Pathways to Prosperity 2024 National Conference: Workshops and Roundtables – Presentations and Recordings | Conférence nationale 2024 de Voies vers la prospérité: Ateliers et tables-rondes – Les présentations et les enregistrements
Monday, November 25, 2024
11:45 AM – 5:00 PM PST
11:45 AM – 5:00 PM EST
A01 (in person) – 10 Reasons To Hate Others and What To Do About It
Facilitators: Victoria Esses – Western Univ. & P2P, Hazel Markus – Stanford Univ., Stephen Reicher – Univ. of St. Andrews, Allison Harell – Univ. du Québec à Montréal, and Prerna Singh – Brown Univ.
Why do groups (e.g., racial and national groups, immigrants and non-immigrants) hate and mistreat each other? Researchers from the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) will present ten reasons, combining the insights of psychology, political science, economics, sociology, and the law. These ten reasons feed each other in a cyclical manner and trigger hatred among groups. Awareness of the drivers of hate is a first step in inoculating people against it. The goal of this roundtable is to briefly present our 10-reason cycle of hate and to then seek your input on: 1) how best to present this cycle to resonate with key audiences, and 2) what types of products we can develop to convey this information in appealing and pervasive ways. As we develop these products, we will share them broadly through P2P and partner networks.
- Allison Harell, Professor, Université du Québec à Montréal
- Hazel Markus, Professor, Stanford University
- Prerna Singh, Brown University
- Stephen Reicher, Professor, University of St. Andrews
- Victoria Esses, Pathways to Prosperity I Voies vers la prospérité
A02 (in person) – Reconciliation Is a Long Road
Chair: Steve Reynolds, Regional Connections Immigrant Services
This workshop will present two successful approaches to educating newcomers on Indigenous Peoples and reconciliation, from the City of Toronto and rural Manitoba. Attendees will then be invited to engage in a discussion around their capacity to engage Indigenous communities and incorporate Indigenous practices such as smudging and sharing circles.
- Indigenous Peoples in Toronto – An Introduction for Newcomers (Download Presentation)
Maimuna Gaye, City of Toronto - Indigenous Education for All – A Learning Series for EAL & Literacy Learners (Download Presentation)
Shawn Charlebois, Red Road Compass, and Steve Reynolds, Regional Connections Immigrant Services
A03 (in person) – Introducing CanAvenue.ca: An Online Platform for Independent English Learners
Chair: Rob McBride – New Language Solutions
IRCC-funded, the free CanAvenue platform serves temporary foreign workers, refugee claimants, and those on waiting lists for formal language training programs like LINC. Other newcomers are unable to attend formal language training because of geographic isolation or work and family responsibilities. Many have exhausted their formal language training eligibility. The CanAvenue courseware serves two English proficiency levels, CLB 3/4, and CLB 5 – 7. CanAvenue.ca provides orientations to independent learning, formal language training, employment and citizenship. CanAvenue supports skill building in listening, speaking, reading and writing and is grounded in Canada’s cultures and diversity. Settlement services participants in the workshop will explore how the platform can serve their newcomer clients.
- Rob McBride – New Language Solutions
- John Allan – New Language Solutions
- Paul Carter – New Language Solutions
- Phil Hubbard – Stanford University
- Greg Kessler – Ohio University
A04 (in person) – Building the Capacity of the Settlement Sector to Identify and Implement Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppressive Policies and Practices in the Workplace
Chair: Aamna Ashraf – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
The Immigrant and Refugee Mental Health Project (IRMHP), an IRCC-funded national initiative, builds the capacity of the health and settlement sectors to support the mental health of immigrants and refugees. This work is done through training, partnerships and collaborations across Canada and with leaders in the settlement sector. Recognizing the diverse needs of the sector, this workshop will feature promising practices on anti-racism and anti-oppression from Kamloops, Winnipeg and Toronto.
- Integrating Health Equity, Anti-racism, Anti-oppression, Intersectionality, Allyship: Building the Capacity of the Settlement Sector
Stefanie Cali – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) - Equity in Action: Inclusive Practices for Healthy Workplace
Nina Condo – Elmwood Community Resource Centre - Building Inclusive Workplaces in the Settlement Sector and our Communities: Best Practices and Strategies
Rajneet Chhatwal – Kamloops Immigrant Services
A05 (in person) – Effective Integration Strategies for Newcomer Youth
Chair: Christine Binne, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
In this session, AHC Alberta and ANC Employment Services will present comprehensive strategies for supporting immigrant youth social, cultural, and workforce integration. AHC Alberta will present its synergetic approach to immigrant youth integration, focusing on youth empowerment, youth as catalysts for change, and advancing integration through collaboration and stakeholder engagement. ANC Employment Services is initiating a new project entitled Newcomer Youth Trades Toolbox. Funded by ESDC, it is structured to enhance clients’ readiness for the construction labor market. Through skills development, employment readiness training, and a work experience placement, it provides the opportunity for youth to experience trades and carpentry.
- ANC Newcomer Youth Trades Toolbox (Download Presentation)
Jim Murphy – Association for New Canadians - Enhancing Immigrant Youth Integration Through a Synergetic Approach (Download Presentation)
Sherry Park and Sarah Smith – Action for Healthy Communities - Youth as Catalysts for Change
Rayyah Sempala – Action for Healthy Communities
A06 (in person | en personne) – Emergency Exit or Dead End? An Analysis of the Impacts of the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers on Migrant Workers | Sortie de secours ou cul-de-sac? Les effets du permis de travail ouvert pour les travailleurs vulnérables sur les travailleurs migrants
Chair | Présidente : Danièle Bélanger – Laval University | Université Laval
During this workshop, presenters will launch a new report featuring an original study that analyzes the impacts of the Open Work Permit for Vulnerable Workers on temporary foreign workers who experienced abuse and applied for it. The study is based on in-depth interviews with 47 workers in BC, Ontario, and Québec collected in 2023-2024. The findings highlight inequalities and barriers to accessing the program, as well as new vulnerabilities following the application process and the issuance or denial of the permit. Recommendations from study participants are included. The workshop will showcase a true partnership between academia and community organizations.
- Danièle Bélanger – Laval University (Download Presentation)
- Amanda Aziz – Migrant Workers Center
- Geneviève Fournier – Laval University (Download Presentation)
- Marie-Ève Lacroix – Réseau d’aide aux travailleuses et travailleurs migrants agricoles du Québec (RATTMAQ)
Au cours de cet atelier, les présentateurs lanceront un nouveau rapport présentant une étude originale qui analyse les impacts du permis de travail ouvert pour travailleurs vulnérables sur les travailleurs étrangers temporaires qui ont été victimes d’abus et en ont fait la demande. L’étude est basée sur des entretiens approfondis menés en 2023-2024 auprès de 47 travailleurs de la Colombie-Britannique, de l’Ontario et du Québec. Les résultats mettent en évidence les inégalités et les obstacles à l’accès au programme, ainsi que de nouvelles vulnérabilités suite au processus de demande et à la délivrance ou au refus du permis. Les recommandations des participants à l’étude sont incluses. L’atelier mettra en valeur un véritable partenariat entre le monde universitaire et les organismes communautaires.
- Danièle Bélanger – Université Laval (Télécharger la présentation)
- Amanda Aziz – Centre des travailleurs migrants
- Geneviève Fournier – Université Laval (Télécharger la présentation)
- Marie-Ève Lacroix – Réseau d’aide aux travailleuses et travailleurs migrants agricoles du Québec (RATTMAQ)
A07 (in person) – Empowering Immigrants Pre- and Post-Arrival: E-Learning Design, Insights and Solutions
Chair: Cristian Medina – Planning for Canada, CICan
This workshop led by Planning for Canada, a pre-arrival program, will present experiences with designing self-directed e-learning modules. Initiated to empower immigrants to Canada with comprehensive resources tailored to their needs, these modules were developed by experts in various disciplines. Norquest College will explain the technical side of creating these modules. JVS Toronto will share the benefits of integrating e-learning with personalized counselling sessions to support pre- and post-arrival skilled immigrants. This workshop will be useful for anyone interested in creating e-learning resources that are effective and accessible to immigrants. We will also share how cross-sector partnerships amplify service delivery in the digital age.
- Cristian Medina – Planning for Canada, CICan
- Sharvari Jois – JVS Toronto
- Leah Townsend – NorQuest College
A08 (in person) – Fostering Sustainable Careers for Newcomers in Healthcare: Bridging the Skills Gap Through Language Training
Chair: Pat Marilley-Bodner – MOSAIC
MOSAIC and the Hospital Employees Union partnered to develop and pilot a language training program for healthcare workers in the private sector. The goal of the training was to improve English skills so workers could access career training or accreditation, while working full-time. This workshop will explore the motivations of clients to participate in language training and how the two organizations formed and carried out their strategic partnership to meet client needs. The workshop will also explain aspects of the curriculum and program delivery which made the training accessible, flexible, relevant and supportive of client goals and needs.
- Supporting Career Development for Private Sector Healthcare Workers
Iulia Sincraian – Hospital Employees Union - Developing Language Training That Meets Clients Where They Are
Jason Green – MOSAIC - Facilitating Language Training for Clients with High Barriers
Jennifer Mitchell – MOSAIC - Using Strategic Partnerships to Address Service Gaps
Pat Marilley-Bodner – MOSAIC - Wrap-up and Discussion: Results from this Project and Applicability to Other Client Groups
Pat Marilley-Bodner – MOSAIC
A09 (in person) – From Maternal Mental Health to International Student Integration: Applying Journey Mapping in Supporting Newcomers to Canada
Chair: Julie Rodier – Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
Journey maps are an emerging and innovating data collection method, valuable in understanding newcomers’ lived experience as they adapt to life in Canada. This method illustrates their challenges and needs, thoughts, and opportunities for improvement at significant timepoints. Drawing from two projects, we will share how journey maps were utilized to capture the factors that motivate or hinder the transition of international students to permanent residency, and newcomer mothers’ experiences in accessing mental health supports. Insights gained offer recommendations on providing culturally appropriate services to newcomers and inform immigration policies targeting international students for their attraction and retention in Canada.
- Mapping Newcomer Mothers’ Journey in Accessing One-On-One Supports Through the “Tri-Cities Wrap Around Model for Maternal Mental Health in Immigrant Families’ Project”
Sol Park – Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) - Navigating New Horizons: Using Journey Mapping to Explore the Challenges and Enablers of International Students Transitioning to Permanent Residency in OLMC in Canada
Julie Rodier – Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
A11 (in person) – Navigating DEI Practices Together: Lessons From a Research Project and a Community of Practice
Chair: Oded Oron – JIAS Toronto
This workshop offers lessons learned from two Diversity, Equity and Inclusion projects:
- A collaborative action-research initiative by Saint Paul University and the National Newcomer Network that asks, “As employers, do settlement agencies consistently promote and enable an inclusive work environment?”
