Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
June 22, 2020

Stay home and stay healthy, Waterloo Region. We are in this together.


Immigration Partnership Updates
Multiculturalism is one of the main defining aspects of Canadian society. Canada adopted multiculturalism as a policy in 1971 to " preserve the cultural freedom of all individuals and provide recognition of the cultural contributions of diverse ethnic groups to Canadian society. "
The 2018 Canada’s World Survey , conducted by the Environics Institute for Survey Research, found that Canadians increasingly see multiculturalism, diversity, and inclusion as the country's most notable contribution to the world.
To celebrate multiculturalism in Waterloo Region, all residents are invited to take part in the many activities this week during the Virtual K-W Multicultural Festival w/ daily workshops, storytelling, cultures bingo game, art activities, yoga & cooking classes and more! 
While we celebrate diversity and multiculturalism, we need to work harder to ensure equity, justice and opportunities for all Canadians. Watch this Wellbeing Waterloo Region video series to understand systemic racism, social inequities in our communities and how we can eliminate disparate outcomes. 
The Covid-19 crisis has increased the cases of family violence. With the objective of sharing information about easy ways people can help reduce or prevent family violence at home, at work and in the community, a coalition of local agencies and municipalities has just launched the #KeepFamiliesSafe campaign. The campaign runs throughout the summer and fall and includes social media, virtual events and outreach to groups including large employers and faith communities.

Will you share the #KeepFamiliesSafe campaign with your networks?
 
June is National Indigenous History Month. We invite Immigrants, refugees and all residents of Waterloo Region to celebrate the unique heritage, cultures, art, and traditions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and reflect on the systemic inequalities and discrimination that Indigenous peoples face in Canada.

Visit the Wellbeing Waterloo Region website for a list of educational resources, and watch 10 interesting documentaries on Indigenous life in Canada and Indigenous activists who are advocating for change, compiled by CBC news. 
Community Service Updates  
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open

Waterloo Catholic District School Board Family Survey

The Waterloo Catholic District School Board is seeking input from families on the reopening of school in the Fall. The survey, which is open until June 30, is available in multiple languages.


Seeking Information on Children and Youth Supports for Summer 2020

The Children and Youth Planning Table is creating Supports for Summer 2020 bucket on the Family Compass resource webpage . Community service agencies with resources, supports and information on camps, outdoor activities, physical distance friendly opportunities for children and youth to publish on the resource webpage should email [email protected] . Please confirm if the support is free and if translation or interpretation services are offered with the support. 


Chamber Business Ready

Greater KW Chamber of Commerce and  Cambridge Chamber of Commerce have launched a new free training platform, Chamber Business Ready, powered by Axonify to help businesses train their employees in best practices related to reopening.

Kitchener Public Library Open for Curb and Carry

Kitchener Public Library has opened for curb and carry, so customers can now request items online/by phone and come to the library and collect them. This includes languages collections, ESL collections, children's, and of course everything else!

How to Help

Shopping Angels Canada, part of a global community program designed to provide shopping services to those most at risk for contracting the virus, is looking for individuals who will donate their time to help pick up and deliver groceries along with other necessities.

How can you help? Visit Shopping Angels website and become a volunteer!
Federal, Provincial and Local Updates
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
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

Visit the Immigration Partnership Portal to find a complete list of COVID-19 resources in multiple languages that has been developed for service providers to use and pass onto their clients, as well as a list of m ulti-language psychosocial supports and programs.

International migration accounted for 82.3% of Canada's population growth in the first quarter. There were almost 4,000 more permanent immigrants in the first quarter of 2020 (69,787) than in the first quarter of 2019 (65,936). The majority of these immigrants came before the travel restrictions began.

Canadian borders are closed; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has suspended the processing of most temporary residence applications; the Canada Border Services Agency has put a pause on removing people from Canada… So what is next? This Canadian Immigrant article explores what could come next for Canada’s immigration system.

