Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
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Immigration Partnership News | |
Meet the Initiatives Funded to Support Immigrants and Refugees | |
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The Immigration Partnership recently announced $1,164,040 in funding for local initiatives from the Immigration Partnership Fund for Immigrant and Refugee Initiatives and the Fund for Immigrant Economic Wellbeing. We invite you to read about the incredible programming and supports that will be offered to immigrants and refugees in Waterloo Region through the funded initiatives here.
The committees overseeing the funds prioritized initiatives that facilitate the welcoming, settling and integration of immigrants and refugees in Waterloo Region. Specific attention was given to applications led by immigrant-led groups and targeting immigrant women, youth and those who are racialized.
All available funds have now been disbursed and the request for applications to both funds have closed.
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We are pleased to invite you to celebrate International Migrants Day on December 15 by joining us for the last film of the 2022 WRMigFest: "The six" featuring the unknown story of six Chinese men who were among the 700 people who survived the sinking of the Titanic but not the hostility of their hosts in New York City.
Join the conversation! We will also have a post-screening conversation with the filmmaker and the writer Authur Jones to reflect on migration and resettlement. "People would think that Titanic is like a story about rich and poor white people on a ship. It turns out there were black people on board, or Chinese people on board, or the Middle East and people on board," says Jones in an interview. Reserve your spot here.
Other amazing WRMigFest films! In addition, our partners, the Kitchener Public Library, KW Multicultural Centre, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, Idea Exchange, Extend A Family, Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Community Justice Initiatives, Toyota and City of Cambridge, are hosting the last five film screenings this week: "On the Fence," "Free Trip to Egypt," "Unspoken Tears," "The First Call" and "19 Days."
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For more information on the registration links, films and screening dates, visit www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/wrmigfest, or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and share with your family, friends and networks.
Thank you! We are incredibly thankful to all our partners for hosting the 2022 Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival!
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International Migrants Day, December 18
Why do we celebrate International Migrants Day? On 4 December 2000, the General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18 December International Migrants Day. On that day, in 1990, the Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Source: United Nations.
On this Day, we celebrate the vital importance of immigrants to the global economy bringing growth and innovation to the countries where they move to. For example, we recently learned that Canada leads the G7 for the most educated workforce thanks to immigrants; in Ontario, 34.2% of the core-age labour force are immigrants, the highest proportion of all provinces and territories; and Waterloo Region relies on immigration to grow its population and prosperity, ranking the 6th highest proportion of immigrants across Canada’s 41 large urban centres. Let's celebrate International Migrants Day!
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This is Home: Building More Welcoming Communities! | |
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The Woolwich Community Health Centre was selected as one of this year's Newcomer Landlord Award recipients! It offered to take on the responsibility of the Woolwich Guest House for Ukrainians in transition by providing health care, mental health and maternity supports.The Centre was also motivated to fund the paid onsite coordinator, collaborate with community resources and groups, partner with settlement services and coordinate volunteer support for food and clothing.
“We have worked closely for over 25 years with local grassroots group Woolwich Healthy Communities and they identified an opportunity to respond to the needs of people affected by the war in Ukraine by approaching the owner of a vacant 10 bed guesthouse in St Jacobs,” says Rosslyn Bentley, Woolwich Community Health Centre Executive Director. She encourages other landlords to welcome newcomers and be willing to take the first step.
Watch her full testimonial here as part of the "This is Home" video series featuring landlords who have helped create a caring community that supports immigrants, as well as the journey of newcomers to find a home.
Learn more about other stories from our 2022 Newcomer Landlord Award recipients here, including Lisa Weiler Haskins, Richard Hamming and Heidi Sproul, non-profit landlords; Isaiah Ritzmann from Open Homes - Kitchener-Waterloo; Moe Hansrod from KW Property Management; and Chinh Pham, Tho Tran and Tony Pham, small private landlords.
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For more details on these events and other immigration, anti-racism and community initiatives, follow us on our social media accounts! | |
Community Partner Highlights
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Immigrant Services and Interpretation Open
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The KW Multicultural Centre (KWMC) is offering in-person services at its new location: 715 Fischer Hallman Rd, Suite 401, Kitchener.
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YMCA Immigrant Services is providing in-person and remote settlement services.
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The YMCA language assessment centre is doing online and in-person language assessments.