- The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Community of Practice for settlement sector practitioners by JIAS Toronto and Canadian Equality Consulting.
This workshop includes a featured session, “How to Develop a DEI Strategy and Action Plan for your Organization,” with interactive activities for participants to learn how to turn inclusive practices into action.
- Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for Settlement Workers: Assessing Your Organization’s Progress (Download Presentation)
Michaël Séguin and Bianca Briciu – Saint Paul University - Navigating DEI Practices Together: Lessons from a Community of Practice (Download Presentation)
Malka Elkin – JIAS Toronto, Oden Oron – JIAS Toronto, and Anisha Phillips – Canadian Equality Consulting Inc.
A12 (in person) – Sharing Research and Resources from the Enhancing National Sector Gender-Based Analysis Plus Capacity Project
Chair: Leesha Kanbour – Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA)
The Enhancing National Sector Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) Capacity project aims to enhance the national newcomer-serving sector’s capacity to mainstream GBA Plus within programs, policies, and procedures. Through a research process and piloting phase with Service Provider Organizations (SPOs) across the country, the project has produced sector specific guidance to support SPOs in meeting the specific needs and priorities of diverse newcomer populations. At this session, project staff will share findings from the final research report as well as tools and resources from the sector specific bilingual resource guide.
- Enhancing Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)
Leesha Kanbour – Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) - Capacity in the National Newcomer-Serving Sector
Stephanie Redden and Crystal Guzmán – Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA)
A13 (in person) – The Future of Cultural Brokering in Canada
Facilitators: Samantha Lee and Traicy Robertson – Manitoba Possible
The concept of Cultural Brokering is centered on promoting inclusive practices and bridging differing cultural values to advance knowledge and drive social change. This approach emphasizes gaining a profound contextual understanding of lived realities and is aligned with DEI and JEDI principles. Cultural Brokering is increasingly recognized as a fundamental approach within the evolving narrative of Canada. However, the specifics of its implementation and the mechanisms for its realization remain open questions. We invite you to participate in our discussion to explore the potential impact of this practice at local and regional levels and envision what this process might entail.
A14 (in person) – The Importance of Sector Collaboration in Addressing Refugee Claimants’ Housing Needs – A Contemporary Case Study and Ways Forward
Facilitators: Nikita Laranjeira and Marzieh Nezakat – MOSAIC
Join us for an engaging roundtable discussion that brings together leaders from settlement organizations, transitional housing and shelter experts, and advocacy groups to tackle one of today’s most pressing challenges: securing safe, affordable housing for refugee claimants. Discover how the BC CHARMS housing referral database has transformed collaboration in this space, unlocking new ways to connect those in need with critical housing resources. This dynamic conversation will dive into real-world examples and new strategies for future partnerships, offering fresh ideas to address the growing housing crisis for refugee claimants. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the solution! Roundtable participants include:
- Nikita Laranjeira – MOSAIC
- Marzieh Nezakat – MOSAIC
- Jenea Gomez – Salvation Army
- Kelly Rader – Inasmuch Community Society
- Katya Avalos – Multi-Agency Partnership BC
A15 (in person) – “The Roadshow”: A Meaningful Mobilization of Findings from a Community-Academic Project on Women Impacted by Intersections of Gender, Race, Migration, and Class
Chair: Shahin Kassam – University of British Columbia
Women living within intersections of migration, gender, race, and class are affected by forms of gender-based violence and persistently experience challenges in timely access to health and settlement services. Addressing this challenge through a community-academic partnership consisting of health and settlement organizations, we describe a research project grounded in inclusively engaging with realities of women impacted by migration. Integrated knowledge mobilization (iKM) activities that generated “The Roadshow” which shared findings across four settlement organizations will be focused on. We will describe the intentions, nuances, and impacts of our collaboratively delivered iKM work including how they inform future partnership endeavours.
- Diana Ospina – DIVERSEcity Community Resources Services
- Shahin Kassam – University of British Columbia
- Jenny Lam – Options Community Services
- Adrienne Bale – MOSAIC
- Marc Larrivée – Impact North Shore
A16 (virtual) – Black Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Canada (Video | Vidéo)
Facilitator: Alyssa Saiphoo – Diversity Institute – Toronto Metropolitan University
Black entrepreneurs are still underrepresented in the Canadian entrepreneurial ecosystem. Recent data on Black entrepreneurship reveals multifaceted challenges at the societal, organizational, and individual levels. In addition, Black entrepreneurs with intersecting identities (e.g., women and immigrants) may face compounding barriers when navigating entrepreneurship. The roundtable will facilitate key discussions into the current status of Black immigrant entrepreneurship in Canada, their barriers and challenges, current strategies and emerging research to provide an overview of Canadian government initiatives, diverse support programs, and enablers for Black entrepreneurship to drive a more inclusive innovation ecosystem.
A17 (virtual) – If Employment is the Holy Grail of Settlement, Why Aren’t We Better at It? (Video | Vidéo)
Chair: Marco Campana – Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services
When it comes to employment services and solutions it feels like we’ve been doing the same things for over 40 years and Newcomers still face significant structural barriers to employment. Why do we think doing the same things will continue to work? Let’s talk about what we know works, and how to make these solutions scale to meet the actual numbers of Newcomers coming to Canada each year, and what it takes to get employers to the table, also at scale.
- There is No Settlement Without Employment. Why Are We Not Focused On This? (Download Presentation)
Nick Noorani – Immigrant Networks - Where’s the Employer’s Perspective? Connecting Selection and Settlement to Employer Needs
Patrick MacKenzie – Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia (IECBC) - All Roads Lead to Employment Success
Michael Hsu – Achēv
A18 (virtual) – Journeys to Active Citizenship: Promoting a ‘Community of Practice’ Through Civic Engagement (Video | Vidéo)
Chair: Paul Bishop – North York Community House
The ‘Journeys to Active Citizenship’ (JAC) project is supporting the settlement sector by promoting and fostering civic engagement among immigrants and refugees. The JAC project is committed to a ‘Community of Practice’, which incorporates the perspectives of settlement workers and service providers into the development and dissemination of curriculum that has been developed to help facilitate civic engagement. This workshop will be an opportunity for practitioners to discuss how to generate active citizenship in a way that highlights viewpoints from all corners of the country. During the workshop, participants will be invited to reflect on their experiences supporting immigrants/migrants and refugees in their journeys to active citizenship and settlement.
- Paul Bishop – North York Community House
- Farhannah Villanueva – North York Community House
- Tania Ruiz Chapman – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
A19 (virtuel) – La sortie de situations de violence conjugale et dans les relations intimes : comment soutenir les femmes immigrantes ?
Présidente : Nassera Touati – École nationale d’administration publique (ÉNAP)
Cet atelier vise à partager les résultats d’un projet de recherche-action visant à favoriser la pleine participation économique et sociale des femmes et des adolescentes immigrantes et de minorités racisées (FAIMR) victimes de violence conjugale et dans les relations intimes. Il s’agissait de developer, dans un territoire a Montréal, une réponse intersectorielle et de pratiques adaptées à la dimension culturelle, de genre et d’âge. L’atelier : 1) identifiera les besoins des FAIMR , les obstacles et les facilitateurs dans l’accès aux services 2) discutera des recommandations découlant de ce diagnostic et des défis d’implantation 3) présentera les principaux enseignements de l’évaluation des interventions mises en place.
- L’accès aux services pour une pleine participation economique et sociale des Femmes immigrantes : enjeux et pistes d’amélioration
Sonia Michaelsen – Université de Montréal - La formation comme levier de changement de pratiques dans la lutte contre la violence conjugale : enseignements d’une évaluation
Tatiana Sanhueza Morales – Centre InterActions - Mobiliser les acteurs d’un territoire autour de la problématique de la violence
conjugale : défis et stratégies
Eve Torres – Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) du Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal - Une communauté de pratique dédiée a la problématique de violence conjugale : l’expérience de Montréal Nord
Sonia M. Parra Jordán – Table femmes Osez au Féminin (TFOF)
A20 (virtual) – Paving a Path for Digital Equity and Digital Transformation in Peel Region (Video | Vidéo)
Chair: Jessica Kwik – United Way Greater Toronto
The path to achieve digital equity is multi-pronged. Digital transformation of the sector should also go hand in hand with the realities of newcomers’ digital access. It is important to understand who is falling through the gap in the shift to digital. Digital transformation of service providers is effective if it is accessible to all. Two parallel projects in Peel that contribute to the transformation of digital in the settlement sector will discuss how these aspects are linked and contribute towards digital equity in the sector, examining from the lens of the service providers as well as service users.
- Digital Maturity and Transformation Roadmap: Advancing Settlement Sector Planning Through Digital Alignment and Data Insights Collaboratively
Jessica Kwik – United Way Greater Toronto, Kay Nadalin – Code for Canada, and Dorothy Eng – Code for Canada - Exploring Digital Equity for Newcomer Services: Perspectives on Access and Challenges in Peel Region
Mariam Mian – United Way Greater Toronto, Danielle Ungara – Peel CAS’ Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence, Ghezal Wallid – Peel CAS’ Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence, and Prihan Algohary – Peel Multicultural Council
A21 (virtual | virtuel) – Supporting Language Learners through Volunteer Training | Soutenir les apprenants en langues d’établissement grâce à la formation des bénévoles (Video | Vidéo)
Chair | Présidente : Marijke Geurts – New Language Solutions
This bilingual workshop highlights the transformative role of volunteerism in enriching language education and fostering community integration in Canada, benefiting both learners and educators alike. Learn how leveraging volunteers can enrich language learning experiences, reduce waitlists, and foster stronger community connections. Discover how TBLV (TESL Basics for Language Volunteers) and its newly transadapted Francophone counterpart, AFIB (L’ABC du FLS pour les Instructeurs Bénévoles), enhance both English and French language programs for immigrants. Available on Avenue.ca, these online training programs equip diverse volunteers—from retirees to immigrant students—with interactive tools to support ESL/LINC and FSL/CLIC instruction.
- Marijke Geurts – New Language Solutions
- Matthias Sturm – New Language Solutions
- Gilles Aubry – New Language Solutions
- Sophie Bonny – New Language Solutions
Cet atelier bilingue met en lumière le rôle transformateur du bénévolat dans l’enrichissement de l’enseignement des langues et l’intégration communautaire au Canada, profitant tant aux apprenants qu’aux éducateurs. Découvrez comment mobiliser des bénévoles peut enrichir l’apprentissage, réduire les listes d’attente et renforcer les liens communautaires. TBLV (TESL Basics for Language Volunteers) et son équivalent francophone, AFIB (L’ABC du FLS pour les Instructeurs Bénévoles), améliorent les programmes d’anglais et de français pour immigrants. Disponibles sur Avenue.ca, ces formations en ligne fournissent aux bénévoles des outils interactifs pour soutenir l’enseignement CLIC/FLS et LINC/ALS.
