Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
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Immigration Partnership News | |
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Calling all our partners and friends! we are extending the deadline to this Thursday, October 20, seeking to hear your feedback on our collaborative work through the Immigration Partnership Partner Survey. Please complete the survey here: https://surveys.regionofwaterloo.ca/partnersurvey2022.
We are half-way into our 5 year strategy – this year’s survey is your chance to share feedback and suggestions to guide our collaborative work over the next 2.5 years. As we mark this year’s the second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, it is also your space to share input on how we engage in acts of Reconciliation in the context of our efforts to build community through immigration.
Your participation is vital. As a collaboration of many dynamic partners, your feedback on our progress in creating the conditions for immigrants to succeed and help build a welcoming, dynamic community for all is both appreciated and necessary to ensure we continue to have impact and add value in Waterloo Region.
The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete and several prizes are available.
If you have any questions contact Dan Vandebelt at dvandebelt@regionofwaterloo.ca or Tara Bedard at tbedard@regionofwaterloo.ca.
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A Brief Update on Immigration Levels in Waterloo Region
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Immigration Matters to Canada. The 2022-2024 Immigration Levels Plan was announced in February. It targets 431,645, 447,055 and 451,000 new permanent residents annually in that period, up from just over 405,000 in 2021:
Waterloo Region Welcomes Newcomers Every Day. From January – June 2022, we welcomed 4,400 new permanent residents to the region. That’s an increase in arrivals compared to 2021, when we welcomed 2,975 people in the same period. (IRCC data, 2022)
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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) is offering in-person services at its new location: 715 Fischer Hallman Rd, Suite 401, Kitchener.
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YMCA Immigrant Services is providing in-person and remote settlement services.
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The YMCA language assessment centre is doing online and in-person language assessments.
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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 serving government-assisted refugees in person and remotely. Refugee arrivals are ongoing in Waterloo Region.
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COMPASS Refugee Centre (formerly MCRS) is serving refugee claimants virtually and in person 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 classes offered morning and afternoon, both online and in-person this year. Evening and Saturday classes are not offered at this time. Please contact the YMCA first to get an English Language Assessments. Please email at intake@ytr.ymca.ca to make an appointment.
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Conestoga LINC language classes. Classes are currently held both on campus and online. When you register for class, a LINC technician will meet with you to help you get started.
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Participate in the 2022 Community Wellbeing Mini-Survey to have your voice heard and identify where change is needed in Waterloo Region. Wellbeing WR in collaboration with many community collaborators - including local organizations, local governments, and the Canadian Index of Wellbeing - are running this survey to check in on the community after over 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure we are working towards a community where everyone thrives and no one is left behind.
Participation in this survey is voluntary and confidential, and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
If you have any additional questions, please email hello@wellbeingwr.ca.
More information
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We Want to Hear from You: Share your First Job Experience as a Newcomer in Canada | |
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We encourage immigrants in Waterloo Region to participate in the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin's First Jobs Project by sharing their first job experiences as newcomers to Canada, skills they gained and the importance of their very first jobs.
The project consists of a series of videos that focuses on showcasing to youth and parents the skills that first job taught the participants and how it helped them to where they are today. An additional stream of videos will be focusing on first jobs as newcomers to Canada. The videos will be delivered through a variety of social media channels. The Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin team will be with you every step of the way.
If you are interested in participating in this project, please complete this form here. If you know someone else who might want to participate, please share this information with them.
For any questions or if more information is required please don't hesitate to reach out to Bennett MacDonald at bennett@workforceplanningboard.com.
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Refugee Integration Updates | |
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Supporting Afghan and Other Refugee Resettlement in Waterloo Region
Community members can support Afghan and other refugees arriving in the region in many ways: Providing affordable housing or primary care, making monetary donations to the Immigration Partnership Fund or Reception House Waterloo Region, donating clothing and other items, sponsoring refugee families, supporting family reunification efforts,etc. Visit http://immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/afghanresettlement for more information on the Afghan Resettlement in Waterloo Region!
‘YouTube has changed my life.’ How Afghan refugees stuck in limbo built a global following. Amid the frustration of awaiting possible resettlement, two migrants have built channels documenting their daily lives. And they’ve struck a chord.
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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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Information and Resources | |
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Reuniting Families Across the Country
The Government of Canada published a new release about family reunification on Oct 11, 2022. It announced that IRCC would continue to reunite families by accepting up to 15,000 complete applications for sponsorship under the Parents and Grandparents Program this year. IRCC will begin sending invitations to apply to 23,100 interested potential sponsors. Invitations will be sent over the course of 2 weeks.
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To help learners and teachers of English as a Second Language, all Kitchener Public Library (KPL) locations offer a wide selection of language learning materials. Topics include vocabulary, pronunciation, listening, reading, communication, grammar, idioms as well as TOEFL, IELTS, and other English tests. In addition, a list of conversation circles in Kitchener-Waterloo has been recently updated and is available on the KPL website.
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The Cambridge Chamber of Commerce interviewed Mayoral and Regional Council candidates for the upcoming Municipal Election on October 24th. Hear here from local candidates on issues that matter most prior to the Municipal Election. Candidate forums are moderated by James Sebastian-Scott from CityNews 570.
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The Run4OfficeWR will be running public and in-person sessions with candidates in the municipal election who identify as African, Caribbean and Black (ACB). The first session will be on Friday, Oct 21, 6-6:45pm at Country Hills Community Centre. The second session will be on Saturday, Oct 22 11-11:45 am at Victoria Hills Community Centre. R.S.V.P. via email: run4officewr@gmail.com.
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Immigrant job seekers are encouraged to attend the Region of Waterloo Employment Services' In-Person Multi-Employer Job Fair at Victoria Hills Community Centre on Oct 20 to meet potential employers. Job seekers are advised to come prepared with copies of their resume and be ready to meet with employers to share information about jobs and how best to apply.