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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 video conferencing) 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 serving government-assisted refugees in person and remotely. Refugee arrivals are ongoing in Waterloo Region.
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COMPASS Refugee Centre (formerly MCRS) is serving refugee claimants virtually and in person for claim and settlement supports. Virtual Ready Tours in preparation for hearings are now available through COMPASS. They also provide safe, in-office access to virtual hearings for claimants who need I.T. support and confidential space.
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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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St. Louis LINC and ESL classes offered morning and afternoon, both online and in-person this year. Evening and Saturday classes are not offered at this time. Please contact the YMCA first to get an English Language Assessments. Please email at intake@ytr.ymca.ca to make an appointment.
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Conestoga LINC language classes. Classes are currently held both on campus and online. When you register for class, a LINC technician will meet with you to help you get started.
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Immigrants in Cambridge, Lend your Voice, Lived Experience and Unique Perspective to
Help the City of Cambridge Shape Your Community.
We encourage immigrants in cambridge to volunteer on City Advisory Committees and Boards. These volunteers play a key role in providing advice and feedback to City Council and staff on a variety of topics including heritage, accessibility, the environment and economic development. Applications are being accepted until Friday, December 23, 2022.
More information
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Refugee Integration Updates | |
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Supporting Afghan and Other Refugee Resettlement in Waterloo Region
Community members can support Afghan and other refugees arriving in the region in many ways: Providing affordable housing or primary care, making monetary donations to the Immigration Partnership Fund or Reception House Waterloo Region, donating clothing and other items, sponsoring refugee families, supporting family reunification efforts,etc. Visit http://immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/afghanresettlement for more information on the Afghan Resettlement in Waterloo Region!
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In Solidarity with Ukraine
Visit www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca/ukraine to learn how residents of Waterloo Region can support the Ukrainians coming to Canada. In addition, visitors will find helpful information and tools shared by the federal government specifically for Ukrainian individuals and families such as service access instructions, welcome to Canada checklist, SIN for Newcomers, etc.
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Information and Resources | |
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According to the labour results from the 2021 Census by Statistics Canada, "in Ontario, 34.2% of the core-age labour force are immigrants, the highest proportion of all provinces and territories, followed by British Columbia at 33.1%."
Also, the census reveals that "immigrants were making an important contribution to employment in all industries and sectors; for example, immigrants aged 25 to 54 accounted for 36.3% of all core-aged employment in accommodation and food services; 37.8% of those in transportation and warehousing; 34.1% of those working in professional, scientific and technical services; and 20.1% of those aged 25 to 54 employed in construction."
Other interesting facts:
- Percentaje of immigrants in the labour force aged 25 to 54 years - Canada: 27.7%
- Workers using more than one language regularly at #work - Canada: 11.7%
Read the full report here.
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Resources for Immigrant and Refugee Women Experiencing Domestic Abuse
While all communities experience domestic violence at similar rates, research shows that immigrant and refugee women enduring domestic violence face particular barriers that make it even more difficult for them to get support. Neighbours, Friends and Families (NFF) – an Ontario-wide campaign to raise awareness about the signs of woman abuse and promote bystander intervention – has developed this video to inform this population about how they can get help.
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Support to Help Immigrant Entrepreneurs Grow Their Business
The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre will be offering the Starter Company Plus (SCP) program. SCP focuses on providing business owners with training, coaching, and mentoring to support starting or growing a business. Once the program is completed successful participants will have the opportunity to present their business idea for a grant of up to $5,000 to fund the start or expansion of their businesses.
Applications are being accepted until January 8, 2023.
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Resources Available for All Your Job Finding Needs
FindYourJob.ca, developed by Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo-Wellington-Dufferin, has resources to aid immigrant job seekers in their job search, no matter the field they enter. Some of the features include: A comprehensive job board pulling from 30 + web-based boards across the internet; a job map tool to showcasing where the jobs are as well as transit routes in those areas; a career explorer tab to show options for different career paths & statistics about wages, skills, etc.
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Fund to Address Skills and Workforce Development Challenges in the Labour Market
The Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development is allocating funding in 2022-23 through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to support projects that will support Ontario’s economic recovery. The SDF offers funding to organizations for innovative projects that address challenges to hiring, training or retaining workers, including apprentices, Ukrainian newcomers & among others, to drive Ontario's economic growth. Deadline: Jan 31, 2023.