- Marijke Geurts – New Language Solutions
- Matthias Sturm – New Language Solutions
- Gilles Aubry – New Language Solutions
- Sophie Bonny – New Language Solutions
B01 (in person) – AI in Service Delivery: Envisioning Tomorrow
Chair: Diana Delgado – Options Community Services
The ILA (Instant Language Assistant) system is designed to provide immediate interpretation services for clients with limited English proficiency or when no staff member fluent in the client’s language is available. It is important to note that ILA complements rather than replaces human interpretation. It is activated when interpretation services are at capacity or when a human interpreter is unavailable, ensuring clients receive timely service access. Our workshop will focus on how to create a culturally safe and practical service delivery environment for newcomers with limited or no English language skills, while empowering frontline staff to provide services.
- Diana Delgado – Options Community Services
- Ahmad Maaliji – Options Community Services
- Hanaa Mansour – Newton WorkBC
B02 (in person) – Assessment to Achievement: Collaborative Strategies for Supporting Newcomers’ Journey
Chair: Alice Ang – Prometric
This workshop is a collaboration between settlement sector and other key sectors to support newcomers in their integration journey. Our speakers will discuss the role of assessment and testing in immigrant settlement success, offering insights from various perspectives. The presentations explore how appropriate assessments help immigrants meet requirements for pathway programs, enhance employment opportunities, and support further education. We will highlight effective strategies and share success stories of immigrants. Overall, the presentations will illustrate the synergy between settlement services and assessment sectors, showcasing how this collaboration, along with insights from New Canadians TV, fosters a supportive community from new immigrants.
- Unlocking Barriers to Services and Community Engagement: The Role of Language Training and Assessment Services in Newcomers’ Access to Settlement Services and Training Program
Rizza Solis – Kababayan Multicultural Centre - Leveraging Media Partnerships to Enhance the Reach of Language Services for Newcomers
Shruti Dargan – New Canadians TV Network - Enhancing Immigrant Integration Through Effective Assessment and Collaboration
Alice Ang – Prometric
B03 (in person) – Best Practices and Successes in Retaining and Attracting Newcomers in Smaller Centres
Facilitators: Saša Loggin – Skeena Diversity Society, Carolyn Amantea – Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy, and Hafsa Khan – Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA)
In this roundtable discussion, participants will share insights on retaining and attracting newcomers. The discussion will be guided and facilitated by two smaller centre representatives with participation from attendees from all over British Columbia and Canada. The discussion will address key topics including place-based approaches to settlement services, innovative strategies for attracting and retaining newcomers in small and rural communities, promising practices for addressing local challenges, and how creating welcoming communities fosters a sense of belonging. Overall, this session aims to offer a valuable exchange of ideas and practical solutions to empower settlement organizations in smaller centres.
B04 (in person) – Building Capacity for Anti-Racism in Burnaby
Chair: Navreen Gill – BIPT & Burnaby Family Life
Burnaby is one of a handful of Canadian cities without a ‘majority ethnic group’, with over half its population being born outside of Canada. In response to a disturbing trend of rising incidents of racism and hate, the City of Burnaby collaborated with citizen-led groups such as Burnaby Together to build a stronger community response. Recently, the Council also approved the Anti-Racism Framework to make Burnaby a more welcoming community for all. We will present various initiatives to build the capacity of the City staff and communities to respond to incidents of racism and hate more effectively.
- Building Belonging in Burnaby for Racialized Newcomers and Immigrants to Thrive – Understanding and Dismantling Systemic Racism (Download Presentation)
June Francis – Simon Fraser University - Building Inclusion and Anti-Racism in the City of Burnaby (Download Presentation)
Kai Okazaki – City of Burnaby - Public Library as an Anti-Racist Space (Download Presentation)
Emily Guerrero – Burnaby Public Library - Addressing Hate in Burnaby: Environmental Scan of Community Supports and Response Protocol (Download Presentation)
Sangeeta Subramanian – Chetana Consulting – Burnaby Together Member
B05 (in person) – Building Workplace Inclusion Charters: Sharing Insights from the Community of Practice
Chair: Michelle Nguyen – Peterborough Immigration Partnership & New Canadians Centre Peterborough
Since 2017, many communities across Canada have launched Workplace Inclusion Charters (WICs) to boost local employee attraction and retention. It is a toolkit that encourages and supports employers to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies and practices into their workplaces. In this workshop, participants will learn about the processes, challenges, and lessons learned from Kingston (ON), Peterborough (ON), Edmonton (AB), and Red Deer (AB) across different stages of implementing DEI practices in their communities. The practitioners will share the resources, strategies, and best practices for facilitating a project involving multi-sector partners including employers, service providers, and community organizations.
- Cultivating Community Capacity for a Workplace Inclusion Charter: Strategies from Peterborough (Download Presentation)
Michelle Nguyen – Peterborough Immigration Partnership & New Canadians Centre Peterborough - Workplace Inclusion Charter – Creating Connection between AI and Talent Retention for Business Growth (Download Presentation)
Dieulita Datus-Hall – Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership - Kingston’s Workplace Inclusion Charter: Challenges and Successes (Download Presentation)
Wessam Ayad – KEYS Employment and Newcomer Services - What Are Employers Thinking? A Look at the Impact of Different Forms of EDI Training (Download Presentation)
Zeina Sleiman – NorQuest College
B06 (in person) – (Comm)Unity Living: How to Strengthen Shared Priorities and Amplify the Collective Voice of the Settlement and Integration Sector
Chair: Katie Crocker – Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) & Pathways to Prosperity
Newcomers are integral to the strength and wellness of communities across Canada. Yet reality and perception are not always aligned, and the past year has seen newcomers face growing negative rhetoric as they become scapegoats for issues that are symptoms of systems failure. One effective way in which to counteract this rhetoric is for Canada’s broader settlement and integration sector to provide standardize, evidenced-based counter messaging, something which provincial umbrella organizations are uniquely positioned to do. As such, this workshop aims to refute some of the most prominent misconceptions that have emerged regarding newcomers by examining the unique role of umbrella organizations in working to amplify shared priorities and strengthen the collective voice of the settlement and integration sector.
- Berivan Sarikaya – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) (Download Presentation)
- Sabrina Dumitra – Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) (Download Presentation)
- Seid Oumer Ahmed – Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organizations (MANSO) (Download Presentation)
B07 (in person) – Emerging and Promising Practices for Supporting Newcomers with Disabilities in the Language and Settlement Sectors
Chair: Danielle Barnes – NorQuest College
This workshop explores current best practices and identifies gaps in supporting newcomers with disabilities. It introduces the Sight Loss Integration Teacher Toolkit, specifically designed to empower educators in effectively accommodating learners with sight loss in diverse classroom environments. The toolkit encompasses practical strategies, lesson plans, and technological solutions. Additionally, comprehensive approaches for supporting students with physical and cognitive disabilities in both classroom settings and settlement practices will be outlined. Emphasis will be placed on inclusive classroom methodologies and specialized learning partnerships. From a settlement perspective, the workshop will address how to guide newcomers through available supports and highlight community practice models such as cultural brokering and cultural humility.
- Emerging and Promising Practices for Supporting Newcomers with Disabilities in the Language Sector Using a Social Model Approach (Download Presentation)
Danielle Barnes – NorQuest College - Emerging and Promising Practices for Supporting Newcomers with Disabilities in the Language Sector (Download Presentation)
Jessica Leslie – Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) - Emerging and Promising Practices for Supporting Newcomers with Disabilities in the Settlement Sector (Download Presentation)
Traicy Robertson – Manitoba Possible
B08 (in person) – Growing Roots: Reimagining Housing Through Art for Refugees in Surrey
Chair: Margarita Tellez España – DIVERSEcity Community Resource Society
The housing crisis in Canada, especially in British Columbia, severely impacts refugees. City in Colour Co-op partnered with DIVERSEcity Community Resource Society to document the housing realities and dreams of Government Assisted Refugees (GARs) and refugee claimants in Surrey. This workshop will present findings from art-based research from the perspective of four refugee groups: Dari, Swahili, Arabic-speaking GARs, and Spanish-speaking claimants. We will explore language barriers, discrimination, and unfamiliarity with housing search tools, highlighting the refugee housing crisis. Co-researchers with lived experience will share personal stories and discuss potential community-led solutions to housing challenges.
- Introduction to the BC Housing Crisis with a Refugee Focus
Margarita Tellez España – DIVERSEcity Community Resource Society - Common Issues Faced by Refugees
Margarita Tellez España – DIVERSEcity Community Resource Society - Reality vs. Reimagining of Housing for Spanish-Speaking Refugee Claimants
Natalia Botero – City in Colour Co-op - Reality vs. Reimagining of Housing for Dari-Speaking Refugees
Moqadas Hashimi – City in Colour Co-op - Reality vs. Reimagining of Housing for Arabic & Swahili -Speaking Refugees
Fiorella Pinillos – City in Colour Co-op - Commonalities & Differences of Housing Issues for all Four Refugee Groups
Fiorella Pinillos – City in Colour Co-op - Hopes and Dreams for Housing & Community Led Solutions
Fiorella Pinillos – City in Colour Co-op, and Margarita Tellez España – DIVERSEcity Community Resource Society
B09 (in person | en personne) – How REAC! is Drawing Lessons from Success: New Ways of Collaborating Can Support Marginalized Migrants’ Health | Comment REAC! tire des leçons du succès : De nouvelles façons de collaborer peuvent soutenir la santé des migrants marginalisés
Chair | Présidente : Lara Gautier – University of Montreal | Université de Montréal
During COVID-19, it became more important than ever for public and community-based organizations to work across sector lines in supporting the health and well-being of refugees asylum seekers, and non-status migrants. Mandatory distancing pushed for new forms of cross-sectoral collaboration. The REAC! participatory research project sought to analyze these new collaborations, their success and challenges, from the perspectives of service providers and migrant service users in Québec and Ontario. As the project finishes and our findings get publicized, this workshop will offer the critical reflections of REAC! community partners, their takeaway for practice, and their suggestions for promising research avenues.
- Connecting Roles: Representing Migrant Service Users on the REAC! Research Advisory Board and Supporting the Community in My Professional Practice
May Massijeh – Health Access Thorncliffe Park - Adapting Volunteer Engagement Models During and After a Crisis: What Together Project Learned From the Pandemic
Andrew Lusztyk – Together Project – MakeWay - The Importance of the Inclusive Approach to Meet the Needs of Migrant Communities: The Role of the Community Network in Quebec
Nina Meango – ACCÉSSS Québec - Learning from Research Evidence to Inform and Highlight our Work During and Beyond COVID-19
Cliff Ledwos – Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services
Pendant la COVID-19, il est devenu plus important que jamais pour les organisations publiques et communautaires de collaborer au-delà des frontières sectorielles pour soutenir la santé et le bien-être des réfugiés, des demandeurs d’asile et des migrants sans statut. La distanciation obligatoire a poussé à de nouvelles formes de collaboration intersectorielle. Le projet de recherche participative REAC! visait à analyser ces nouvelles collaborations, leurs succès et leurs défis, du point de vue des prestataires de services et des migrants utilisateurs de services au Québec et en Ontario. Alors que le projet touche à sa fin et que nos résultats sont diffusés, cet atelier offrira les réflexions critiques des partenaires communautaires de REAC!, leurs enseignements pour la pratique et leurs suggestions pour des pistes de recherche prometteuses.
