, May 18, 3-4:30pm EDT |
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This webinar is ideal for new sponsors, current sponsors and any volunteers looking to welcome newcomers whom they have not yet met, to Canada.During this free webinar, participants will learn about some common causes for misunderstanding and miscommunication between sponsors and newcomers. Accredited mediator, Rola Mustafa of TNG Community Services, will share with us about some tools, techniques and resources available in navigating cultural and language barriers to ensure that everyone understands each other and that common communication pitfalls are avoided. |
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Supporting Integration and Mental Health of Arabic Speaking Refugee Youth, May 19, 1:30-2:30pm |
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Join the Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project for its webinar series. In this webinar, Susan Brigham of the Mount Saint Vincent University and Marwa Khobieh of the Syrian Canadian Foundation (SCF) will share findings from their study with Arabic-speaking refugee youth and their mothers who participated in focus group interviews to explore their perceptions and experiences of trauma and developing coping skills as they settle in the Greater Toronto Area. |
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Overview of the Private Sponsorship of Refugees (PSR) Program in Tigrinya, May 20, 10-11am |
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The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program, in collaboration with the Immigrant Services Guelph-Wellington, is hosting a webinar in Tigrinya to offer an overview of the sponsorship process, eligibility and requirements, filling the forms and more. Language interpretation is available, based on need. Please register by Tuesday, May 17. |
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Virtual Job Information Fair for Black, Indigenous and Racialized Individuals, May 24, 6-7:30pm |
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The Waterloo Region District School Board is hosting a virtual job information fair for Black, Indigenous and racialized individuals. Following a large session, it will offer breakout rooms with Hiring Managers and Administrators for a variety of professional groups. More information here.
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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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Visibilité pour votre organisme ou entreprise à la Franco-Fête 2022 de l’AFKW, Samedi 18 juin 2022 - De 12h à 17h |
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L’AFKW souhaite faire connaitre les entreprises, les organismes et les gens qui offrent des services en français dans la région. Pour cela, lors de la Franco-Fête le 18 juin 2022, nous vous offrons la possibilité d’avoir un espace (max. 3 m x 3 m) alloué rien que pour vous! Vous pourrez offrir et présenter vos services et vos produits* en toute simplicité. Inscrivez-vous ici avant le 5 juin 2022 |
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COVID 19 Coverage and other News |
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