Due to COVID-19, Northern Ontario’s post-secondary institutions (PSIs) may see fewer international students in the 2020- 2021 academic year compared to previous years. This Northern Policy Institute briefing note seeks to calculate the potential economic impacts if international student enrolment for 2020-2021 was down by 20 percent next year. 

WES Research conducted a survey of applicants for a WES Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). The resulting report provides insight into how the pandemic is affecting the immigration intentions of prospective immigrants to Canada.

Read this summary of this event covering COVID-19 impacting Canada’s immigration levels, changing our perception of “skilled” and “unskilled” labour and the link between immigration policy and racism – public perception of immigrants in Canada.

Complete this survey to understand and articulate your business needs with local, provincial and federal levels of government, coordinate resources between government and local business community, share information and provide assistance to help maneuver through these times.

The Global Resilience Fund supports girl and young women activists at this watershed moment, with fully flexible rapid response grants of up to $5,000. Deadline: July 6.

Starter Hub is offering up to 50 free websites to Waterloo region businesses that do not currently have a website. This is to help enable businesses affected by covid-19 to reach their customers. There is absolutely no cost involved to the business owner, nor any obligations in the future.
Spending Time during COVID-19
Happy Summer Waterloo Region!
Yes, we know this summer will be different, but there are still lots of fun things to do with your Family! CLICK HERE to see what you can do!
Hosted by Waterloo Public Library, City of Waterloo and the LGBTQ2S+ community, Waterloo City Councillors will be reading PRIDE-themed children’s picture books. After each storytime, they will be making a craft too.
Virtual Events and Webinars
COVID-19 and Ontario Farm Worker Health and Safety, June 22, 2-3:30pm
This presentation organized by Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers Inc. will provide Ontario Temporary Foreign Agricultural Workers (TFAWs) with important COVID-19 safety education, resources and support to prevent what has become a serious occupational disease.
Understanding Systemic Racism in Canada: Concept and Data, June 23, 11am-2:30pm
The Association for Canadian Studies, Metropolis Canada and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO will hold this online conference with some of Canada’s leading experts assessing anti-racist policies and practices as well as present new data on perceptions about systemic racism on the part of Canadians with a special focus on the views of the country’s racialized communities and Indigenous Peoples.
Facing Racial Injustice During a Pandemic and Beyond, June 23, 7pm
Parenting in a Pandemic facilitators will join Laura Mae Lindo, member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener Centre, in a live conversation about how to face our own biases and privilege so that we can talk to our children about racial injustice and raise anti-racist families.
Accommodating Staff as Your Business Re-opens, June 23, 2-3pm
Join the KW Greater Chamber of Commerce to learn about the responsibility that employers have to accommodate their staff, as well as the return on investment (ROI) that businesses can expect to see from making accommodations.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Refugees and Refugee Resettlement, June 24, 2-3:30 pm
To mark World Refugee Day, join the Refugee Sponsorship Training Program (RSTP) and UNHCR Canada for a webinar on the global refugee crisis and the impact of COVID-19 on refugees and resettlement.
Do More Good Dialogue: Anti-Racism and the Need for System Change, June 25, 2-3pm
This is the first in a series of conversations to hear from community leaders who will participate in a conversation circle with a focus on Black and Indigenous solidarity. Organized by Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation.
Family Law and Domestic Violence During COVID-19, June 30, 11am-12:30pm
Experts on family law and domestic violence will join CLEO to talk about what legal services and supports are available to people with family law or domestic violence problems at this time, and other topics. This information session is for front-line workers across Ontario who are looking for information and guidance to support clients at this time.
Virtual Roundtable with Allies for Refugee Integration & Pilot Partners, July 9, 1-2:30pm
The Allies for Refugee Integration (ARI) project brings this community discussion on how sponsored refugees and sponsors are accessing settlement services during the pandemic and beyond.
Beyond The Headlines Online: Responding to Inequity in Our post-COVID World, July 15, 12-1pm
The University of Waterloo, in partnership with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo, hosts this online event to explore whether our post-COVID society may be more responsive, or more divisive as the pandemic has exposed issues of equity in our society such as the value of work, gender roles, universal basic income and racial profiling.
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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