- Rôles croisés : Représenter les utilisateurs de services migratoires au sein du comité consultatif de recherche de REAC! et soutenir la communauté dans ma pratique professionnelle
May Massijeh – Health Access Thorncliffe Park - Adapter les modèles d’engagement bénévole pendant et après une crise : Ce que Together Project a appris de la pandémie
Andrew Lusztyk – Together Project – MakeWay - L’Importance de l’approche inclusive pour répondre aux besoins des communautés migrantes : Place du réseau communautaire au Québec
Nina Meango – ACCÉSSS Québec - Tirer des leçons des données de recherche pour éclairer et mettre en valeur notre travail pendant et après la COVID-19
Cliff Ledwos – Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services
B10 (in person) – My New Home: Colouring Canada’s History
Chairs: Elder Glida Morgan and Shawna Duncan – Indigenize It Resource Centre
This session, “My New Home: Colouring Canada’s History”, invites the audience to experience a section of the curriculum. “My New Home: Colouring Canada’s History” is a virtual workshop designed for first-generation immigrants. It offers an engaging learning experience for participants as they move through Canada’s pre-colonial and colonial history, up to present day. Participants learn through storytelling and interactive colouring activities, making the history accessible and engaging. The virtual workshop highlights the ongoing impacts of colonialism, while also shining a light on the ongoing resistance by Indigenous Nations. This session will provide an in-person experience of a section of the virtual workshop’s content.
- Elder Gilda Morgan – Indigenize It Resource Centre
- Shawna Duncan – Indigenize It Resource Centre
B11 (in person) – National Gender-Based Violence Facilitator Training and Workshop on GBV for Newcomers
Chair: Kathryn Bates-Khan – YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth Immigrant Services
The National Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Strategy for Agencies Serving Immigrants has developed a GBV Client Workshop and Facilitation Guide available to service providers. Come learn about this free workshop that you can use in your work, how to become a Champion in our National Strategy, and participate in learning more about Trauma Informed Facilitation Training for delivering GBV workshops with newcomers. This workshop is facilitated in collaboration between anti violence and settlement sector organizations.
- Nina Condo – Elmwood Community Resource Centre
- Briana Miller – YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth Immigrant Services
- Maggie To – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
- Valérie Auger-Voyer – Ending Violence Association of Canada
B12 (in person | en personne) – Rethinking Gender and Family Dynamics among Migrants in Canada | Repenser les dynamiques de genre et de famille parmis les migrant.e.s au Canada
Chair | Présidente : Anne-Cécile Delaisse – University of British Columbia
This panel examines gender and family dynamics among migrants. Migration policies often institutionalize these dynamics by categorizing migrants as ‘main applicants’ or ‘accompanying partners;’ with narratives positioning migrants’ cultures as incompatible with gender equality, often portrayed as a ‘Canadian value.’ This discussion aims to nuance such narratives by critically examining how migrants negotiate gender and family dynamics in different aspects of their migration experiences. Presentations will address: 1) international students and their partners’ migration decision-making, 2) gender and family dynamics in their relationships, 3) fatherhood experiences of sub-Saharan African men, and 4) couples’ navigation of administrative processes in Quebec.
- Migration Decision-Making: Insights from Partners and Families of International Students
Anne-Cécile Delaisse – University of British Columbia, and Negar Valizadeh, University of Ottawa - Bound by Borders, Defined by Roles: International Student Partners and the Renegotiation of Gender Relations (Download Presentation)
Takhmina Shokirova – Wilfrid Laurier University, Lisa Ruth Brunner – University of British Columbia, and Karun K. Karki – University of British Columbia - Challenges Encountered by French-Speaking African Immigrant Fathers of Sub-Saharan Origin in Their Environment: A Case Study of Toronto
Yollande Dweme M. Pitta – College Boréal - Temporary Migration as a Couple in Quebec: Strategies, Negotiation and Adaptation
Capucine Coustere – Université Laval, and Stéphanie Atkin, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
Ce panel examine les dynamiques de genre et de famille parmi les migrant.e.s. Les politiques migratoires institutionnalisent souvent ces dynamiques en catégorisant les migrant.e.s comme « demandeurs.euses principaux.ales » ou « partenaires accompagnant.e.s » ; avec des récits positionnant les cultures des migrant.e.s comme incompatibles avec l’égalité des genres, souvent présentée comme une « valeur canadienne ». Cette discussion vise à nuancer ces récits en examinant de manière critique comment les migrant.e.s négocient les dynamiques de genre et de famille dans différents aspects de leurs expériences migratoires. Les présentations aborderont : 1) la prise de décision en matière de migration des étudiant.e.s internationaux.ales et de leurs partenaires, 2) les dynamiques de genre et de famille dans leurs relations, 3) les expériences de paternité des hommes d’Afrique subsaharienne, et 4) la navigation des couples dans les processus administratifs au Québec.
- Prise de décision en matière de migration : Perspectives des partenaires et des familles d’étudiant.e.s internationaux.ales
Anne-Cécile Delaisse – University of British Columbia, et Negar Valizadeh, Université d’Ottawa - Liés par les frontières, définis par les rôles : Les partenaires d’étudiant.e.s internationaux.ales et la renégociation des relations de genre (Télécharger la présentation)
Takhmina Shokirova – Wilfrid Laurier University, Lisa Ruth Brunner – University of British Columbia, et Karun K. Karki – University of British Columbia - Défis rencontrés par les pères immigrants africains francophones d’origine subsaharienne dans leur environnement : Une étude de cas à Toronto
Yollande Dweme M. Pitta – Collège Boréal - Migration temporaire en couple au Québec : stratégies, négociation et adaptation
Capucine Coustere – Université Laval, et Stéphanie Atkin, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
B13 (in person | en personne) – Settlement Language Training to Meet the Needs of Today’s Diverse Newcomer Populations | La formation linguistique pour l’établissement répondant aux besoins des populations diverses de nouveaux arrivants d’aujourd’hui
Chair | Présidente : Carol McQueen – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada | Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada (IRCC)
Settlement Sector representatives (government and service provider organizations) will explore how language programming and instruction incorporate novel and agile practices. IRCC will highlight the importance of innovation and the value of training in both official languages while attending to priority areas of diverse newcomers’ settlement journeys. IRCC will also touch on successes and challenges based on acquired statistics and language-related outcomes. Complementary presentations will touch on services designed to be flexible and responsive to the growing needs of newcomers, while adapting to the evolving ecosystem of language learning. Special attention will be given to outcomes of occupation-specific and workplace-based language training.
- Settlement Language Training to Meet the Needs of Newcomers (Download Presentation)
Sahir Dewji – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) - What We’re Seeing: Recent Trends in Language Services (Download Presentation)
Dan Wright – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) - Innovative Approaches to Language Learning: Empowering Newcomers Through Agile Supports (Download Presentation)
Olive Ozoemena – Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) - The English at Work Model (Download Presentation)
Steve Reynolds – Regional Connections Immigrant Services
Les représentant(e)s du secteur de l’établissement (gouvernement et organismes fournisseurs de services d’établissement) exploreront comment la programmation et l’enseignement des langues intègrent des pratiques nouvelles et agiles. IRCC mettra en avant l’importance de l’innovation et la valeur de la formation dans les deux langues officielles, tout en tenant compte des domaines prioritaires du parcours d’établissement des divers nouveaux arrivants. IRCC mettra également en lumière les succès et les défis en se basant sur les statistiques recueilles et les résultats liés aux langues. Des présentations complémentaires aborderont des services conçus pour être flexibles et adaptés aux besoins croissants des nouveaux arrivants, tout en s’adaptant à l’écosystème évolutif de l’apprentissage des langues. Une attention particulière sera accordée aux résultats de la formation linguistique spécifique à une profession et en milieu de travail.
- La formation linguistique pour l’établissement répondant aux besoins de nouveaux arrivants (Télécharger la présentation)
Sahir Dewji – Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada (IRCC) - Ce que nous observons: les tendances récentes en matière de services linguistiques (Télécharger la présentation)
Dan Wright – Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada (IRCC) - Approches novatrices de l’apprentissage des langues : Responsabiliser les nouveaux arrivants avec des soutiens agiles (Télécharger la présentation)
Olive Ozoemena – Association des services aux immigrants de la Nouvelle-Écosse (ISANS) - Le modèle de l’anglais au travail (Télécharger la présentation)
Steve Reynolds – Connexions régionales services aux immigrants
B14 (in person) – Strengthening the Application of Gender-Based Analysis (GBA) Plus in the Settlement Sector: Data, Evaluation, and Inclusive Corporate Practices
Facilitators: Julie Rodier – SRDC, Kim Lehrer – SRDC, Stephanie Redden – ARAISA, Mohamed Bagha – The Saint John Newcomers Centre, and Asta Rowe – Association for New Canadians
GBA Plus has increasingly become central to work within the Canadian settlement sector. This roundtable will provide a space for settlement sector organizations to share insights and experiences on how they are utilizing GBA Plus and identify best practices for strengthening its use. Discussion topics include:
- Using data to inform program and policy decisions and build organizational evaluation capacity.
- Adopting GBA Plus as corporate value in the settlement sector to mitigate barriers impacting client groups with intersecting needs.
- Bringing identity-based and social justice frameworks, such as EDI and ARAO, to life through the application of GBA Plus.
B15 (in person) – Youth in Design: Meaningful Engagement of Refugee Youth in Program Design and Evaluation
Chair: Ousama Alkhatib – World Education Services (WES)
World Education Services (WES) partnered with service providers, refugee youth, and the Tamarack Institute to co-design and pilot a model for fostering social capital and improving labour market access for refugee youth. The pilot was novel for two main reasons. Firstly, it fills a niche that is still vacant: helping refugee youth to build social capital. Secondly, it embeds Equitable Partnership Principles throughout the program center youths’ needs and voices during the ideation and implementation phase. In so doing, the program intentionally seeks to distribute power equitably across participants. The pilot was evaluated by Blueprint to understand the need for this kind of programs in Canada, the coherence of the model, and its impact on program participants. This workshop will offer insights into the Youth in Design (YID) pilot’s development, emphasizing lessons learned for embedding equitable partnership and co-design principles in programming. In addition, lessons from the Blueprint pilot’s developmental evaluation will be shared, alongside plans for model refinement and further testing, illustrating alignment with P2P themes on advancing evidence-based policies and programs for immigrant settlement and integration in Canada.
