Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
September 13, 2021
Immigration Partnership Updates
Press Release: Community Members Can Support Afghan and other Refugees Through KWCF, CNDCF and Immigration Partnership
"Today, Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF), the Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Foundation (CNDCF) and the Immigration Partnership of Waterloo Region are sharing another way that people across Waterloo Region can assist refugees who are arriving in our region from Afghanistan and elsewhere.
After the community rallied to support newcomers arriving from Syria in 2016, the Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives was established at KWCF, as a tool to help in future community response situations. With the announcement that our region has begun welcoming newcomers from Afghanistan, KWCF has donated $20,000 to the fund and together with CNDCF and Immigration Partnership, are providing a way for individuals and organizations to step up and join them by donating to this initiative.

Additional donations received between September 13, 2021 and December 31, 2021 will flow to organizations supporting Afghan and other refugee newcomers." Read the full press release here.

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].

What do we know So Far about Afghan Resettlement in Waterloo Region? Between April 1 and Sept 13 2021, 203 government assisted refugees from around the world, including 95 people from Afghanistan, started a new life in Waterloo Region. For more information on how you can help support the resettlement of Afghan and other refugees in meaningful ways - both locally and beyond - visit www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/afghanresettlement. 
"This is Home" Stories
Finding a place where the Khalifa spouses could stay with their 6 children in the Waterloo region gave this family hope to rebuild their lives. This government sponsored refugee family now has a place to call home thanks to the hard work of Waterloo Region settlement workers and the generosity of a landlord.

Everyone needs a home. Finding affordable housing can be especially difficult for newcomers and refugees. Visit www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/thisishome to learn more about the story of the Khalifa family and other newcomers as part of the "This is Home" video series developed by the Immigration Partnership along with Compass Refugee Centre and Reception House Waterloo Region to celebrate the 2021 Newcomer Landlord Award.

EXCELLENT NEWS. Regional efforts to improve housing situation of Black, Indigenous, racialized and marginalized this year: New $1.55M rent assistance program to benefit marginalized families in Waterloo region. The Immigration Partnership will support this initiative by determining who should receive the funding. Read the full CBC article here.

This is the last week to nominate landlords for the 2021 Newcomer Landlord Award.
Please help us recognize them! Click the image below for more information
What Are Local Candidates for the Upcoming Federal Elections Saying About Immigration?
Recognizing that Immigration plays an important role in the community and economic development, the Immigration Partnership asked all election candidates in Waterloo Region a question about immigration: What is your party’s position on immigration and if elected, how will you support immigrants to succeed? See their responses so far here.

This information will be updated as any new responses are received to help inform voting in ridings across Waterloo Region.
Follow us on our social media platforms for more immigration events and news!
Community Partner Highlights 
Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
Applications Now Open for the Region of Waterloo Community Innovation Grants Program

The Region of Waterloo has opened applications for the 2021 Community Innovation Grants program to remove barriers to connectivity and learning for the Region’s Black and Indigenous and racialized youth population, created as a result of the pandemic. The CIG program is a $50 000 one time grant that is open to not-for-profit organizations and groups/networks. Deadline: September 20, 2021.

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.

"One of the trends we are noticing in our case and contact management is that of fully vaccinated individuals no longer taking public health precautions and getting infected through close, unprotected contact with others, especially in large gatherings," said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang.
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

From the beginning of July to early August 2021, Statistics Canada conducted the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions to better understand the ongoing effects of the pandemic on businesses and business expectations moving forward. Based on the results of the survey, while the majority of businesses in Canada expected to be impacted, smaller businesses expected more significant impacts, such as a decrease in profitability and sales. Read the report here.
Other Information and Resources

The purpose of this report presented by Building Migrant resilience in Cities (BMRC) is to outline the responsibilities of Canada’s federal government over immigration and settlement with a focus on the structures and organization of its various policies and programs.

A new report from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Migration Policy Institute Europe highlights the energy and innovation that have emerged in the refugee resettlement and complementary pathways space in the last several years, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a new study from the Fraser Institute recently released, 74.3% of Atlantic out-migrants within Canada head to Ontario and Alberta, over a recent period of twenty years. "(...) immigrants represent a potential source of population growth, which is badly needed to reverse Atlantic Canada’s long-term migration patterns and broader population challenges," says the study.

