Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
Immigration Partnership News
The Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership is now accepting applications for support for initiatives that facilitate the welcoming, settling and integration of immigrants and refugees in Waterloo Region.

Call for Applications. Organizations, groups and individuals can now apply for support through the Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives and the Fund for Immigrant Economic Wellbeing. 

1. Applications open for the Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives. Established at the Waterloo Region Community Foundation as a signal of the welcoming community Waterloo Region strives to be, this fund will now support initiatives that facilitate the welcoming, settling and integration of Ukrainians fleeing war and Afghan and other refugees in the Region. Through the generosity of residents and businesses, there is currently $114,000 available in the Fund. With a focus on meeting the individual needs of refugee families arriving in the region, funding may be awarded:

  • For minimum $1,000 and maximum $5,000 to individuals/groups and agencies for unforeseen and/or extraordinary settlement costs for individual refugees.
  • For minimum $5,000 and maximum $25,000 to agencies for programming.

2. Applications open for the Fund for Immigrant Economic Wellbeing. This Fund targets initiatives that enhance the employment, entrepreneurship and economic wellbeing of immigrants in Waterloo Region. Supported through the Region of Waterloo’s Equity Fund, a total of $1 million is available for granting. Funding will be awarded:

  • For minimum $1,000 and maximum $5,000 to individuals/groups and agencies for otherwise unsupported employment, entrepreneurship or economic wellbeing costs for individual immigrants.
  • For minimum $5,000 and maximum $100,000 to agencies for programming or to immigrant-led and other businesses.

Visit www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/funding for further information on both Funds, eligibility, deadlines and application links.

For more information, please contact Alejandra Amez, Communications Coordinator, at [email protected]
We have partnered with Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) of Southwestern Ontario and WILL Immploy to host a webinar this Fall for employees that will focus on information and best practices in creating welcoming and inclusive spaces within the workplace.

Our guest speakers for this session include:

-Roger Faulkner - President, Owner & General Manager of General Coach Canada
- Tarndeep Singh - Social Research/Project Assistant, Sarnia-Lambton Local Immigration Partnership

More details and registration, here.
For more details on these events and other immigration, anti-racism and community initiatives, follow us on our social media accounts!
Community Partner Highlights 
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
The City of Kitchener is Seeking Resident Input to Inform 2023-2026 Strategic Plan
and Vision for Kitchener’s Future

The City is in the process of establishing a 20-year vision for the future and building its 2023-2026 strategic plan and wants to better understand the priorities that matter most to Kitchener residents. 

There are several ways for Kitchener residents to contribute their ideas and input as part of this process. On Engage Kitchener, residents can share feedback and suggestions on ideas boards and respond to an online poll. Through the online platform, residents are also invited to submit writing, drawings, paintings, photos, videos, or other artistic pieces that illustrate their vision and hopes for the future of Kitchener. Look out for the City’s street team in neighbourhoods, parks, and local events this summer and fall, collecting feedback in person as well.

The City will also host a series of neighbourhood conversations at city community centres that residents can register to participate in this fall. These sessions will take place:


Refugee Integration Updates

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!

As of 01 August 2022, Canada has welcomed 17,050 refugees from Afghanistan, including 465 government assisted and privately sponsored refugees reported to have settled in Waterloo Region. 

One Year On: The Situation for At-Risk Afghans in Afghanistan and Abroad, Aug 10, 10am ET. Join this Migration Policy Institute two-panel webinar that will reflect on the humanitarian and development challenges in Afghanistan and for neighboring countries, the difficult choices facing aid donors and their partners, and what needs to be done to ensure still at-risk Afghans are able to reach safety. The first panel will address the humanitarian and development situation in Afghanistan and the region, and the second panel will discuss ongoing efforts to secure safe pathways and prospects for innovations and further international coordination. Register here.

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.
COVID-19 Information and Resources

The Metropolis Institute has developed new Covid-19 factsheets, professionally translated resources, to address the following questions: Why are vaccinated people catching COVID-19? What's the difference between hospitalization and ICU? Why are the rules in Canada different than back home? Resources available in Arabic, Chinese (simplified), English, Farsi, French, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
Other Information and Resources

The Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, the Business Development Bank of Canada and other financial institutions. It will provide loans up to $250,000 to Black business owners and entrepreneurs across the country. The Government of Canada has announced that the Loan Fund is accepting loan applications from Black business owners and entrepreneurs through the Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE).

Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) launched the Racial Equity Fund in 2020 to support organizations that are led-by and serve people across Waterloo Region who are Indigenous, Black and people of colour. Approximately $350,000 will be distributed through the fund in 2022, of which $125,000 is being provided through a partnership with the Astley Family Foundation towards initiatives supporting youth (12-24 years old). The Fund is accepting applications between Aug 2, 2022 and Sept 15, 2022 at 5 pm (EST).
FindYourJob.ca - is your Local Job Seekers Hub. This website has several great tools to help those searching for jobs such as Job Board, Job Map, Career Explorer, Occupation Library, Job Demand Report, Job Search Report and more!

If you work with job seekers who are looking for remote/work from home opportunities, check out www.workfromhomeontario.ca. The site pulls work from home opportunities across the province and puts them in one location. Our site feeds into it. We will be adding a tag on findyourjob.ca where people can seek these opportunities locally as well.
Events and Webinars
One Year On: The Situation for At-Risk Afghans in Afghanistan and Abroad, Aug 10, 10am ET
Join this Migration Policy Institute two-panel webinar that will reflect on the humanitarian and development challenges in Afghanistan and for neighboring countries, the difficult choices facing aid donors and their partners, and what needs to be done to ensure still at-risk Afghans are able to reach safety. The first panel will address the humanitarian and development situation in Afghanistan and the region, and the second panel will discuss ongoing efforts to secure safe pathways and prospects for innovations and further international coordination.
Equitable Community Engagement: Moving Beyond Community Buy-In and Top-Down Consultation, Aug 10, 12-1:30pm EST
This 1.5-hour participatory talk will unpack the definition, principles and precedents related to equitable community engagement. All participants will be provided with a worksheet inclusive of key participatory talk ideas, prompts for reflection and resources for continued professional development beyond the participatory talk. This session will not be recorded.
Fostering Canadian Integration for Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs) Program, Pre-registration Closes August 12
Saint Paul University’s Institute for Transformative Leadership, in partnership with the National Newcomer Navigation Network - N4, has developed this new program to help Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals (IEHPs) overcome barriers to finding healthcare jobs in Canada. The program will be offered for the first time in September 2022.
ESL Book Club, Aug 22, 2pm
Join The Kitchener Public Library for this special Book Club geared towards English Second Language learners! In this program, participants will fun discussing and reading different English texts together. Suggested minimum CLB level is 5. Contact Kaia at [email protected] for help if you’re not sure if the book is the right level for you.
Startup Business Basics, Aug 23, 10-11am EDT
Waterloo Region small Business Centre invites entrepreneurs to learn the necessary steps to start their business. Including: The various forms of business ownership, government regulations, the importance of a business plan, forecasting cash flow, identifying your target market and client profile and when and why to register for HST. Registration is required to receive the ZOOM Link. Registration for other entrepreneurship webinars on video production, content marketing, email marketing and more here.
Newcomer Orientation Week , Aug 29-31, 9am -3pm
Attending high school (grades 9-12) for the first time in September? Join YMCA of Three Rivers Immigrant Services for the Newcomer Orientation Week that provides an orientation to school, tips for success and an opportunity to make new friends! To register, call 519-742-8220 or email [email protected].
Internationally Trained Physicians of Ontario (ITPO) - Helping Internationally Trained Physicians across Canada, Aug 31, 1pm EST
This National Newcomer Navigation Network webinar will introduce Internationally Trained Physicians of Ontario (ITPO) and explore its two main arms; the advocacy arm and the professional resources arm. Participants will learn about who can access ITPO resources and what we are doing to improve routes to licensure for all ITPs.
Professional boundaries for front-line staff working with refugees and other newcomers to Canada, Sept 14, 1pm
Professionals working with refugees and other newcomers to Canada can face significant emotional, cognitive, and physical demands. This National Newcomer Navigation Network - N4 workshop focuses on expanding awareness of boundaries on professional well-being in this sector as well as the generation and implementation of boundaries for professionals in this area of work. 
"Invitation to Belonging" Newcomer Youth Program in Fall
Invitation to Belonging is a program created by Volunteer Waterloo Region and Youth to provide an inclusive and fun space for newcomers to gain access to opportunities that will allow them to thrive in Canada. The program has 3 components:
1. Embracing one's culture & learning new skills
2. Guest speakers
3. Group Discussions and show and tell activities
COVID 19 Coverage and other News




Ontario Introduces French Accents on Health Cards Ontario Newsroom, Aug 03, 2022



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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