- Ousama Alkhatib – World Education Services (WES)
- Ulises Pallares – Blueprint
- Sheetal Lodhia – Blueprint
- Nada Albardan – World Education Services (WES)
- Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio – Together Project – MakeWay
- Hsain Al Shihabi – Flame & Moth Consulting
B16 (virtual | virtuel) – Addressing Newcomers’ Digital Literacy Gaps and Facilitating their Integration through Digital Education | Combler les lacunes de la littératie numérique et faciliter l’Intégration des nouveaux arrivants par l’éducation numérique (Video | Vidéo)
Chair | Président : Matthias Sturm – New Language Solutions
This workshop combines complementary perspectives and meaningful participant interactions. The first presentation explores upskilling and reskilling newcomers’ digital skills through the ADaPT program, with an employer-centered approach. We will discuss challenges employers face, tools for organizations, and resources for newcomers’ employment pathways. Then, TSLIP, a strategic community partnership working to improve outcomes for newcomers, will share insights and recommendations based on their recent report, Digital Literacy Gaps in the Newcomer Serving Sector. Lastly, Avenue.ca offers interactive resources to build digital skills for life and work. Explore language courses and teacher training designed to promote digital inclusion and support Canadian newcomers’ settlement.
- Upskilling and Reskilling Newcomers – Digital Skills (ADaPT) for Newcomers
Juan Marsiaj – Diversity Institute – Toronto Metropolitan University - Digital Literacy Gaps in the Newcomer Serving Sector (2024), Newcomer Services Collaboration Working Group (Download Presentation)
Alma Betancourth – WoodGreen Community Services - Facilitating Newcomers’ Integration Through Digital Education (Download Presentation)
Matthias Sturm, Gilles Aubry, and Sophie Bonny – New Language Solutions
Cet atelier bilingue propose des perspectives complémentaires et des interactions enrichissantes entre les participants. La première présentation porte sur le développement des compétences numériques des nouveaux arrivants via le programme ADaPT, en se concentrant sur les employeurs, leurs défis, outils et ressources pour des parcours d’emploi. Ensuite, TSLIP, un partenariat communautaire, présentera des recommandations basées sur son rapport intitulé “Digital Literacy Gaps in the Newcomer Serving Sector”. Dernièrement, l’équipe d’Avenue.ca présentera ses ressources interactives conçues pour renforcer les compétences numériques pour la vie et le travail, contribuant ainsi à l’inclusion numérique et à l’intégration des nouveaux arrivants au Canada.
- Le perfectionnement des compétences numériques – Compétences numériques (ADaPT) for Newcomers pour des nouveaux arrivants
Juan Marsiaj – Toronto Metropolitan University - Lacunes en littératie numérique dans le secteur des services aux nouveaux arrivants (2024), Groupe de travail sur la collaboration des services aux nouveaux arrivants (Télécharger la présentation)
Alma Betancourth – WoodGreen Community Services - Faciliter l’Intégration des nouveaux arrivants par l’éducation numérique (Télécharger la présentation)
Matthias Sturm, Gilles Aubry et Sophie Bonny – New Language Solutions
B17 (virtual) – Equitable Pathways: Supporting BIPOC Grassroots Organizations in Accessing Federal Funding (Video | Vidéo)
Facilitators: Sumaiyyah Adam – DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society and Daljit Gill-Badesha – DGB Consulting Group
This roundtable will share insights and best practices from the IRCC-funded pilot program B.U.I.L.D.S., focusing on the barriers BIPOC-led grassroots organizations face in accessing federal and other funding sources. We will highlight our approach to capacity-building opportunities and the direct support offered in the IRCC Call for Proposal 2024. We will discuss the critical need for equitable resource distribution to support diverse community initiatives and examine the systems impacting BIPOC success. Using case studies from our pilot project, we will present actionable strategies identified by all the stakeholders, including the organizations themselves. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of effective capacity-building approaches and practical solutions for supporting BIPOC-led grassroots organizations.
B18 (virtual) – Anti-Racism Education Through Collaboration: Effective Education Tools for Children and Youth (Video | Vidéo)
Chair: Dorcas Tshimenga – New Brunswick Multicultural Council
Racism takes many forms, including microaggressions, overt violence, stereotyping, racial profiling, and segregation. This workshop shares our collective approaches to Anti-Racism Education through active collaboration. The session provides ideas and activities that can be adapted and customized for specific audiences. The bystander toolkit helps users identify the most common forms of racism encountered in schools and other environments frequented by youth. Gain the tools to empower, foster greater confidence, and inspire motivation for social responsibility towards safer, inclusive, and equitable communities.
- Cherry Fernandez – South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (Download Presentation)
- Dustin Hyde – School District No. 67 (Download Presentation)
- Dorcas Tshimenga – New Brunswick Multicultural Council (Download Presentation) (Télécharger la présentation)
- Carmen Budilean – New Brunswick Multicultural Council (Download Presentation) (Télécharger la présentation)
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
11:15 – 4:30 PM PST
11:15 AM – 4:30 PM EST
C01 (in person) – Approaches for Encouraging Welcoming Communities
Chair: Kristine Doiron – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
In an environment where Canadians are increasingly critical of the number of immigrants coming to Canada, this workshop will share strategies for informing the public about the benefits of immigration throughout Canada. Approaches such as storytelling and newcomer testimonials complemented by facts and community conversations will be presented as tools to encourage a deeper understanding of the local economic and social impacts of immigration. Following the presentations, participants are welcome to share strategies to address existing or anticipated challenges in their communities.
- Immigration Matters: Sharing How Immigrants Enrich Our Communities
Kristine Doiron – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) - Building a Welcoming Society Through Community Conversations on Immigration
Lizzie Cheng – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) - Experiences with Hosting Community Conversations: Successes and Challenges – The Burnaby Experience
Navreen Gill – BIPT & Burnaby Family Life
C02 (in person) – Acquiring Canadian Citizenship: Trends, Narratives, Barriers and Supports
Chair: Irene Bloemraad – University of British Columbia
This workshop provides an overview and preliminary results from three research projects within the Bridging Divides theme on Citizenship and Participation. Presentations include how various kinds of administrative burdens create barriers to securing citizenship, often inequitably among different immigrant groups. It will highlight the kinds of settlement services that support the citizenship pathway. The project seeks to better understand the underlying factors that have led to recent declines in citizenship rates in Canada and provide policy advice that can better and more equitably support citizenship acquisition and contribute to an increased sense of representation and belonging in newcomers.
- Highlights and Progress from the Bridging Divides Canada First Research Excellence Fund Research Theme on Settlement, Participation and Citizenship
Irene Bloemraad – University of British Columbia - The Effects of Pre-Admission Experience on Naturalization Rates in Canada
Sandra Schinnerl – University of British Columbia - The Geopolitics of Citizenship
Taylor Jackson – University of Toronto - Representations of Black, Forced Migrant, and Refugee Experiences in Citizenship Guides
Elizabeth Semowo – University of British Columbia
C03 (in person) – Bridging Cultures: Building Stronger Communities Through Storytelling
Facilitators: Tina Balachandran – Surrey LIP, Jeanne Manire, Bridget Findlay and Kim Reddicopp – Chilliwack LIP, Amy Van Bergen – Abbotsford LIP, & Darla Rasmussen – Sts’ailes Nation
We propose a collaborative roundtable to advance community integration and understanding through storytelling, featuring two key projects: “Common Territory” and “Stories of Impact.” This roundtable will bridge cultural divides by sharing narratives from Indigenous Peoples and newcomers in Surrey, British Columbia, and the Fraser Valley. “Common Territory” delves into themes of displacement and cultural preservation through intimate interviews with both groups, showcasing their shared challenges and resilience. “Stories of Impact” highlights immigrant journeys from India, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Chile, and Colombia, celebrating their successes and contributions. Both projects aim to use storytelling to promote empathy, challenge stereotypes, and strengthen community cohesion.
C04 (in person) – Bridging Gaps: Enhancing Settlement Services for LGBTQIA+ Newcomers
Facilitators: Lorelei Phillips – Impact North Shore, and Bahar Taheri – Blue Tree Project Solutions
This roundtable will explore the findings from Impact North Shore’s report on the landscape of settlement and community services for LGBTQIA+ newcomers and their families. We will discuss the barriers these newcomers face in accessing services, best practices for service delivery, and ways to improve existing service gaps. Participants will have the opportunity to review the Safe Spaces Checklist, developed as a result of the research, and identify actions they can implement within their own work/organization. Join us to discuss how we can better support LGBTQIA+ newcomers through improved services and resources.
C05 (in person) – Cash Cows and Back Doors: Contesting Media Representations of International Students
Chair: Lisa Brunner – University of British Columbia
From the turn of the century until COVID-19, international students were increasingly positioned as economically important to both Canada’s higher education system (for their high tuition) and overall prosperity (as ‘ideal immigrants’). However, this positioning shifted in the media and public policy during Canada’s ‘post’-pandemic recovery period. This session examines recent public discourse regarding international students in three different ways: (1) a cross-country comparative news media analysis in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Canada; (2) an in-depth news media analysis focusing on Punjabi international students in Canada; and (3) a screening of the short film “Cash Cows,” followed by discussion.
- Media Representation of International Students During COVID in Three Jurisdictions: Mainland China, Taiwan, and Canada (Download Presentation)
Yu Guo – University of British Columbia, and Jingwun Liang – Western University - Back, Open, and Closed Doors: Canadian Mainstream Media Representations of Punjabi International Students, 2020-2024 (Download Presentation)
Lilach Marom – Simon Fraser University, Paul Fontaine – University of the Fraser Valley, Gagun Chhina – Langara College, and Lisa Brunner – University of British Columbia - Cash Cows (Short Film Screening and Discussion)
Shubham Chhabra – Honeywagon Media
C06 (in person) – Collaborative Case Management: Insights from BC
Chair: Adrienne Bale – MOSAIC
Case management services provide wrap around supports to clients facing complex barriers in their settlement journey. This workshop will explore case management initiatives in British Columbia including: work of the BC Alliance for Case Management, findings of an evaluative study by the UBC School of Social Work on the effectiveness of an enhanced case management model, and multiple agencies’ perspectives on the research and the alliance. This workshop is well suited for anyone interested in case management and/or how bringing agencies together can lead to client service improvements, collaboration among service providers, increased capacity of staff and consistency in service delivery.