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New Counselling Office in Cambridge Offering Services in Various Languages
Muslim Social Services provides counseling in a confidential, culturally and spiritually sensitive environment. They offer counseling and group therapy to individuals, children, couples and families in various languages. New counseling office in Cambridge: Cambridge Muslim Society (Jamia Umar AI-Farroq Masjid), 282 Elgin St N. To book an appointment, call 519 772 4399 ext. 3725.
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Holiday Drop-In Programs,Dec 21, 24 and 31 | |
The Waterloo Public Library has a great line-up of festive drop-in programs during December! Join them for holiday crafts, storytimes, and other activities: Hanukkah Take & Make Kit, Kwanzaa Take & Make Kit, Tiny Christmas Book Garland Take & Make Kit, Noon Years Party and much more. | |
Family-Friendly Holiday Activities and Events, Through December | |
There are several Christmas and holiday events during December across the region for families and friends: Light Up Your Holidays! Christmas at Doon Heritage Village, Kitchener Market Winter Artisan Market, Cambridge Christmas Market, Holiday Performance at The Centre In The Square, New Year’s Eve in Waterloo Region and more. | |
Eco-Friendly Holiday Market, Dec 13, Kitchener City Hall, 4-8pm | |
Join WR Small Business Centre for its first-ever eco-friendly holiday market. Discover a variety of local vendors, each offering unique, sustainable products, perfect for gift-giving for any occasion. Participants will have the opportunity to meet with local entrepreneurs and business owners who are making a difference in our community. | |
Navigating the Legal Help Landscape Part 2: Legal Help Phone Lines, Dec 13, 12-1pm | |
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Service providers are invited to join CLEO Connect to learn about free legal support telephone services that could help your clients. Our speakers will answer your questions about their legal help phone lines, including:
• Types of legal support available and topics they cover
• Who is eligible for what kind of help
• How to help your clients prepare for the call
• Tips for getting through
Did you miss Part 1? View the recording and slides here for Navigating the Legal Help Landscape Part I: Community Legal Clinics and Legal Aid Ontario. Recorded on October 3, 2022.
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Hillside Residence Open House, Dec 15, 3-9pm | |
Waterloo Region Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis invites residents to come and enjoy a warm drink while touring a new home for Ukrainians who are fleeing the war and learn more about how to help. | |
Community Kwanzaa Celebration, Dec 17, 3pm | |
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Kind Minds Family Wellness and Kitchener Public Library invite families to celebrate Kwanzaa with friends to enjoy drumming, storytime, crafts, and dancing!
Everyone is invited to this community celebration.
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Ho Ho Ho, Kiwanis Arena, Dimanche 18, Décembre, De 13h à 16h | |
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Vous n’êtes pas encore inscrits ? Dépêchez-vous, il ne reste que quelques places de disponibles avec déjà 45 familles inscrites ! Nous avons bien hâte de partager cette activité de fin d’année en votre compagnie. Ne manquez pas le concours d’emballage cadeaux qui aura lieu à 15h40.
Pour devenir membre, contactez coordonnatrice@afkw.org
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Migration Film Festival, Holiday Arts Market: 23 events to check out in Waterloo Region this week (Dec. 12 to 16) Waterloo Chronicle, Cambridge Time, Dec 12, 2022
South Asian international students most likely to access food bank at Conestoga College: survey CBC News, Dec 08, 2022
With immigration set to soar, where will everyone live? The Record, Dec 8, 2022
‘We need to recruit and retain family physicians’: Cambridge family doctor on medical staff shortage during respiratory virus surge Waterloo Chronicle, Dec 08, 2022
Your Voice Against Racism: Nigel Gordijk Cambridge Times, Dec 07, 2022
Immigrant children in Waterloo Region more likely to have positive mental health, survey shows Waterloo Chronicle, Dec 06, 2022
United Way 'Campaign for a Cause’ will match new donations to Waterloo Region agencies Waterloo Chronicle, Dec 06, 2022
How Canada can fix its ‘predatory’ relationship with international students Toronto Star, Dec 04, 2022
You can try all the cultures of India in one place Waterloo Chronicle, Nov 30, 2022
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