Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
November 30, 2020

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

Immigration Partnership Updates
Join the 2020 Global Migration Film Festival!
On December 3rd, we continue with other poignant story as part of the Global Migration Film Festival: "Air Show." This short film narrates how a Canadian Air Show brings back the trauma of a widowed father and his young daughter who arrived in Toronto as refugees from the 30-year civil conflict in Sri Lanka. It is hosted by Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre. Register with with Emily Jaarsma at [email protected].
For more Information on other films' names and dates, please go to https://www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/wrmigfest. Stay tuned to our social media channels as there will be some exciting announcements on the festival: Twitter/Fb

Our Partners in bringing the 2020 Global Migration Film Festival to Waterloo Region:
"Access to Quality PPE for Small Businesses and Public Institutions" Webinar
Local employers and immigrant entrepreneurs are invited to join a new webinar of the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce’s Manulife Business Success Series with Amber French, CEO of Supply and Protect, who will speak about her journey to provide quality PPE for smaller businesses and public institutions with PPE needs into one large group buyer. Details and registration here.
Community Partner Updates 
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
Have your Say: The Region of Waterloo seeks resident input on the 2021 Regional Budget
The Waterloo region wants to hear input from its residents on the 2021 Budget Plan: Beyond COVID-19 at the virtual public meeting on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 6pm, or through an online survey open until December 20, 2020.
Call for Proposals for Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives Program
The Government of Canada announced the launch of the new call for proposals for the Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives (CSMARI) Program that provides funding for projects that support communities in confronting racism and discrimination, promoting intercultural and interfaith understanding, fostering equitable opportunities to participate fully in Canadian society, and much more.
How to Help

Due to the pandemic, charities and nonprofits are experiencing a significant increase in demand for services, staff reductions, challenges with volunteers, and work overload. Now more than ever, they need us. We invite you to join Giving Tuesday tomorrow, Dec 1, to help your favorite charities or nonprofits in Waterloo region by donating to their causes. You can also donate through United Way Waterloo Region Communities.
Helping Waterloo Region Recover, Renew and Rebuild!
Federal, Provincial and Local Updates
Immigration
Measures
To learn more about other measures or changes on Immigration legislation,
visit the



Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a new virtual platform for the citizenship tests, which will be offered online to a small group at first – the roughly 5,000 people who had dates scheduled before the pandemic that were subsequently cancelled, and other priority cases.
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.

Waterloo Region will continue to stay in the red (control) zone of the province's response framework, at least for now. The region's medical officer of health also issued a Section 22 order when it comes to malls and retail stores. It requires them to ensure capacity is managed and actively monitored, such that adequate physical distancing can be maintained.
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.

The CERS program provides direct rent and mortgage interest support to eligible tenants and property owners until June 2021. This support is available to businesses, non-profits, and charities that have been impacted by COVID-19. More Information can be found here.
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
A reminder that with the Region of Waterloo being in Control (Red), businesses may be eligible for temporary property tax and energy cost rebate grants through the Government of Ontario. Any business who has questions about this provincial funding support can call toll free 1-855-216-3090.
This year’s annual report prepared by the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada describes the heavy toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Canadian society. It also shows evidence of how COVID-19 is not impacting Canadians equally with racialized people being one of the population most affected by the pandemic.
Fully 45 percent of respondents in a June 2020 World Education Services survey reported that COVID-19 had increased their interest in immigrating to Canada, up from 38 percent in a similar survey in April.
Other Information and Resources
The Occupation-specific Language Training (OSLT) program at Conestoga will be offering free English communication skills training to newcomers working in technology. For more information, contact [email protected].
High immigration levels have fueled significant growth in Prince Edward Island's economy. Now, New Brunswick wants to follow Prince Edward's example to improve its economy, which, according to Statistics Canada, is at a rate below the national average. More information with this CBC News article.
This briefing paper presented by the Institute on Statelessness and Inclusion in which Canadian Rohingya Development Initiative participates, relates Rohingya experiences of registration systems to wider human rights challenges around racial and xenophobic discrimination, digital technologies and borders.
The Settlement Sector and Technology Task Group (managed by AMSSA, reporting to IRCC’s National Settlement and Integration Council (NSIC)) invites settlement workers to participate in this survey which explores their experiences of providing remote/digital service delivery and their ideas for what the future might look like.
Cosmopolitan recommends 20 titles on immigration for those who want to learn about about immigrant experiences in the United States and around the world.
Virtual Events and Webinars
Porch Chats Exploring the Impact of Migration on Families (Farsi/Arabic), Nov 30 and Dec 2, 7-9pm
These porch chats presented as part of the Keep families Safe campaign, will focus on how family relationships, mental health, and stress levels change for newcomers and how that is connected to covid 19 situation. It will present signs of abusive relationships and discuss what we can do as part of the Keep Families Safe campaign.
Ask me any questions about the PSR Program (Français & English), Dec 1, 5:30pm
New or experienced sponsors are invited to attend and ask any pertinent questions related to the Private Sponsorship of Refugees program. This meeting will be entirely a Q&A session. Send in your questions to [email protected] before the before end of day Monday 30 November.
Finding Hope Through Darkness Virtual Workshop Series: Self-Care, Dec 2, 3-4pm
Carizon Family and Community Services introduces its Finding Hope Through Darkness Virtual Workshop series! These are free and open to anyone who wants to learn some tools and strategies to promote their wellness. The first workshop is related to self-care. More information on other workshops here.
Surviving the Holidays, Dec 3, 6-8pm
This Sexual Assault Support Centre workshop acknowledges that the holiday season can come with extra stress and triggers for survivors and provides support in creating a plan to cope through this time. This workshops is currently delivered online and a Zoom link will be provided after registration. Other online groups and workshops from the Sexual Assault Support Centre can be found here.
Coast-To-Coast Affordable Housing Innovation: Made in Canada Solutions, Dec 3, 12-1:30pm (ET)
Canadian Urban Institute promotes this webinar presented by Kehilla Residential Programme that will showcase projects in 6 Canadian cities. This event will help demonstrate that affordable housing has the potential to be an immediately implementable solution in new, more effective methods of delivery that surpass traditional models.
United Voices: Social Isolation in Waterloo Region, Dec 10, 1-2pm
Join United Way Waterloo Region Communities on December 10 for the first in a series of events aimed at bringing together local experts to talk about pressing issues in the region such as social isolation.
COVID 19 Coverage and other News


Demand for food banks surged due to COVID: report Waterloo Chronicle, Nov 30 ,2020





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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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