- Case Management Overview
Jenny Lam – Options - BC Alliance for Case Management
Adrienne Bale – MOSAIC, and Jennifer York – ISSofBC - Case Management Research: BC Collaborative Case Management Research Service Model
Barbara Lee – University of British Columbia - Agencies’ Perspectives on the BC Alliance & Case Management Research
Angelika Valchar – Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society (CVIMS), Mary Tanielian – Langley Community Services Society (LCSS), and Margarita Tellez España – DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society
C07 (in person | en personne) – Credit Score and Housing for Newcomers: Strategies and Best Practices for Settlement Service Providers | Cote de crédit et logement pour les nouveaux arrivants : stratégies et pratiques exemplaires pour les fournisseurs de services en établissement
Chair | Présidente : Mikhaela Sullivan – Réseau en Immigration Francophone du Centre Sud Ouest de l’Ontario (RIFCSO)
Settlement service providers will be able to learn about best practices surrounding the requirement for a credit score in terms of consumption, particularly in terms of finding housing. A representative from one of Canada’s largest credit agencies, EQUIFAX, will be able to answer their questions directly. In addition, a settlement service worker specializing in the issue of finding housing for newcomers will share best community practices. In addition, a list of useful resources in financial literature, including those on credit, will be provided. This list can be used for training for newcomers and for capacity building for employees in the settlement sector.
- Building Credit in Canada
Julie Kuzmic – Equifax Canada Co. - Best Practices Regarding Credit Requirements in the Housing Search
Katia Kaci – Accueil francophone - Financial Literacy and Credit Resources
Mikhaela Sullivan – Réseau en Immigration Francophone du Centre Sud Ouest de l’Ontario (RIFCSO)
Les fournisseurs de services en établissement vont pouvoir s’informer au sujet des bonnes pratiques entourant l’exigence d’une cote de crédit en termes de consommation, notamment en termes de recherche de logement. Une représentante d’une des plus grandes agences de crédit au Canada, EQUIFAX, pourra directement répondre à leurs questions. De plus, une travailleuse des services en établissement spécialisée sur la question de la recherche de logement pour les nouveaux arrivants partagera les pratiques communautaires exemplaires. De plus, une liste de ressources utiles en littératie financière, incluant celles sur le crédit sera fournie. Cette liste peut servir aux formations pour les nouveaux arrivants et au renforcement des capacités des employés du secteur d’établissement.
- Établir son crédit au Canada
Julie Kuzmic – Equifax Canada Co. - Bonne pratiques en termes de l’exigence du crédit dans la recherche du logement
Katia Kaci – Accueil francophone - Ressources en littératie financière et crédit
Mikhaela Sullivan – Réseau en Immigration Francophone du Centre Sud Ouest de l’Ontario (RIFCSO)
C08 (in person) – Employment Pathways in Canada for Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals
Chair: Kim Lehrer – Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
Employment Pathways in Canada- Health Careers (EPIC-HC) is a pilot research project supporting internationally educated nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory technicians in finding healthcare-related employment and developing a career pathway while they are completing the accreditation and licensing process in Canada. In this workshop, Achēv will present an overview of the program including a demonstration of its participant website containing information on career pathways for internationally educated healthcare professionals (IEHPs) in Canada. SRDC will present the findings from its literature review and environmental scan on IEHPs summarizing challenges to their labour market integration in Canada and programs aimed at helping that integration as well the design of the EPIC-HC evaluation.
- Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals in Canada: A Review of the Context, Challenges and Successes in Integrating into the Canadian Labour Market
Sol Park – Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) - The Journeys of Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals in the Canadian Labour Market: Supports and Barriers
Kim Lehrer – Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC) - Employment Pathways in Canada – Health Careers (EPIC-HC)
Anita Samuels – Achēv - Evaluating Employment Pathways in Canada – Health Careers (EPIC-HC)
Julie Rodier – Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
C09 (in person) – Empowering Rural Communities with a Place-Based Approach in Rural Communities: Being Innovative in Building Welcoming Communities
Chair: Steve Reynolds – Regional Connections Immigrant Services
Explore successful strategies for supporting immigrants and building welcoming communities through innovative place-based approaches. These include: YREACH (YMCA Recognizing Extending Aligning Community Horizons), Nova Scotia’s rural settlement support program that has created inclusive spaces to enhance newcomer experiences and community cohesion; North Shore LIP worked in creating an online Newcomer Resource Map for newcomers to support community integration, and engagement in the social, economic, political, and cultural life: PVLIP’s work in south central Manitoba to develop and deliver workplace-based Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Toolkit resources and learning series; and DAWCC’s report on stakeholder and newcomer engagement in the Dauphin region of Manitoba to identify attraction and retention factors for newcomers arriving to smaller communities.
- Got Connections? When We Connect, We Belong (Download Presentation)
Elaine Burton Saindon – Pembina Valley Local Immigration Partnership (PVLIP) - New Routes to New Roots : Why Our Small Communities Are Gaining in Popularity (Download Presentation)
Anna Iermolenko – Regional Connections Immigrant Services - Nova Social Rural Communities Benefit from Innovative Partnerships (Download Presentation)
Trina Hall – YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth - Tools to Empower Communities in Welcoming & Supporting Newcomer Settlement (Download Presentation)
Esther Bejarano – North Shore Local Immigration Partnership
C10 (in person) – Gender-Based Violence Prevention Through Creative Engagement
Chair: Kathryn Bates-Khan – YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth Immigrant Services
Gender-Based Violence is an important but often challenging topic to engage people in empowering and interactive ways. Learn from three diverse examples that have incorporated the use of food, art, leadership and participatory forms of engagement that have created meaningful impact for those involved. This session will include the following presentations:
- “Part of the Solution” Engaging Newcomer Men and Boys in Gender-Based Violence Prevention (Download Presentation)
Briana Miller – YMCA of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth Immigrant Services - Still I Rise: Lasagna, Intersectionality and the Patriarchy (Download Presentation)
Anne Oserin-Pinnock – Elmwood Community Resource Centre - We Lived to Tell: Performance Workshops for Non-Status, Refugee and Immigrant (NSRI) Women & Gender Diverse Peoples (Download Presentation)
Berivan Sarikaya – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
C11 (in person) – Indigenous Engagement – All Our Relations: A Conversation about Truth and Decolonization
Facilitator: Norm Leech – T’it’q’et Community of the St’at’imc nation & Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House
Led by Indigenous Leader Norm Leech, this session will offer settlement service providers a safe and welcoming space to discuss Truth and Decolonization. This session aims to connect service providers with an understanding that we are supporting settlement on unceded and occupied territories. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen, share, and engage in meaningful dialogue. They will also be introduced to methods for centering Indigenous presence in their work and connections with newcomers.
C12 (in person | en personne) – Modernizing Language Training Resources for Newcomers’ Successful Socio-Economic Integration | Moderniser les ressources de formation linguistique pour une intégration socio-économique réussie des nouveaux et nouvelles arrivant.e.s.
Chair | Présidente : Lynda Charif – Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) | Centre des niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (CNCLC)
The Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB), mandated by IRCC, seeks to optimize official language learning resources for newcomers to Canada. Following extensive research and surveys, new Guidelines and Online Curriculum have been developed to support both instructors and learners in settlement language. Respecting the EDI principles (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) and accessibility standards, the CLIC Curriculum aims to enhance the learning experience and the socioeconomic integration of immigrants. Participants will learn how these innovative resources facilitate the inclusion of newcomers by offering them adapted support.
- Newcomers’ Needs And Expectations For Settlement Language Learning Resources
Kaouter Mekersi – Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks (CCLB) - CLIC Curriculum Guidelines: Foundations Fostering Newcomers Integration
Peyman Mirmiran – Independent Consultant - Online Curriculum CLIC: Optimizing Technology for Successful Newcomers Inclusion
Sophie Bonny – Independent Consultant
Le Centre des niveaux de compétence linguistique Canadiens (CNCLC), mandaté par IRCC, vise à optimiser les ressources d’apprentissage des langues officielles pour les nouveaux et nouvelles arrivant.e.s au Canada. Après des recherches et enquêtes approfondies, de nouvelles Lignes directrices et un Didacticiel ont été développés pour soutenir le personnel instructeur et les apprenant.e.s. en langue d’établissement. Respectant les principes d’EDI (équité, diversité, inclusion) et les normes d’accessibilité, le Curriculum CLIC tend à améliorer l’expérience d’apprentissage et l’intégration socioéconomique des immigrant.e.s. Les participant.e.s découvriront comment ces ressources innovantes facilitent l’inclusion des nouveaux et nouvelles arrivant.e.s, en leur offrant un soutien adapté.
- Besoins et attentes des nouveaux et nouvelles arrivant.e.s en ressources d’apprentissage en langue d’établissement
Kaouter Mekersi – Centre des niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (CNCLC) - Les Lignes directrices du Curriculum CLIC : Les fondations pour favoriser l’intégration des nouveaux et nouvelles arrivant.e.s
Peyman Mirmiran – Consultant indépendant - Le Didacticiel du Curriculum CLIC : la technologie au service de l’inclusion réussie des nouveaux et nouvelles arrivant.e.s
Sophie Bonny – Consultante indépendante
C13 (in person) – Navigating Foreign Credential Recognition with Pre-Arrival Programs
Chair: Anika Sweet – SOPA & Immigrant Services Association Nova Scotia (ISANS)
Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) is crucial for newcomers to Canada, validating their education and work experience from their home country to help them integrate into the Canadian workforce. Starting this process in the pre-arrival stage reduces uncertainty, allowing newcomers to understand the necessary requirements. It also helps address any gaps or needs earlier, developing a more informed career plan. Attendees can expect to learn how 3 pre-arrival programs funded by IRCC support their clients to navigate the FCR process effectively, and how the services are key to empower newcomers with knowledge and resources to successfully integrate into the Canadian workforce.
- Becoming a Licensed Professional in Canada as a Newcomer – How SOPA Helps Navigating the FCR Process Pre-Arrival
Anika Sweet – Immigrant Services Association Nova Scotia (ISANS), and Aneta Popa – Calgary Catholic Immigration Society - Empowering Skilled Trades: Comprehensive Pre- and Post-Arrival Services for Internationally Experienced Tradespeople
Sharvari Jois – JVS Toronto - Foreign Credential Recognition at AEIP – Adjusting to Client FCR Needs
Mark Batt – S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
C14 (in person) – The Impact of Climate Change on Farms: The Importance of Including the Perspective and Needs of Migrant Workers
Chair: Sabrina Dumitra – Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of British Columbia (AMSSA)
This workshop explores the working conditions of migrant workers during climate emergencies, the ways these working conditions can be unsafe, how the settlement sector can better support them in understanding and upholding their rights and how to amplify their voices in climate change discussions. The rights of migrant workers are tied to both their residency and employment and they can face high barriers when refusing unsafe working conditions, particularly during environmental emergencies. Migrant workers experience marginalization in multiple intersecting ways, impacted by their temporary status in a country where they are likely to be unfamiliar with the emergency management system.
