Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
March 15, 2021


We are in this together but impacted unequally.
Let’s help everyone stay healthy, Waterloo Region.
Immigration Partnership Updates
Employer Webinar Recordings Now Available
ICYMI! Check out the recordings of the latest webinars for employers we co-hosted with the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce and other partners to answer questions related to hiring and retaining diverse talent, the benefits of a diverse workforce, and the future of work and what that might mean for business:
Covid-19 Vaccine Information in Multiple Languages
Covid-19 Vaccine Information in Multiple Languages
Watch the Video: "How to use the Google Translate feature" to learn how to translate Covid-19 vaccine and other information in different languages on the Region of Waterloo Website with the click of a button: Go to the top of the page, click the plus sign beside the word “Translate” and select one of the many languages available.
Visit the Region of Waterloo Covid-19 Vaccination website to learn about who can get the vaccine, how to get a Covid-19 vaccination appointment, how the vaccines work, clinic locations and everything related to type of vaccines, side effects and precautions. Use the Google Translate feature to translate this information into one of over 90 languages. 
"Covid-19 Vaccine Side Effects" Infographic
Covid-19 Vaccine Bulletin 2
The second Covid-19 Vaccine Bulletin is now available in 12 LANGUAGES explaining how we got the vaccines so fast! This bulletin is a collaboration between Refugee 613, Women’s College Hospital, the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants and TAIBU Community Health Centre. See it in Français (French), العربية (Arabic), ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ (Punjabi), Español Spanish), 中文 (简体) (Simplified Chinese), اردو (Urdu) and other languages.
These and other useful multilingual resources and fact sheets on COVID-19 Vaccine can be found at  https://www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/covid19/ .
Community Partner Updates 
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
Next State of the City of Kitchener: March 25

The City of Kitchener invites residents to join the next State of the City meeting on March 25 from 8:45 to 10am to discuss Kitchener’s opportunities and challenges in the coming year and reflect on the work done as a community to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. More Information.
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.

Residents across Waterloo Region will soon have more options when choosing their vaccination location, as additional vaccination clinics open this month in anticipation of a more steady supply of vaccine coming to the Region. Residents who are eligible to receive the vaccine can book their appointment at any clinic location in Waterloo Region. 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
COVID-19 Information and Resources

To mark the one-year anniversary of the WHO’s declaration of the global pandemic, the Canadian Urban Institute has released a seminal report that shares new findings drawn from the opinions of 180,000 Canadians about how COVID-19 hit Canada’s largest cities, and how people felt throughout a year unlike any other.

Based on the results of this Statistics Canada survey, small businesses were more likely to experience a year-over-year decrease in revenue, and also less likely to be able to take on more debt and adopt or incorporate various technologies.

Check out the results from the Personal Protective Equipment Survey, developed by Statistics Canada in December 2020: The hand sanitizer was the type of personal protective equipment (PPE) which was ranked as the most essential to business operations in all sectors surveyed.
Other Information and Resources

Connected for Success is expanding eligibility for the program to new qualifying customers receiving income support through Ontario Works (OW), the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), and for senior Ontarians receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Eligible customers can apply through the Connected for Success website.

Canada's 50-30 Challenge, an initiative between the Government of Canada, business and diversity organizations, asks companies, organizations, and not-for-profits to make two aspirational commitments to increase diversity on Boards and in senior management over time, and report on their progress. Organization interested in participating in the 50 – 30 Challenge, please complete a form here.

This resource includes information on official documents and identification including permanent resident cards, social insurance and health cards as well as their significance to accessing services in Canada. This is a Resource Sheet is part of the Orientation to Canada initiative.  

This edition's highlights include information on whether sponsored refugees need to report the financial support they receive from sponsors when filing their tax return, as well as details of upcoming engagement meetings with IRCC in March and April 2021 for SAHs, along with their CGs and co-sponsors, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors.
Covid-19 and Community Virtual Events and Webinars
Social Media and the Newcomer Family, Mar 15, 3-4pm
Join the Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project webinar to provide a brief overview of how the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) benefit newcomer populations and their pitfalls to provide context to your service.
Understanding Social Inclusion and NIMBYism in Providing Affordable Housing, Mar 16, 10:30am
Kitchener Waterloo Association of Realtors is hosting a webinar to provide an overview of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s research around what leads to successful social inclusion and strategies to combat barriers to housing, employment and education.
Racialized Women in Canada: Gender-Based Violence and Inequality, Mar 17, 2-4pm
YWCA Canada is presenting a free online event about racialized women in Canada facing disproportionate levels of violence and significant barriers to gender equality, poor labour market outcomes, health inequities, and inequitable access to income support.
What Are Entry Jobs About? Sessions: Mar 18, 25, 4pm and Apr 15, 10am
Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo has created a series of events for youth and employers to connect and myth bust some of the common misconceptions about entry-level jobs and careers that do not require post-secondary education or need short-term training only.
United Voices: Finding Joy, Mar 23,
12-1pm
United Way Waterloo Region Communities is organizing a free event to share a simple formula for creating a happiness roadmap even during times of extreme uncertainty. By the end of this session, participants will be able to create a simple strategy for bringing more happiness and ease into your life.
Sponsoring Refugees During the Pandemic, March 29, 6-8pm
The Refugee Sponsorship Training Program invites members of Groups of Five and Community Sponsors to a virtual meeting with IRCC to talk about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on sponsors as well as sponsored.
Towards a New Migration and Asylum Research Agenda in the Americas, March 30, 12:30-2:30pm EDT
Join the Ryerson Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration and guests for presentations and discussion on research projects addressing the issues facing the Americas as the region is experiencing two significant forced migration crises, with the number of displaced people approaching that of the Syrian civil war.
Newcomer Nutrition During COVID-19, April 7, 1pm ET
National Newcomer Navigation Network is hosting a free webinar about the nutrition and health status of newcomer children during Covid-19.
COVID 19 Coverage and other News

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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