Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
September 20, 2021
Immigration Partnership Updates
Building Community Through Immigration at a Glance, Q3 Update
In this issue of the Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly, we are pleased to share a few highlights from collective community efforts to build community through immigration in the third quarter of 2021:

  • Last month, we launched the Afghan resettlement in Waterloo Region webpage with information and resources for residents to support local organizations resettling refugees in the community. We also joined the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF) and Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation (CNDCF) in activating the Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives. to receive donations to support Afghan resettlement initiatives. The KWCF kick-started the fund with a $20,000 donation. 
  • Recognizing that immigration is important to community and economic development, we surveyed all Waterloo Region candidates for federal election on their positions on immigration and shared the results widely to inform voting.
  • Continuing our work on finding affordable housing solutions, we collaborated with Region of Waterloo Housing staff in development of a new equity-based portable rent assistance program that will provide support for 30 Black, Indigenous, racialized and marginalized families in 2021, expanding to 200 families next year.
  •  To celebrate the 2021 Newcomer Landlord Award, we worked with Compass Refugee Centre and Reception House Waterloo Region to create “This is Home,” a video series, to raise awareness of the struggles newcomers face to find a home in the region, as well as the generosity of landlords who have helped create a caring community that supports immigrants.
  •  Seeking to amplify immigrant voices, we released the "I'mmigrant" podcast series created by Conestoga College students from the Bachelor of Public Relations degree program, with mentorship by Immigration Partnership staff, to highlight the positive contributions of immigration to Waterloo Region.
  •  We continued to partner with the Greater KW Chamber on the weekly Business Success webinars to be held in fall of 2021 and winter/spring of 2022, which will cover topics directly related to our work, such as recruiting and retaining immigrant talent, harnessing international talent in the workplace, etc.
  •  We launched a second phase of the #RacialEquityWR campaign to give the community a way to show their support and spread the message of embracing diversity, belonging and equity for all by putting up free #RacialEquityWR lawn signs, posters, window clings or stickers. Excellent social media engagement from community members, businesses and local organizations through their posts sharing pictures and messages of solidarity registering over 267,600 impressions. 

For more information, please click here
How to Donate to Help Refugees Build a New Life in Our Region
Community members can now support Afghan and other refugees through the Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives that was activated last week as a collective effort to provide residents with a way to assist newcomers in situation of displacement arriving in our region. 
Those seeking to donate, click here. If you would like to learn more about the Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives, please contact KWCF at 519-725-1806 or [email protected].

For more information on other ways to help support the resettlement of Afghan and other refugees, visit www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/afghanresettlement. 
Election Day: Exercising Your Right to Vote
Today is federal election day! Eligible newcomers and all immigrants in Waterloo Region are strongly encouraged to get out and vote!

To inform voters, we asked local federal candidates what their party’s position is on immigration and if elected, how they will support immigrants to succeed. Check their responses here.

Webinar for Employers: Developing Strategies and Tools for Harnessing
International Talent in the Workplace, Sept 22
We are pleased to present Daniel Cervan-Gil from World Education Services at the next Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce's Manulife Business Success Series on Sept 22 at 1pm. He will provide an update on the initiative introduced this Spring aimed at activating local employers to co-create practical and easy-to-implement solutions to address the barriers businesses face when tapping into immigrant talent.
Grant Writing Workshop for Waterloo Region Ethno-Cultural Groups

On October 6 at 6pm, Immigration Partnership and partners are hosting an online workshop for leaders and members of ethno-cultural groups to share the basics of grant writing, identify grants, determine their organization's readiness and answer all their questions.

To register, click here.
Follow us on our social media platforms for more immigration events and news!
Community Partner Highlights 
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
Federal, Provincial and Local Updates
Immigration
Measures
To learn more about other measures or changes on Immigration legislation,
visit the


Certain travellers who submitted their visitor visa application before September 7 are being asked to reapply.
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.
Provincial
Government
To learn more about the latest information, measures and changes to legislation due to COVID-19 Outbreak across Ontario, visit the

The Ontario government released the regulations and guidance for businesses and organizations to support them in implementing proof of vaccination requirements, which take effect on September 22, 2021

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.
COVID-19 Information and Resources

This research presented by the Immigrant and Refugee mental Health project aims to guide clinicians working in a range of primary care clinical settings on how to provide effective care and support for refugees and newcomers during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic
Other Information and Resources

The "Self-Employment for Newcomers: Building Excellence in Entrepreneurship" program starts on October 25th, 2021. It is a free 18-week program funded by IRCC and delivered through Conestoga College. The program provides one to one support, information, resources, tools and business planning training to newcomers who are focused on starting and/or growing their own business.