- Hugo Velázquez – MOSAIC
- Doug Pasco – WorkSafeBC
- Sabrina Dumitra – Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of British Columbia (AMSSA)
C15 (in person) – Uniting for Impact: Fostering Effective Faith and Settlement Inter-Sectoral Collaborations to Fill Gaps in Newcomer Services
Chair: Astha Priya – Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership (TNLIP) & Working Women Community Centre (WWCC)
Places of worship and faith communities are among the first points of accessing settlement support in a newcomer’s journey. This has enforced faith communities and their leaders at the front lines of providing essential services that assist in successful integration of newcomers, regardless of their immigration status. Join this session to learn how a Local Immigration Partnership identified and acted on a need for improved service coordination between settlement service providers and faith communities – a collaboration that proved essential during the asylum seekers housing crisis and its aftermath. Come discover different pathways for effectively & equitably increasing opportunities for high-value, inter-sectoral collaboration.
- Astha Priya – Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership (TNLIP) & Working Women Community Centre (WWCC)
- Srna Stambuk – Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership (TNLIP) & JVS Toronto
- Misha Hossain – Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership (TNLIP) & The Neighbourhood Organization (TNO)
C16 (in person) – Volunteer Social Support: Is Hybrid or Remote Support the Most Effective and Efficient at Improving Newcomer Integration? Perspectives from Participants in the Welcome Group Program
Chair: Andrew Lusztyk – Together Project – MakeWay
Together Project and its partners, including Western University, recently concluded a multiyear evaluation of the Welcome Group Program, which matches groups of volunteers with refugee newcomer households to provide social support over a period of six months. The evaluation was undertaken to compare the experiences of participants interacting primarily remotely with those who interacted both remotely and in-person, as well as to learn about the overall effectiveness and efficiency of both models. This workshop will delve into the design of the program and its evaluation, feature participants sharing their experiences, and examine the evaluation’s findings and their implications for community engagement in the settlement sector.
- Introducing the Welcome Group Program (Download Presentation)
Andrew Lusztyk – Together Project – MakeWay - Evaluating the Welcome Group Program: A Summary of Findings (Download Presentation)
Alina Sutter and Victoria Esses – Pathways to Prosperity - How Volunteer Social Support Impacts the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Settlement Services: Perspectives From a DIVERSEcity Case Specialist
Mohammad Ishaq Faizi – DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society - Perspectives of a Welcome Group Volunteer
Astrid Levelt – Welcome Group Program Volunteer - Sharing my Experiences as a Newcomer in the Welcome Group Program
Luwam Girmay Tesfay – Welcome Group Program Newcomer Participant
C17 (virtual) – Amplifying Indigenous, Employer & College Voices for Stronger Rural Integration (Video/Vidéo)
Chair: Soheila Homayed – Rural Development Network (RDN)
Rural employers are essential in attracting and retaining newcomers, with workplace welcoming capacity significantly influencing long-term retention. The READI project, the “Faith & Belief Friendly Workplace” Certification training, and Portage College’s Community Readiness project have successfully supported employers in rural Alberta and northern Ontario. These initiatives help employers better welcome and integrate newcomers, promoting successful longevity and retention for local communities and businesses, while strengthening community relationships. This workshop introduces how three projects achieved this with partnerships from an Indigenous-led organization, employers, and a public college. This workshop will also feature two presenters from Temiskaming Shores who will share their experiences in creating more welcoming workplaces and communities.
- The Rural Employers’ Awareness on Diversity and Inclusion (READI) Project
Soheila Homayed – Rural Development Network (RDN) - “Faith & Belief Friendly Workplace” Certification Training
W. Y. Alice Chan, Centre for Civic and Religious Literacy, James Franks – City of Temiskaming Shores, and Shannon Guppy – Keepers of the Circle - Portage College’s Community Readiness Project
Elaine Flores – Rural Development Network (RDN)
C18 (virtual) – Advancing Systems Change Through Community-Led Collaborations (Video/Vidéo)
Chair: Abigail Cameron – S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Community-led collaborations can foster innovation and equity. This interactive workshop explores unique projects led by Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPs) in engaging diverse audiences to advance systems change. Projects include community-led dialogues to inform policy reform; employer and talent engagement practices to support inclusive employment and leadership; and collaborations with service providers to promote mental health literacy. The workshop shares promising practices and emerging trends that strengthen partnerships and sector capacity in engaging diverse voices and in advancing systems change. Workshop participants can expect hands-on learning and discussion opportunities on different engagement approaches.
- Study of Community-Led Dialogues, Best Practices & Engagement with Government
Manvir Aujla – DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society & Surrey Local Immigration Partnership - Tri-Cities Diverse Leaders Project: Engaging Employers and Talent to Support Inclusive Employment & Leadership
Elizabeth Mayorga and Thàbata da Costa – S.U.C.C.E.S.S. & Tri-Cities Local Immigration Partnership - Collaborations with Service Providers to Promote Culturally Appropriate Mental Health Literacy
Abigail Cameron – S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
C19 (virtual) – Cross-Sectoral Collaboration to Improve Mental Wellness for Newcomer Young Adults and International Students in Peel (Video/Vidéo)
Chair: Inga Pedra – Region of Peel
The workshop highlights a cross-sectoral pilot project to co-design improvements to mental health supports for newcomer youth and international students in Peel. The project responds to the community’s need for culturally appropriate care in collaboration with various sectors (community mental health agencies, family services, housing, school boards, settlement agencies). People with lived experiences were engaged to guide the project activities, including the development of stigma reduction videos for youth and their families, staff training sessions to build capacity for cultural safety and responsiveness, and wellness spaces to seek support. The project team will share lessons learned and next steps.
- Supporting Mental Health and Addictions Needs and Priorities in Peel Region
Norene Lach – Region of Peel - Advocating for Culturally Appropriate Services Through Cross-Sectoral Collaboration
Kanwalpreet Kaur – Punjabi Community Health Services (PCHS) - Bridging Sectors for Improved Mental Health Supports (Download Presentations)
Shriya Seksaria – United Way of Greater Toronto - Designing Programs for Me with Me: Community Advisory Board Reflections (Download Presentations)
Shonali Lakhani, Mansi Wadhwa, and Preet Madaan – Newcomer Project Participants
C20 (virtual) – Digital Transformation in the Settlement Sector – Past, Present and Possible Futures (Video/Vidéo)
Facilitators: Marco Campana – Access Alliance Multicultural Health & Community Services, Shay Sharma – Bluejarvis Technologies, and Nick Noorani – Immigrant Networks
You have done the work, evaluated your services, submitted your proposals to IRCC. By now you may have heard what IRCC will fund. What did you include when it came to digital, hybrid, Newcomer-centric service design, cybersecurity, digital support services? You are not new to technology, hybrid services, hybrid work models. You have many experiences, much knowledge, but also many questions. Maybe you are not sure if you covered everything you actually need. Let us explore where we’ve been and where we are going when it comes to digital transformation in the settlement sector. We will talk about emerging and promising digital practices in service provision.
C21 (virtual) – Le travail ensemble autour des besoins des nouveaux arrivants (Video/Vidéo)
Présidente : Lara Gautier – Université de Montréal
Cet atelier s’attardera sur le « travail ensemble », mobilisant des acteurs de différents secteurs de la société et de l’action publique, autour des besoins des nouveaux arrivants, pour mieux répondre à la complexité de leurs besoins. Ce travail ensemble passe par une gouvernance collaborative et par des changements de pratiques professionnelles et organisationnelles. À partir de plusieurs expériences de recherche-action au Québec, l’atelier : 1) présentera des exemples de pratiques intersectorielles prometteuses 2) illustrera par des exemples les facteurs facilitant et ou entravant l’implantation de ces pratiques 3) discutera des enjeux de développement d’une gouvernance collaborative à l’échelle d’un territoire.
- Jeunes adultes d’immigration récente: des approches intersectorielle pour soutenir leurs projets socioprofessionnels (Télécharger la présentation)
Marie-Jeanne Blain – Centre InterActions et Marco Lapierre – CJE Bourassa-Sauvé - Expériences de l’action intersectorielle à l’international dans une perspective d’accès à la pleine participation. Vers plus de reconnaissance des apports des personnes immigrantes (Télécharger la présentation)
Lourdes Rodriguez d’El Barrio – Université de Montréal - Actions concertées provinciales et intersectorielles dans le champ de l’emploi. Défis et pratiques prometteuses (Télécharger la présentation)
Jérôme Marsais – Comite consultatif personnes immigrantes (CCPI) - Renforcer la collaboration autour des besoins des nouveaux arrivants al’échelle territorial : réflexions sur les enjeux de gouvernance (Télécharger la présentation)
Nassera Touati – École nationale d’administration publique (ÉNAP)
C22 (virtual) – Building a Stronger Nursing Workforce: Virtual Integration for Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) and Union-Led Solutions (Video/Vidéo)
Chair: Abigail Lim – CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses
This workshop brings together two approaches to address the nursing shortage and support workforce development in long-term care. CARE Centre, in partnership with the Ontario Centres for Learning & Innovation in Long-Term Care at Baycrest, presents an evidence-based virtual simulation game designed to integrate internationally educated nurses (IENs) into long-term care settings, using diverse case studies to build interprofessional competencies. Complementing this, SEIU Healthcare Training Centre shares union-driven initiatives aimed at workforce development and addressing the nursing crisis, providing insight into how strategic training and support can sustain and strengthen the healthcare workforce. Together, these approaches offer a comprehensive view of educational innovation and workforce solutions in long-term care.
- Supporting the Integration of Internationally Educated Nurses Into Long-Term Care Through an Innovative, Evidence-Based Virtual Simulation (Download Presentation)
Natalie Leventhal – Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI) & Inter-Professionally Healthcare Accelerator (LIPHA), and Abigail Lim – CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses - SEIU Healthcare Training Centre: Union Solutions to Workforce Development and the Nursing Crisis
Riley Richman – SEIU Healthcare
A10 (in person) – Leveraging Partners and Technology to Supercharge Service Coordination and Access to Personalized Career Pathways
Chair: Srna Stambuk – Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership (TNLIP) & JVS Toronto
With technological solutions proliferating all aspects of society, simply adding new tools is not always the best way to help newcomers navigate relevant services and supports. Identifying, partnering, and adapting existing technologies is often more cost and time effective, provided the right technology partner is involved. In this session, you will learn how a Local Immigration Partnership and a settlement agency leveraged existing technologies and new partnerships to supercharge regional service coordination, enable newcomers to access critical resources, and develop personalized career pathways. Learn from our experience in defining needs, gathering requirements, selecting the right technology and data partners, and launching successful tools to help newcomers.
