Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
January 11, 2021

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

Immigration Partnership Updates
Building Community Through Immigration in 2021
Happy New Year Waterloo Region! The start of a new year inevitably brings optimism, new projects, expectations and a commitment to making improvements in the 12 months ahead. As we're all looking forward to a better year –with Covid-19 vaccine implementation in progress–, we and our partners will continue with our commitment to success and prosperity for immigrants and the community as a whole.

To begin, the Immigration Partnership through its Work Steering Group has once again partnered with the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce and Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin to host virtual events for area employers and/or immigrants focused on workplace success:
"Increasing Work Opportunities for Newcomers Through an Anti-Racist Approach" Webinar, Jan 20, 1pm
This is the title of the next virtual session of the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce’s Manulife Business Success Series together with the Immigration Partnership. We are pleased to introduce Evelyn Amponsah, Manager- Strategy Development, Confronting 
Anti-Black racism for Toronto Community Housing, who will talk with employers about the impact of racism on newcomer 
employment while thinking about meaningful actions to address 
this through an anti-racist approach. Registration is open
Immigrant Job seekers and Local Employers are invited to a Virtual Job Fair on March 3 
The FindYourJob.ca Virtual Job Fair Series continues with the third virtual job fair on Wednesday, March 3. Organized by the Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin, this upcoming job fair will allow employers to promote current openings with job seekers, communicate one on one with employment candidates, receive resumes immediately & more. Registration is now open for employers here and it is free for job seekers (Registration here).
What is your 2021 Anti-racism Resolution?
We have one for you: Educate yourself on how to become an an-racist  and to end racism in our region. Visit https://www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/racialequitywr.ca/ for resources, tools and a list of community groups doing anti-racism work. This webpage is part of the Belong Steering Group's #RacialEquityWR public education campaign. For more information or to suggest other anti-racism resources, please contact Abiha Syed at [email protected].
COVID-19 Vaccine Multilingual Fact Sheets
Visit 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
COVID-19 Isolation Site Now Available in Kitchener
Region of Waterloo Public Health has opened a Safe Voluntary Isolation Site at a hotel in Kitchener. The intended participants of the site are people who have been identified as disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 which includes people who identify as a visible minority, as Black, Indigenous, Metis and Inuit, who have a before tax income of less than $50,000, people living in larger households and whose first language is not English or French. Referrals can be made by community partners for an individual, who shares a home with one or more individuals, who tests positive for COVID-19, or is awaiting a COVID-19 test result and must:

  • Lack the ability to safely isolate at home away from cohabitants for the isolation period; OR,
  • Require a place outside of their home to self-isolate, for personal safety considerations, such as being isolated in the household (e.g., risk of domestic violence); OR,
  • Be sharing a household with, or self-identify as, an individual who is at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
If you have any questions about the safe isolation site please send an email to [email protected].
“Ask the Expert,” Live Q&A Sessions on Federal and Provincial Financial Support Programs
The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce, together with the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, recently launched “Ask the Expert,” live Q&A sessions that will provide business operators with the opportunity to receive free advice and guidance from a variety of professionals surrounding issues they may be having trying to access Federal and Provincial financial support programs. These sessions are free and will be held online every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-3pm. First session: Tuesday Jan 12 at 2pm! Register here.
Coalition of Muslim Women of KW Community Needs Assessment
The Coalition of Muslim Women of KW is conducting a survey to learn how community organizations and service providers can improve services and create new programs to better serve Muslim women and their families in the region. The survey is anonymous and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Any question, please email [email protected] or call 519-576-0540 ext. 3565. Complete the survey here
MCRS 33rd Annual General Meeting: Welcoming Communities Still Matter
Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support (MCRS) is hosting its 33rd Annual General meeting with Regional Chair Karen Redman as the guest speaker on January 16 at 11am. They will be reporting on an extraordinary year, celebrating a community coming together for those seeking Canada's protection and sharing their projects and expectations for 2021! The meeting is virtual and registrations are open here.
Registration is Open for the Carizon’s Community Resource Program’s Winter Groups
Carizon is now offering several virtual child/youth, caregiver and family groups: Optimistic Thinking, Family Mindfulness, Super Me, Just Breathe and How's it going? These groups will be run through Zoom, are FREE and open to families of the Waterloo Region. To register or to refer families please email: [email protected]. Space is limited.
Federal, Provincial and Local Updates
Immigration
Measures
To learn more about other measures or changes on Immigration legislation,
visit the


