Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
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October 5, 2020
Stay healthy, Waterloo Region. We are in this together.
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Immigration Partnership Updates
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Fall Virtual Events on Employment Opportunities
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Seeking to create the conditions for immigrants to succeed and help build a welcoming and dynamic community, we have partnered with some of our community partners on virtual events related to employment and networking where local employers and immigrants will enhance their interactions and be able to explore potential employment relationships:
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An amazing opportunity for immigrant job seekers to connect with local employers!
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In this virtual job fair, organized by Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin on October 6, job seekers will connect with 20 employers that are hiring for over 300 positions. It will have a special focus on manufacturing and health care jobs. There are also available positions as Project Managers/ Coordinators, Accountants, Software Developers, Electricians & many more! Job seeker registration is still open.
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Take part in this event to meet local employers and learn about this fascinating sector!
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The Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin and its partners host the MFG Day event each year to give students and job seekers the opportunity to visit local manufacturing companies and to find out what a career in manufacturing is really about.
This year, MFD Day will offer virtual tours instead of its usual bus trip and in-person tours due to concerns around COVD-19. Click here to participate in the MFG Day virtual tours.
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"Employment Law: What You Need to Know," Virtual Event for Employers, Oct 7
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In this new virtual session of the Greater KW Chamber of Commerce’s Manulife Business Success Series, sponsored by Immigration Partnership, Employment Law lawyer Chris Andree from Gowling WLG will provide an update on a variety of topics and some tips regarding future challenges employers will face as businesses continue to manage through these unprecedented times. Registration is open.
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Community Partner Updates
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Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
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The KW Multicultural Centre (KWMC) and YMCA Immigrant Services are remotely serving newcomers across Waterloo Region.
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The YMCA language assessment centre is now doing online language assessments. New clients can call to book an appointment. Also, the YMCA school settlement workers are available and continue to serve clients remotely.
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In Kitchener-Waterloo and area, KWMC is providing interpretation services remotely (phone or videoconferencing) in over 50 languages. Visit https://kwmulticultural.ca/interpreters or email interpreters@kwmc-on.com if you require an interpreter.
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In Cambridge, the YMCA is providing interpretation services (phone or videoconferencing) remotely. Languages include: Arabic, Armenian, Farsi, Persian, Dari, Pashto, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish. If you require an interpreter email interpretations@ckw.ymca.ca.
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Reception House Waterloo Region is remotely serving government-assisted refugees. New refugee arrivals recently resumed in Waterloo Region.
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The Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Supports is remotely serving refugee claimants. Hearings and other processes have begun again.
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Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre continues to meet the health needs of refugees. Call ahead.
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Carizon’s Newcomer Mental Health and Well-Being Program: A Promise of Partnership is currently offering both online and in-person supports to refugees living in Waterloo Region. For more information on current groups, trauma counselling, supports for connecting to mental health resources and workshops, call 519 743-6333 or email promise@carizon.ca.
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Conestoga LINC language classes are running remotely via Zoom/WhatsApp for any students able to join at this time.
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St. Louis ESL and LINC language classes started on Sept 14. They will run remotely and in-person.
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Applications Open for Emergency Community Response Fund
United Way Waterloo Region Communities (United Way WRC) is accepting applications for the second round of the Emergency Community Support Fund to help charities and qualified donees serve and support vulnerable Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are open from October 5 to October 30, 2020.
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Survey: Fall 2020 Budget Consultations
The Ontario government invites all residents to take part in this survey to share their ideas for the 2020 Ontario Budget on what and how to spend wisely during the pandemic and Ontario’s economy recovery. Closing date: October 16, 2020
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Federal, Provincial and Local Updates
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Immigration
Measures
To learn more about other measures or changes on Immigration legislation,
visit the
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Processes are being introduced to support enhanced family reunification, entry for compassionate reasons, and the safe and gradual entry of some international students. Detailed information for extended family members, including the process and requirements, will be on the IRCC website on October 8.
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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.
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Provincial
Government
To learn more about the latest information, measures and changes to legislation due to COVID-19 Outbreak across Ontario, visit the
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COVID-19 Information and Resources
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This Statistics Canada report confirms that "Canada's population reached the 38 million mark between April 1 and July 1, 2020. However the annual increase of 411,854 wa the lowest since 2015/16 due to international migration being slowed by Covid-19."
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"The Pandemic's Impact on our Local Job Market" is a webinar that was recently hosted by Lutherwood and presented by the Workforce Planning Board Executive Director who provided local statistics and information on job demand, economic impact, and other labour market data.
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This paper shows that recent immigrants were more likely than Canadian-born workers to move out of employment in March and April mainly because of their shorter job tenure and over-representation in lower-wage jobs. See also employment transition rates among individuals aged 20 to 64 by immigration status.