Immigrants interested in starting a career in the health sector are invited to a virtual information session on Sept 14 at 1pm to learn about the free Long-term Care Home Assistant program. Fully online, the five-week program prepares students for entry-level work in long-term care homes through a combination of self-directed and instructor-led studies.
Virtual Events and Webinars
Oh Snap! Candidates Chat, Sept 14, 4-5:30pm
Oh Snap! Candidates Chat, hosted by the Children and Youth Planning Table, is a youth-specific, online event being held on Sept 14 that seeks to bring young people aged 14-18 in Waterloo region together with Federal candidates to hear about their Party’s platform, ask the questions that matter most to young people in Waterloo region and more.
COVID-19 Vaccines and What That Means for your Return to the Office Plan. Presented by Manulife, Sept 15,1-2pm
Join the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce on Sept 15, to hear from Melissa Roth, partner at Gowling WLG, who will answer questions about what employers can and cannot ask employees when it comes to their COVID-19 vaccination status. She will also provide legal guidance on what employers should consider when creating return-to-office policies for their employees.
Counseling & Psychotherapy for GARS: Collaboration - University & Providers, Sept 15, 1-2pm
This webinar by the Immigrant and Refugee mental Health Project will present a model of university-service provider partnership, between the University of Windsor (Department of Psychology) and the Multicultural Council of Windsor-Essex, established since 2006 in support of the mental health needs of resettled government assisted refugees (GARs). 
Free Online Mental Wellness Sessions: Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body (English, French & Arabic), Sept 16, 17 and Oct 1
The Canadian Mental Health Association(CMHA), in partnership with the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership (WE LIP) and the Migrant Worker Community Program (MWCP) are hosting mental wellness sessions to learn techniques to help manage these feelings, recognize early warning signs, know where to go for help, and feel comfortable reaching out when needed.
Basic Income Now Lunch & Learn, Sept 16, 12-1:30pm
Waterloo Region Community Legal Services and Basic Income Waterloo Region host this workshop to learn about what Basic Income is in preparation for the upcoming election. This lunch and learn session will also discuss the federal parties' platforms for this program with panelists Kristen Thompson, Caterina Lindman, Andrea Kauppinen & Carol Stalker.
Launch of Waterloo Region's 2021 Vital Signs: Vital Focus on Affordable Housing Across the Region, Oct 7, 1-2pm
Join Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation (KWCF) for the launch of Waterloo Region's 2021 Vital Signs report that specifically focuses on one of the most pressing issues in our community – Affordable Housing.
Fourth Annual Social Innovation for Refugee Inclusion (SI4RI) Conference: Sowing Innovation in the Cracks of Crisis, Oct 4-5, 8:30am-12pm
The Migration Policy Institute Europe (MPI Europe), the United States Mission to the European Union, the Mission of Canada to the European Union, and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) present this virtual conference to explore how the diverse landscape of partnerships, social enterprises, participatory models, and community-led initiatives spearheading social innovation for inclusion has fared during COVID-19. 
Multiculturalism @50: Diversity, Inclusion and Eliminating Racism, Oct 6-8
The Metropolis Canada's 4th Annual Forum will bring together leading thinkers in Canada and abroad to assess the state of multiculturalism domestically and in other immigrant receiving/pluralist countries. It will address topics of debate, such as: the impact of multiculturalism on immigrant integration, attachment to Canada, promotion of shared values, the impact on secularism and the accommodation of religious diversity and more.
Islamic Heritage Month event with Author Uzma Jalaluddin, Oct 6, 7-8pm
Coalition of Muslim Women WR along with the Waterloo Public Library invite community members to celebrate together "The Islamic Heritage Month" with best-selling Canadian author Uzma Jalaluddin as she talks about her latest book, Hana Khan Carries On.
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 .
People, Power, Impact: The Future of Im/migration, Oct 21-22
The 2021 OCASI Professional Development Conference is a space for the people of Ontario’s immigrant and refugee-serving sector  to strengthen skills and knowledge, share ideas, make connections and build power. It will bring together frontline workers, program coordinators and managers from OCASI member agencies and other refugee and immigrant serving organizations.
COVID 19 Coverage and other News



 
 
 


Kitchener resident trapped in Kabul The Record, Sept 9, 2021


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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