Immigration Waterloo Region Weekly
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Immigration Partnership News | |
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This week, the Waterloo Region Migration Film Festival (WRMigFest) continues with four powerful migration stories where its protagonists will face challenging situations to make their dreams come true. The film screenings are free and will be followed by a discussion and Q & A session to dig into the refugee and newcomer experience.
This week at WRMigFest:
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Dec 6, 12-1pm: It Takes a Village: Becoming Canadian. The Alphonso Davies Story. Virtual | |
Dec 6, 6:30-8:30pm: Thrown into Canada: The Settlement of Asian Refugees from Uganda. Virtual. | |
Dec 8, 7-8:30pm: Dear Homeland. Exploring one woman's journey toward finding her musical and political voice as an undocumented immigrant. Virtual. | |
Dec 8, 5-6:30pm: Get Away from the Target: Rescuing Migrants from the Libyan Coast Guard. In-person. | |
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For more information on the registration links, other 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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Partners on How We are Building Community Through Immigration! | |
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We are pleased to present the findings of the Immigration Partnership (IP) Partner Survey conducted in October 2022. This report reflects partner reflections on the work of the Immigration Partnership related to the settlement and community integration of immigrants in Waterloo Region and how the collaborative work of the Partnership is contributing to their success.
Some findings include: Partners were enthusiastic about the impact of IP in the community, with 93% feeling that IP is focused on the critical issues for immigrants in our community, 90% feeling that IP is a catalyst for effective change, and 91% feeling that we are achieving the IP mission. Read the full report here.
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This is Home: Building More Welcoming Communities! | |
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Meet Heidi Sproul, one of the 2022 Newcomer Landlord Award recipients! She and her family housed a Ukrainian family of 4 fleeing the war.
As she walked through her hosting experience, Heidi highly recommends opening our home to a family in need as she ensures that “We had a very positive experience. I feel that I have taught my children the importance of helping out fellow human beings. We made new friends, and we learned so much about Ukrainian culture as well. It is rewarding in so many ways but the most important thing is that you would be helping to keep a family safe.” 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 and Richard Hamming, non-profit landlords; Rosslyn Bentley from Woolwich Community Health Centre; Isaiah Ritzmann from Open Homes - Kitchener-Waterloo; Moe Hansrod from KW Property Management; Chinh Pham, Tho Tran and Tony Pham, small private landlords.
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We Are Hiring: Join the Immigration Partnership Team | |
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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2021 Youth Impact Survey: Experiences of Those Not Born In Canada Snapshot
The Children and Youth Planning Table has recently released the 2021 Youth Impact Survey-Experiences of Those Not Born in Canada Snapshot Brief. The Youth Impact Survey (YIS) is an opportunity for the community to hear directly from young people about their own well-being. It’s based on the Canadian Index of Child and Youth Well-being, a framework developed by UNICEF Canada to better understand how children and youth are doing across the country.
Breakdown of respondents who were not born in Canada. YIS respondents were able to select if they were born in Canada or not. Of the youth who responded to this question, 86.2% said they were born in Canada whereas 13.9% said that they were not. Of those who were born outside Canada, on average they had lived in Canada for 8.2 years. Almost six out of 10 (58.6%) selected that they were a Canadian citizen when completing the survey, whereas 35.2% selected that they were not and 6.3% selected that they did not know or were not sure.
Read the full report here.
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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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Ukrainian Woman Spending First Christmas in Waterloo Region After Fleeing From War
When Yuliia Verner started the year, she wasn’t expecting to be forced to spend her Christmas in another country as a result of the war in Ukraine. “I never thought that I would be like a temporary resident somewhere or even going through some steps to acquire permanent residency,” she said. When Russian invaded Ukraine in February, she and her eight-year-old son were living an apartment in Kherson, a port city of Ukraine. Read the full story here.
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Information and Resources | |
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Canada Leads the G7 for the Most Educated Workforce, Thanks to Immigrants
According to Statistics Canada, the country has a larger share of the population with a college or university credential than any other country in the G7. The share with a bachelor's degree or higher continues to rise with an influx of highly educated immigrants and a growing number of young adults completing degrees. However, we may be leaving talent on the table with the educational qualifications of some foreign-educated workers being underused.
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#ImmigrantsWork Phase Two: Call for Expressions of Interest
WES is issuing a call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) to identify up to five new communities and Community Partner organizations interested in creating, evaluating, or expanding employer engagement initiatives to address the challenge of immigrant inclusion in the workforce. Selected Community Partners will become part of a 2023–2024 #ImmigrantsWork program. Each will have the opportunity to access customized training, coaching, and technical assistance (TA) to advance their work.
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My Refugee Claim is for Refugee Claimants
My Refugee Claim is a national public legal education information resource, developed by Kinbrace Community Society, to make refugee protection more accessible for refugee claimants. On arrival in Canada, refugee claimants begin a complex journey in their quest for refugee protection. If they get refugee protection, they are eligible to apply for permanent residence. Refugee claimants are not Government Assisted Refugees or Privately Sponsored Refugees, who receive permanent residence on arrival in Canada.
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Can Canada Handle Half a Million New Immigrants?
This episode of Hub Dialogues features host Sean Speer in conversation with Mikal Skuterud, a labour economist at the University of Waterloo and director of the Canadian Labour Economics Forum. They discuss the federal government’s announcement of Canada’s immigration targets, how we ought to think about the labour market effects of Canadian immigration policy, as well as outcomes for immigrants themselves.