Waterloo Region members are invited to the Healing of the Seven Generations 's community walk on National Truth and Reconciliation Day, Sept 30, at 10am from 300 Frederick St in Kitchener to spread awareness of and reflect on the tragedies experienced by Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island as a result of the country’s former residential school system.

The Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin is undertaking this survey of non-profits to define what transferable skills are needed in key roles within the non-profit sector locally. This would be an invaluable asset for many non-profits that do not have human resources staff and will help the industry begin to better communicate its needs to students and jobseekers alike.

Check out the latest Affordable Housing Solutions Report from the Leadership Waterloo Region's 2021 Core Program Class. Over their 10-month journey they researched, interviewed and dug in deep to develop 6 innovative solutions: Community Housing Action Group, Housing Innovation Fund,
Humanizing Affordable Housing, New Canadian Employment Database, Time is Now Community Advocacy Network and Waterloo Region Land Declaration.
Virtual Events and Webinars
Online English Conversation Circles in Kitchener–Waterloo, Fall 2021
Many places host free conversational English programs or classes for adults and youth in Waterloo Region. These informal programs can help newcomers build their vocabulary and gain confidence by practicing speaking English in a friendly environment. Kitchener Public Library maintains a list of conversation circles in Kitchener-Waterloo.
Investing in Women's Futures Ecommerce Program, Sept 20-Nov 26, 10am-1pm
This program hosted by YMCA of Three Rivers Waterloo Region will provide women with an end-to-end training and practical skills to create their own on-line enterprise. Topics include financial literacy, product development, positioning an on-line business - platforms, integrated digital marketing and more.
Online Citizenship Support Group - Tuesday Sessions, Sept 21-Nov 2, 7-8pm
YMCA invites newcomers to the Online Citizenship Support Group on Tuesdays , from Sept 21 to Nov 2, to learn the materials required to become a Canadian citizen, citizenship related themes and concepts and more.
Online Citizenship Support Group - Thursday Sessions, Sept 23-Nov 4, 7-8pm
YMCA invites newcomers to the Online Citizenship Support Group on Thursdays, from Sept 23 to Nov 4, to learn the materials required to become a Canadian citizen, citizenship related themes and concepts and more.
Transitioning Back to Work: A Discussion in Compassionate Leadership, Sept 23, 1-2pm
Innovation Guelph will be hosting a panel of CEOs to hear their perspectives on returning to in-person work, creating new policies or tweak existing ones to help adapt, considering hybrid models or continuing to work remotely.
No Vaccine Against Hate: The Implications of COVID-related Anti-Asian Racism on Migration and Integration, Sept 23, 12-1pm EDT
How have newcomers and Asian diaspora communities been impacted by COVID-related racism? What, then, is the role of non-profit organizations, activists, and migration scholars in advocating against it? Join CERC Migration for a webinar that will address some of these and other questions by exploring the implications of anti-Asian racism for migrants and diasporas during and post-pandemic.
B2B Virtual Fair for Employers, Sept 28-29
From Sept 28 to 29, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will organize, in collaboration with RDÉE Canada, a B2B Virtual Fair specifically for Canadian employers. This virtual fair will be a space to introduce employers to potential pools of francophone candidates, to the various services available to help employers in their recruitment in Canada and abroad, and much more.
Online Course: Bridging the Intercultural Gap, Sept 29- Oct 27
This course hosted by the Centre for Race and Culture will equip the participants with practical tools to reflect on their interactions, apply strategies to challenge cultural bias and discrimination, use intercultural practices to guide their work, and create a more inclusive environment where people from different cultural backgrounds feel valued and respected.
Hiring, Discrimination and Newcomer Resilience, Sept 30, 12:15-1:30pm
Join Building Migrant Resilience in Cities for an exciting conversation about hiring, discrimination and newcomer resilience featuring short presentations followed by audience discussion. For more information, email at [email protected].
Let's Talk Newcomer Youth Fall 2021, Oct 13-Dec 1, Wednesday, 6pm
A library Settlement Partnership program that helps newcomer youth 14-21 explore their career goals and community through the arts such as drawing, video, music, poetry, and more! Also, attendees can gain volunteer hours, win prizes, meet new people, practice English, meet with career mentors and have fun!
The Francophone Newcomer Experience, Oct 13, 1pm
The National Newcomer Navigation Network has open registration for its webinar "L'expérience des nouveaux arrivants francophones| The Francophone Newcomer Experience," that will be presented on Oct 13 at 1pm.
Tech Jam From Home, Oct 21, 12-6pm
Immigrant job seekers, get in on Canada’s booming tech scene! Companies are ready to hire tech and non-tech talent: Attend the Communitech Tech Jam to chat with hiring managers from future-ready employers .
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 ([email protected]) and Alejandra Amezquita Gutierrez ([email protected])
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