Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
January 25, 2021

Stay healthy, Waterloo Region. We are in this together.

Immigration Partnership Updates
ICYMI! Check out the recording of last week’s “Increasing Work Opportunities for Newcomers Through an Anti-racist Approach” webinar hosted as part of the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce’s Manulife Business Success Series together with the Immigration Partnership. In an open conversation, our expert Evelyn Amponsah talked with employers about progress not perfection, becoming anti-racist, equity tools in the workplace to increase newcomer hiring, and much more. 
Region of Waterloo "In This Together" Campaign
Materials in Multiple languages
As we get through the current lockdown and all the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Region of Waterloo encourages its residents to participate in the "In this Together" campaign. The campaign poster is available in 12 languages – share through social networks with the hashtag #BeKindWR, or print and display it in windows to show mutual support during these tough times. 


Go to  https://www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/covid19/ for more Covid-19 multilingual resources to share with your neighbours, clients and community organizations working with immigrants.
Community Partner Updates 
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
Food Assistance Outreach During the Pandemic

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Food Bank of Waterloo Region has been working together with community programs and agency partners to ensure the continued delivery of services throughout the Community Food Assistance Network. An up-to-date list of vital service programs is now available: thefoodbank.ca/network/map/. You will find a network map at the bottom of this webpage where food assistance programs are identified and program information is available. 

More information regarding food assistance programming in Waterloo Region and to request delivery of a food hamper to their household in Kitchener, Waterloo or Cambridge, email info@thefoodbank.ca, or call 519-743-5576 ex. 340.
Federal, Provincial and Local Updates
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.

Any passengers travelling to Canada who have been in the United Kingdom, South Africa or Brazil in the previous 14 days will be subject to secondary screening and increased scrutiny of quarantine plans.
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.

The purpose of these newsletters is to keep local stakeholders and community members informed about the coordinated response to the evolving COVID-19 coordinated response.  



Vaccines continues to be rolled out in the region based on the availability of supply. The recent announcement from Pfizer of a decrease in the Canadian allocation of vaccine has resulted in a need to rework the current vaccine clinic plan for the Grand River Hospital clinic. The reduction in supply is due to Pfizer retooling its production line so they are able to produce increased volumes of vaccine in the months ahead.
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

This World Education Services (WES) survey on the impact of the pandemic on recents immigrants reports that a significant portion of newcomers have lost jobs and income and cannot meet their basic needs. The results come from 7,496 responses across three surveys conducted in April, June, and August 2020.

The Region of Waterloo has launched a COVID-19 vaccine webpage with FAQs to answer questions such as what is the status of COVID-19 vaccination in Waterloo Region, when vaccines will be available to the broader public in the region, etc. Also, check the Novel Coronavirus webpage. Use the pages' translate feature to translate the information into many different languages.

In this Cambridge Times article, three tax experts give advice on how to prepare for the upcoming tax season, and what to expect if you received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit or the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

The Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo, Wellington, and Dufferin is asking employers to take part in its survey focused on finding out how businesses and youth can better navigate through the current pandemic. Preliminary findings show that improvement of youth employment depends on the wellbeing and prosperity of the employers.

Do you have an idea to help make your neighbourhood more caring and vibrant during the pandemic? Apply for the neighbourhood Matching Fund which provides up to $7,500 in support of projects. It is funded by the City of Waterloo, Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation and the United Way Waterloo Region Communities.
Other Information and Resources
Statistics Canada reported that from July 1, 2019, to July 1, 2020, Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo recorded the fastest growing population after Oshawa and along with Halifax, Kelowna, Calgary and Saskatoon despite Covid-19. Waterloo Region continues to rely on Immigration as its main source of population growth!
Read this preliminary report from the Settlement Sector and Technology Task Group (managed by AMSSA, reporting to IRCC’s National Settlement and Integration Council (NSIC)) which is working to discover, examine, and learn about the settlement sector’s needs to successfully implement digital and hybrid service delivery models.

The Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo, Wellington, and Dufferin Launches the Skills Advance Ontario "Drive Forward" program for job seekers in search of a long-term career and who may consider a career in truck driving. This program will help these employment candidates get into industry-approved training to start their careers.
Resources for Spending Time at Home during COVID-19
Agencies and organizations from all across the Region have come together to create a packed week of literacy-related programming for the entire family. There will be storytimes, games, activities, special performances and much more! Play, Talk, Read, Sing and Write from the comfort of home! Tune in daily or at a time that is convenient.
See the full schedule & register here: http://bit.ly/famlit2021
Virtual Events and Webinars
COVID-19's Impact on Canadian Immigration, Settlement & Labour Market, Jan 26, 11am-12pm
Join the Skills for Change's virtual event to discuss the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canadian Immigrants and refugees, the impact on the immigrant and refugee settlement sector and the implications on the future of the Canadian labour market.
The Need for an Intercultural Foundation for Parenting Programs with Immigrants, Jan 26, 1-2pm
The Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project presents a webinar to explain how using intercultural theory is necessary for developing culturally aware content to reach immigrant communities according to the Intercultural Education team of Catholic Social Services' Parenting in 2 Cultures Program.
Migrant Women and Human Trafficking: a Critical Introduction from a Feminist and Rights-Based Lens, Jan 27, 1 pm
The National Newcomer Navigation Network is hosting this event to increase frontline workers’ awareness on the issue of human trafficking and to better understand its manifestations; consider how systemic inequities and other factors may make migrant women vulnerable to trafficking in Canada; and talk about other issues related to migrant women and human trafficking.
Ergonomics for Performance at Work,
Jan 27, 1-2 pm
This Greater K-W Chamber of Commerce`s webinar provides education for maximizing worker performance and preventing injury.  The webinar will discuss a variety of strategies including physical office (and home office) set-up, cognitive techniques, administrative strategies, and behavioural modification.
Maintaining Permanent Residency in Canada, Jan 28, 1pm
Join Mennonite New Life Centre (MNLCT) for an informative session about maintaining permanent residency in Canada. Members of MNLCT’s well-experienced Settlement Team will discuss issues related to permanent resident card and permanent residency status for immigrants and refugees.
Thinking About Ethics in the Context of Refugee Experience, Feb 3, 1pm
This National Newcomer Navigation Network virtual event will describe conventional approaches to managing ethical considerations,novel ethical challenges raised by working with refugee communities and much more.
#CausesThatMatter Annual Grant Information Session, Feb 4, 1:30-2:30 pm
#CausesthatMatter is an information session of the Cambridge and North Dumfries Community Foundation held each year.  It provides an opportunity for local charities and non-profit organizations to learn about the application process, and to ask questions.
The Future of Managing Remote Employees, Feb 11, 11:30am-12:30pm
Communitech is hosting a panel discussion with three Waterloo-based leaders who have led their teams through this transition for some practical insights into what worked, what failed and whether they plan to continue remote work beyond the pandemic. This event is best for remote workers, managers and people leaders leading remote teams.
Momentum: The Power of Collective Resilience , Feb 18 and 19
Join the Resilience Project for a virtual, interactive thought leader event where speakers from around the world and right next door share their unique perspectives on resilience. Participants will explore concepts, challenging themselves to apply them to  their work and daily lives. EARLY BIRD PRICING ends January 31, 2021.
Ride-a-Bus orientation session, Jan 27 and Feb 2, 1:30-2:30pm
The Waterloo Region Age Friendly Committee with leadership from Grand River Transit (GRT) are offering Ride-a-Bus training/orientation to older adults in the community. Even though the Region is recommending no non-essential travel at this time, the Zoom sessions on how to use the bus and ION systems provide practical information for the future. Click here to register for the Feb 2 event.
Canadian Immigration Virtual Summit, May 26-27
Now in its seventh year, the Canadian Immigration Virtual Summit will explore how COVID-19 is impacting the immigration system and the lives of newcomers. It will also ask how Canada can leverage immigration to speed up economic recovery while continuing to offer a good quality of life for newcomers from around the world.
COVID 19 Coverage and other News
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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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