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Diversity is our Strength: Improving Working Conditions in Canadian Non-profits
The non-profit workforce in Canada is incredibly diverse but undervalued. Seventy-seven percent of non-profit workers are women, 47% immigrants and 35% Indigenous and racialized people. Workers in this sector tend to be older and better educated than the economy-wide averages, but face lower salaries and difficult employment conditions. Read this Imagine Canada report to learn what immediate action can be taken by funders, governments, and non-profit leaders to improve conditions for the non-profit sector’s diverse workforce.
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People on the Move in a Changing Climate –
Linking Policy, Evidence and Action
This International Organization for Migration (IOM) report provides insights and recommendations on how to step-up implementation on human mobility in contexts of climate change. Specifically, it draws on existing knowledge and IOM’s experience of working with governments, other UN agencies and partners at different levels to outline the main aspects of the human mobility and climate change nexus from a policy perspective and put forward a series of recommended actions for policymakers.
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Government of Canada Allowing More International Youth to Work and Travel in Canada
The Government of Canada launched the 2023 International Experience Canada (IEC) Program with a 20% increase in the number of applicants who can apply. Applicants will be able to apply as of January 9, 2023. IEC is a reciprocal program that allows Canadian and international youth to work and travel in each other’s countries. This increase means that nearly 90,000 candidates will be able to work and travel in Canada, including Francophone youth, which will help employers fill labour gaps, including for seasonal work opportunities in Canada’s tourism industry.
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Winter Ice and Lights, Wonders of Winter: 18 events to check out in Waterloo Region this week Dec 5- 9 | |
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Take a walk, or skate through the interactive light displays. Pop-up event- thursday december 8, 2022 at 7 p.m. Experience the lights in Central Park while enjoying the live concert and visits from Santa, Mrs. Clause and Willy Melt.
Check other holidays activities here.
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Explore Your Future: Careers in Skilled Trades. Dec 7, 6:30pm | |
BEP Waterloo Region is running the next session of their monthly career speaker panels about Skilled Trades. This event is a great opportunity for immigrants job seekers to hear directly from local people working in the skilled trades about what they do and how they got there. | |
Gender-Based Violence: Strengthening Supports and Services for Muslim Women and Girls, Dec 8, 12-1pm | |
While gender-based violence exists in every culture and community, this CLEO Connect webinar will focus on the unique experiences and needs of Muslim women and girls. How can community workers ensure programs and services are culturally safe? How are we empowering Muslim women to stay safe and informed when seeking support from our organizations? The presenters will address these questions and many more. | |
Business Plan 101, Dec 12, 10-11:30 am | |
Learn why Business Plan is important for your business success and steps to complete your own! Upon completion of this webinar you will receive additional resources and templates and will be fully equipped to start drafting your own business plan. Presented by the Digital Service Squad. | |
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. | |
Maccabeats Concert, Dec 10, 7:30pm | |
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The Rohr Chabad Centre for Jewish Life invite residents to the Maccabeats Concert! For the first time EVER, The Maccabeats are coming to Kitchener-Waterloo! Book your tickets here for a seat at this historic and exciting concert.
This is a family friendly event and everyone is welcome!
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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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Free Holiday Event with Anishnabeg Outreach, Dec 14, 5:30-8pm | |
Anishnabeg Outreach and Coca-Cola are partnering to bring Santa to town on December 14. Come out and enjoy the Coca-Cola caravan, a community fire, delicious warm drinks and sweets, outdoor holiday activities (make reindeer food and homemade ornaments), enjoy some music and dancing, write letters to Santa, and get a gift + photo with Santa! | |
HEIA Tool to Assess Equity Impacts of Programs and Services for Newcomers, Dec 15, 1:30-2:30pm EST | |
The Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) tool was developed by the Government of Ontario to improve health equity and reduce disparities in health outcomes among population groups. In this webinar, you’ll be introduced to how you can use the HEIA tool to reduce the unintended consequences of the programs and services you deliver for newcomers. Intended audience: leaders and service providers in the health, settlement and social service sectors. | |
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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Immigrants help Canada remain G7 nation with most educated workforce CBC News, Dec 03, 2022
Celebrate your World Cup team with yummy foods from around the world CBC News, Dec 03, 2022
Refugee children do not place significant demands on health care: Ontario study CBC News, Dec 02, 2022
Conestoga College to receive provincial funding so nurses can upgrade skills CityNews Kitchener, Dec 01, 2022
Pandemic, slower U.S. migration see Canada closing gap with U.S. in workforce race CTV News, Dec 01, 2022
Regional COVID-19 care clinic expanding services, moving to Sportsworld Drive CityNews Kitchener, Dec 01, 2022
Ontario pediatric infectious disease experts urge parents to get kids vaccinated CityNews Kitchener, Dec 01, 2022
Your Voice Against Racism: Aalaa Rehman Waterloo Chronicle, Nov 30, 2022
Nova Scotia marks a record-breaking year for immigration to the province CBC News, Nov 30, 2022
Bahar Indian Cuisine — “bahar” refers to “spring” — has opened at 276 King St. W., Unit 3, adjacent to Crafty Ramen Waterloo Chronicle, Nov 26, 2022
New money seeks to improve health, wellbeing of equity-seeking groups in Waterloo region CBC News, Nov 23, 2022
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