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Ontario’s Keeping Ontarians Safe: Preparing for Future Waves of COVID-19 is a comprehensive plan to ensure the province is prepared. It sets out a series of steps to prevent, identify and respond to any outbreak scenario. This includes: Maintaining public health measures, identifying, managing and preventing outbreaks quickly, preparing for any surges in COVID-19 cases, and much more.
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Listen to this new podcast from the Migration Policy Institute that consists of a series of questions: Is this a 9/11 moment for travel and health? Do quarantines work? Can COVID-19 testing in airports help revive ailing tourism industries? And How are hardened borders affecting the business model for human smugglers and traffickers?
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Other Information and Resources
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Fire Prevention Week, October 4-10
Multilingual Resources
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According to the Office of the Fire Marshal, unattended cooking is the number #1 cause of fires in Ontario. In light of this, the theme for this year's Fire Prevention Week, which runs from October 4-10, is “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!"
Check out some resources that you can use in your organization, home or work to raise public awareness of fire safety during Fire Prevention Week and to learn how to be prepared for an emergency, accessible in multiple languages: العربية (Arabic), বাংলা (Bengali), فارسی (Farsi), Suomi (Finnish), Deutsch (German), Ελληνικά (Greek), ગુજરાતી (Gujarati), हिन्दी (Hindi), Italiano (Italian), 한국어 (Korean) and other 17 languages.
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This report presented by Building Migrant Resilience in Cities brings the lessons learned from Windsor-Essex public forum in January 2020, examining international education, immigration & nation-building.
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Virtual Events and Webinars
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The Mentorship Program and Canada Connect, Online Information Session,
Oct 6, 7-8pm
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The Mentorship Program and Canada Connect are two programs offered by YMCA Immigrant Services to assist newcomers in making key relational connections in their new home. Join online Oct 6 to discover both of these programs and how you can be involved as a volunteer or a newcomer.
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Refugee Hearing Preparation, Oct 7, 10am-12:30pm
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FCJ Refugee Centre invites refugees to participate in this webinar on how to get ready for their refugee hearing. The presentation will include what to expect at the hearing, key elements to take in consideration during the hearing, what happens after the hearing, etc.
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Welcoming Refugees during COVID-19: Experiences from the Health and Settlement Sectors, Oct 7, 1pm
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This panel discussion, organized by the National newcomer Navigation Network, brings together professionals from across both the health and settlement sector eastern, central and western Canada who have welcomed newcomers to Canada during COVID-19. The panel will also feature the perspective of a newcomer with lived experience.
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Group of Five Sponsorship Virtual Meeting, Oct 7, 7pm
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This meeting is for anyone involved or interested in Group of Five sponsorship (or Community Sponsorship or the Quebec equivalent 2-5). The Canadian Council for Refugees will share information on COVID-19 issues, and discuss other challenges.
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Youth and their Vision of Work, Oct 20, 1-3pm
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This Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington Dufferin webinar focuses on informing employers about the strengths and traits of young generation workers, and motivating employers to hire youth during and post COVID-19. It will also discuss how employer expectations differ from youth expectations and how to bridge that gap.
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World Café on Affordable Housing,
Oct 22, 9am-12pm
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Leadership Waterloo Region is hosting its second World Café on Affordable Housing on Oct 22. Representatives from many different sectors, including social services, housing, social inclusion and public service are invited to participate to ensure that a diverse perspective is captured. Resources will be collected and shared with all the participants.
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Semaine Nationale de l'Immigration Francophone du 1er au 7 Novembre
Thème 2020: Ma Couleur Francophone
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Cette 8e édition de la Semaine nationale de l'immigration francophone est l’occasion d’ouvrir le dialogue sur la réalité du racisme systémique, que subissent beaucoup d’immigrants et d’apprendre à connaître les autres cultures.
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L'Association des Francophones de K-W Assemblée Générale Annuelle Édition 2020, Nov 5, 19h
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L'Association des francophones de K-W est une association à but non lucratif. Sa mission est de favoriser le développement culturel et linguistique de la population francophone et francophile de KW.
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Pathways to Prosperity 2020 National Conference: The Future of Immigration and (Re)Settlement in Canada, Nov 23-25
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Join the Pathways to Prosperity virtual conference that will focus on immigration and (re)settlement in Canada in this time of a world-wide pandemic and increased awareness of the racism and discrimination facing immigrants every day. On Nov 25, the full day conference for Local Immigration Partnerships and Réseaux en immigration francophone will run from 11amT to 4:45pm EST, focusing on upcoming priorities set by these collaborative enterprises.
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COVID 19 Coverage and other News
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