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Senior Researcher Position Available
The Centre for Community Based Research is looking for a full-time Senior Researcher who will lead community-based research projects which are community-driven, participatory, and action-oriented. The Senior Researcher will have solid research credentials in the academic, government, and NGO sectors and a demonstrated commitment to community-based research, including knowledge mobilization and community facilitation. Deadline: Oct 28, 2022.
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New Resource to Help Organizations Meet their Diversity and Inclusion Goals
The Government of Canada launched the What Works Toolkit, an extensive online resource that provides tangible actions, best practices and strategic workplace approaches based on existing evidence for the recruitment, mentoring, promotion and retention of diverse staff. It also includes activities and initiatives on anti-racism and anti-harassment and provides examples of successful diversity plans that can be replicated to help organizations reach their diversity goals.
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Hear Me Out Youth Resiliency Virtual Program, Every Thursday, 7:30-9pm | |
Muslim Social Services Waterloo Region is hosting this new program working to strengthen community bonds and individual skill sets for Muslim Youth in the region. This program seeks to engage members to consider and develop an awareness of how youth can maintain various forms of wellness and resiliency. As a culturally sensitive and faith-based platform, weekly education programs approach a variety of topics such as mental, social, physical, emotional and financial wellness paired with engaging activities for Waterloo Region’s young Muslim community. To register, please email at info@muslimsocialserviceskw.org or call 519-772-4399 ext.2707 | |
Kinbridge Community Association Programs, Workshops and Club for Newcomers in October | |
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Check out the activities that Kinbridge Community Association has scheduled for newcomers in October:
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Gardening Basics for Newcomers, Oct 19, 6 - 7:30pm | |
The Gardening Basics Workshop, a Library Settlement Partnership Program, hosted by the Kitchener Public Library and Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre will focus on developing the newcomers' skills on how to get started and expanding knowledge around the plants in Canada. This event will provide resources and supports for gardening. Registration is required. | |
Permanent Resident Card Renewal Workshop, Oct 19, 2-4pm. | |
The Permanent Resident Card Renewal Workshop by the Kitchener Public Library and Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre will help newcomers become familiar with applying for or renewing a permanent resident card. It will demonstrate and educate newcomers on downloading and filling out forms. Registration for this workshop is required. | |
Changing Health Disparities: Affording People in our Community Fair and Equitable Opportunities to Be Healthy, Oct 25, 6 -8pm | |
This University of Waterloo Research Talks Series Event explores health inequities related to access to good nutrition and health care, employment availability or lack of employment, the physical environment in which we live and work, that affect us, and how we can, as a city and community, work to reduce health inequities for people in our region. | |
2nd Annual International Migration Conference: “Food (In)Security and Migrants on the Move, Oct 27-28 | |
The International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD) is hosting an International Migration Conference to discuss the highly topical issue of the relationship between food insecurity and international and internal migration. The program will address four main themes: (a) food security precarity of mobile populations during COVID-19 in Asia and Africa; (b) the food security challenges confronting forced migrants (asylum-seekers and refugees) in the Global South; (c) the migrant food environment in cities of the South; and (d) rural-urban linkages and food security in China and Africa. | |
Startup Business Basics, Several Dates | |
Learn how the Waterloo Region Small Business Centre (WRSBC) can help entrepreneurs in starting their business. The information in this webinar is focusing on starting a business in Waterloo Region and will be covering provincial and municipal regulations. You can still benefit from this webinar if you plan to start your business outside of the Waterloo Region. Registration is required to receive the Zoom Link. Check out more WRSBC workshops for entrepreneurs here scheduled in October. | |
Film screening of "Free Trip to Egypt," Nov 1, 6:30pm, Princess Twin Cinema | |
K-W Unity Mosque with the support of the Waterloo Region Community Foundation invites community members to an evening with filmmaker Tarek Mounib and his film Free Trip to Egypt, a film about the transformational power of human connection. Ticket sales will benefit Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre. | |
La Semaine nationale de l'immigration francophone, Du 6 au 12 novembre 2022 | |
Du 6 au 12 novembre 2022, célébrons la Semaine nationale de l’immigration francophone et contribuons à mettre en valeur nos communautés francophones plurielles et inclusives. Cette 10e édition consacrée à « Nos traditions et notre avenir » proposera une multitude d’activités rassembleuses pour apprécier les différentes traditions francophones et réfléchir à un meilleur avenir pour chacune et chacun. Impliquez-vous à la célébration de la Semaine pour souligner les traditions et réfléchir ensemble sur l'avenir et le comment mieux vivre demain! | |
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Local mosque to host documentary screening of ‘Free Trip to Egypt’ Waterloo Chronicle, Oct 13, 2022
Free Artist Talk at the K-W Art Gallery features Iranian-Canadian artist, Pardiss Amerian CityNews Everywhere, Oct 16, 2022
I used to be stateless. That's why I value my Canadian permanent resident card so much CBC News, Oct 15, 2022
Anti-racism advisory working group demands region take steps to address homelessness, reconciliation CityNews Everywhere, Oct 14, 2022
International students enticed to Canada on dubious promises of jobs and immigration CBC News, Oct 13, 2022
Laurier library in Waterloo puts out call for Indigenous mural artists Waterloo Chronicle, Oct 13, 2022
‘Cast an informed ballot’: CivicTechWR creates one-stop hub to inform voters in Waterloo Region Waterloo Chronicle, Oct 13, 2022
Leader of local Muslim coalition recovering in Kitchener, months after Dubai crash The Record, Oct 11, 2022
Canada’s permanent resident application backlog is forcing thousands of skilled workers to quit and return home The Globe and Mail, Oct 07, 2022
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