Under this public policy, visitors, students and workers whose valid temporary status expired, or expires, between January 30, 2020, and May 31, 2021, will have until August 31, 2021, to restore their status.
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.
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.  
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 better understand the impact of the pandemic on recent immigrants, temporary foreign workers (TFWs), and international students, WES conducted surveys of applicants who received credential assessments between January 2018 and July 2020 for the purpose of immigrating to Canada. The surveys were distributed in April, June, and August 2020.
Parents, guardians and secondary school students over the age of 18 can get financial support to help with additional costs during the 2020-2021 school year due to COVID-19. Eligible applicants will receive a one-time payment of $200 for each child or youth up to Grade 12
or $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs. The deadline to apply is February 8, 2021.
The City of Waterloo is providing some financial support to businesses which took on additional costs due to the coronavirus pandemic. The funding is through Waterloo's COVID-relief Community Improvement Plan (CIP) and will be a matching grant of up to $1,500 per business. More information here.
Ontario has started to roll out its three-phased vaccine distribution implementation plan. The vaccine approved for use requires 2 doses, administered a few weeks apart. Learn about Ontario’s vaccination program to help protect us against COVID-19 by visiting the Province’s website https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-vaccines-ontario.
Other Information and Resources
This video produced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is a helpful resource for resettled refugees as it explains what to expect and what services and supports are available to them to settle in Canada. The video is available in English, French, Arabic, Farsi, Somali, Swahili and Tigrinya.
Virtual Events and Webinars
YMCA Workshops-Supporting your Health and Wellness at home, Jan-Feb
YMCA is offering FREE virtual wellness workshops for community members to join in January and February. These workshops provide tips and resources for meditation to safe stretching, brain health, Osteoarthritis and healthy posture, and much more. All workshops will be hosted on ZOOM. 
Reimagine Winter Events and Festivals
Kitchener City brings a list of activities, attractions and programs to enjoy these holidays during these challenging times. Kitchener is a vibrant and resilient community, and the winter season is still ours to enjoy safely.
Escape to the Future? Canada’s Immigration Plan for 2021-2023, Jan 14, 12-1pm
Join CERC Migration and a panel of experts to examine the evidence and arguments of what the future impact will be of Canada’s Immigration Plan, which will increase immigration targets to more than 1.2 million people for the period 2021-2023.
Online Youth Job Connection Program, starting Jan 18
YMCA Employment Services invites community members between the ages 18-29 looking for work to join for its online Youth Job Connection program, which will provide tools and resources to achieve their employment goals.
Winterloo Festival, Jan 23-31
It is an annual, free festival for all ages that is open to the public and run by the City of Waterloo’s arts and culture team, Create Waterloo. Traditionally hosting winter-themed activities in uptown Waterloo, this year, the festival is adapted to accommodate for the safety procedures of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Digital Messaging Summit: Tools & Tactics for Newcomer Integration, January 20-21
Brought by Refugee 613, the Digital Messaging Summit is a dynamic interactive gathering to share practical strategies and advice about managing digital messaging services by and for immigrants and refugees and build a network of people working in this area.
Threads: Cultural Conversations, to be held on Jan 20-21
Saskatoon Open Door Society brings this two-day online conference for professional and personal development that is built on shared experiences, listening to one another, and rethinking certainties.
Residential Tenancies Act Changes for Waterloo Region's Service Providers workshop, Feb 3, 10-11:30am
Waterloo Region Community Legal Services will be hosting this online Zoom workshop geared towards the region's community agencies supporting tenants facing issues regarding the housing crisis and tenancy in 2020, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Migration and the Future Of Work,
Feb 22-25
Join the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration program for its second annual international conference. This 2021 conference will investigate the impact of technological change on the future of work and how this is transforming labour migration around the world.
A New Home In Canada, Jan 14,
7-8:30pm
Syrian Canadian Foundation will hold a virtual celebration for Newcomer Syrians in honor of the 5th anniversary of the arrival of Syrians in Canada. There will be a virtual celebration with speakers, musical performances, and touching stories from the Syrian community and from the many segments of Canadian society who participated in the warm welcome of newcomers.
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 ([email protected]) and Alejandra Amezquita Gutierrez ([email protected])
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