- Leveraging Partnerships to Increase Technology Use and Enhance Service Coordination (Download Presentation) (Download Presentation)
Astha Priya – Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership (TNLIP) and Srna Stambuk – Toronto North Local Immigration Partnership (TNLIP) & JVS Toronto - Leveraging AI-driven Technology to Support the Employment of Newcomers (Download Presentation)
Denis Gravelle – Devant - SmartPath AI – Using Technology to Develop Personalized Career Pathways (Download Presentation)
Darcy MacCallum – Social Enterprise for Canada
D01 (in person) – A Synergetic Approach to Workforce Integration in Local Labour Markets – Employment and Entrepreneurship Options
Facilitators: Suzana Dumo and Abdoulaye Barry – Action for Healthy Communities Society of Alberta
This roundtable is an immersive knowledge sharing session exploring innovation in pathways to newcomers’ workforce attachment through employment and entrepreneurship, shifting from the unilateral to collaborative approach. The session showcases best practice models, highlighting examples of community economic development strategies that foster effective intersectoral stakeholders’ collaboration.
This session discusses the significance of key strategies such as:
- Centering newcomers’ experiences; a holistic approach to understanding settlement needs influential to newcomers’ workforce attachment,
- Co-creating strategic collaborative workforce participation solutions, and
- Cultivating partnerships that enhance the role of labour market stakeholders as drivers of workforce integration that optimizes the under-tapped newcomer workforce in invigorating local economic growth.
D02 (in person) – Discrimination, Racism and Potential Strategies to Improve Collaboration to Better Support Equitable Opportunities for Immigrant and Newcomer Families
Chair: Sara Torres – Laurentian University
Too often children, youth and families from immigrant backgrounds feel disconnected from their counterparts in mainstream society. Findings from qualitative and quantitative studies discussed in this workshop identified factors giving rise to this, such as poverty, racial background, cultural and religious traditions, and linguistic accents. Cultural Brokers, who collaborate and negotiate multiple relationships between individuals and families and health and social services systems, see the discrimination and racism suffered by individuals and also face it themselves. Downstream and upstream strategies, including programs and policies, provide examples of practices that are culturally-appropriate and address the underlying cause of discrimination and racism.
- Understanding Cultural Brokers’ Experience of Racism While Connecting Immigrant and Refugees with Canadian Systems and Institutions (Download Presentation)
Sally Ogoe – Laurentian University - Adjusting to Life in Canada: Understanding of the Child Welfare System, Experiences of Discrimination, Racism and Stigmatization (Download Presentation)
Stephanie Fernandez – Multicultural Health Brokers Co-op, and Jastinne Diaz – Laurentian University - Cultural Brokers and Family’s Link to Education Services: Challenging Discrimination and Fostering Better Integration Outcomes for Families
Sophie Yohani – University of Alberta - Defying Discrimination While Fostering Equitable Integration of Families in Canada: Cultural Brokers Improving Intercultural Sensitivity Among Services Providers
Sara Torres – Laurentian University
D03 (in person) – Fostering Community Centered Anti-Racism Strategies
Chair: Sherry Park – Action for Healthy Communities
This workshop will present Action for Healthy Communities Society of Alberta’s (AHC Alberta) anti-racism strategy aimed at fostering inclusive and equitable environments for immigrant children and youth, considering the unique intersectional challenges they face during the integration process across various societal aspects, including social, cultural, and employment. Drawing from AHC initiatives, an asset-based community development approach, and sector collaboration, the session will amplify the voices of racialized communities, share research findings, and highlight efforts to enhance equity at individual, community, and systemic levels. Participants will share their experiences and engage in discussions about innovative approaches, cross-sector collaboration, and effective strategies for driving meaningful change.
- Individual and Institutional level Anti-Racism Education
Sarah Smith – Action for Healthy Communities - Intersectoral Initiatives Addressing Systemic Barriers
Sarah Smith and Kevwe Dabor – Action for Healthy Communities - Incorporating Community-Driven Initiatives
Rayyah Sempala – Action for Healthy Communities
D04 (in person) – Inclusive Collaboration in the Economic Integration of Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals (IEHP) and the Collective Impact on the Labour Market
Chair: Tanja Matthews – Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
In the current labour market climate, or better said “healthcare drought,” it has never been more imperative for collaborators to get together and collectively impact Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals’ successful integration into the labour market. ISANS Employment and Bridging and Language Services, Shannex Incorporated, ISS Language and Career College of BC, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons Nova Scotia will share programs, services, collaboration, and effective partnerships that resulted in the successful integration of doctors, nurses, continuing care assistants, and pharmacists into Nova Scotia’s workforce; the creation of a national-level language course; and credential recognition, opening new pathways and new possibilities.
- Building Bridges for IEHPs – Crossing the Turbulent Waters of Settlement, Licensing, and Workplace Integration
Tanja Matthews – Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS) - From Occupation-Specific Language Class to the National Healthcare Language Program
Carol Derby – Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), and Arina Tanase – ISS Language and Career College of BC - CPSNS Welcome Collaborative – Supporting Physicians New to Nova Scotia College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia
George Mbara and Kris Lane – College of Physicians & Surgeons of Nova Scotia - Challenges and Successes of IEHP Integration into the Workforce
Jennifer Mizzi – Shannex Incorporated
D05 (in person) – Labour Market Integration in Small Centres: Models for Immigrant Employment and Entrepreneurship
Chair: Steve Reynolds – Regional Connections Immigrant Services
Per BDC, the immigrant entrepreneurship rate is 50% higher than among non-immigrants and half of Ontario and British Columbia entrepreneurs are projected to be immigrants within 10 years. In Manitoba, 100% of labour market growth is now due to growing immigrant and Indigenous communities. In these contexts, immigrant entrepreneurship and employment are critical opportunities for small centres. Hear from successful entrepreneurship initiatives from New Horizons Media and South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services in supporting the attraction and success of immigrant entrepreneurs. Also, learn about a case management approach to employment related services that relies on employer partnerships through Regional Connections Immigrant Services.
- Building Bridges: Immigrant Entrepreneurship through Storytelling and Collaboration (Download Presentation)
Gerard Keledjian – New Horizons Media Inc. - Attracting Immigrant Entrepreneurs to Small Urban-Rural Communities (Download Presentation)
Elmira Galiyeva – South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services - Integrating Employer Partnerships with a Client Case Management Approach in Employment Related Services (Download Presentation)
Jessica Lopez – Regional Connections Immigrant Services
D06 (in person) – Living Well Together: Connecting Indigenous and Newcomer Stories Through Cultural Brokering Practice
Facilitators: Lorne Green – Samson Cree First Nation and Leslee Mackey – Multicultural Health Brokers Co-op
Cultural brokers bridge between diverse cultural groups to enhance understanding, reduce conflict, and foster change. This practice is vital in Canada, where migrants arrive on land rich in Indigenous cultural wealth in a nation working to create equitable systems for all. The National Cultural Brokers Project explores the question: how can we live well together on this land? Join us for a roundtable discussion on:
- Navigating multiple cultural perspectives to address misunderstandings, conflict, and power imbalances.
- Incorporating reconciliation into integration by embracing Indigenous worldviews and recognizing colonial histories.
- Expanding our view of healthy integration to emphasize relationship building and storytelling among diverse groups.
D07 (in person) – Navigating Delivery Modalities in LINC: Digital Literacy and Newcomer Outcomes
Chair: Danielle Barnes – NorQuest College
The increasing digitalization of service delivery in the settlement sector has had significant implications for LINC programs, and research is needed to shed light on implications for newcomers’ outcomes. In this workshop, NorQuest College and Edmonton Catholic Schools partner to share their experience with different digital literacy delivery modalities in LINC classes. An overview of programming, including mainstream and literacy classes, and the reasons for offering specific modalities will be provided. Findings will be presented from research conducted on factors influencing students’ delivery modality selections and implications for students’ outcomes, including learning outcomes, social capital, and participant satisfaction.
- Aligning Modalities with Student Needs and Skills (Download Presentation)
Danielle Barnes – NorQuest College - Connecting the Dots Between Digital Literacy and LINC Literacy Classes (Download Presentation)
Diana Agudelo – Edmonton Catholic Schools (ECSD) - Delivery Modalities & Learner Outcomes in LINC: The Role of Modality in Skills Gains, Social Capital, and Learner Satisfaction (Download Presentation)
Mesay Tegegne – NorQuest College
D08 (in person) – Navigating Housing Challenges: Collaborative Approaches and Resourceful Solutions for Newcomers and Displaced Persons
Chair: Jessica Batres – Durham Local Immigration Partnership
Explore innovative solutions for housing challenges faced by displaced Ukrainians, refugees, and newcomers in this informative session. We will discuss a multi-faceted approach that includes gathering data from refugees, hosts, landlords, and settlement workers to create adaptive housing strategies on Vancouver Island. The Durham LIP will showcase a new resource aimed at streamlining the housing search process for newcomers, complemented by the Community Development Council Durham’s (CDCD) effective housing services and strategies. Participants will gain valuable insights into building community partnerships, navigating housing systems, and addressing common barriers to support better integration and outcomes for newcomers.
- Finding Housing for Displaced Ukranians and Refugees on Vancouver Island: Regional Housing Report
Florentien Verhage and Sahel Rezaei – Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) - Newcomer Housing Journey Map
Danielle Pineda and Jessica Batres – Durham Local Immigration Partnership - Newcomers Road Map in Durham
Monica Tembo – Community Development Council Durham (CDCD)
D09 (in person) – Navigating Information, Decision-Making, and Service Delivery: Insights on International Student Mobility and Settlement in Canada
Chair: Lisa Brunner – University of British Columbia
Navigating the information and services landscape is crucial for international student success. This session brings together experts to explore how international students find, access, and use critical information and resources for education and career planning, along with the challenges they face. The presentations and discussion will focus on strategies for improving access to information and services to help international students integrate into their studies, the workforce, and local communities.
- Information, Influence and Intermediaries: Migration Decision-Making Among International Students in Canada
Rica Agnes Castaneda – Toronto Metropolitan University - Identifying Strengths and Gaps in the Information Ecosystem (Download Presentation)
Kaitlin Murray – World Education Services (WES) - Navigating Institutional Resources: Supporting Career Readiness for International College Students in Ontario and British Columbia (Download Presentation)
Erin Rose – The Conference Board of Canada - Service Navigation for International Students in Toronto: Insights from Service Providers and Community Stakeholders (Download Presentation)
Aiza Khan and Zainab Rajwani – Toronto East Quadrant Local Immigration Partnership (TEQ LIP)
D10 (in person) – Intersecting Perspectives on the Journeys of Francophones & Bilinguals in Minority Contexts: Understanding the Range of Realities & Challenges | Perspectives croisées sur le parcours des francophones & bilingues en contexte minoritaire: Comprendre l’amplitude des réalités & défis
Président : Jean-François Parent – Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité du Canada (RDÉE Canada)
This workshop consists of a series of presentations focusing on the different stages of a francophone individual’s journey as they navigate various aspects of Canadian society. Various themes will be examined, including the Francophone immigration journey, the evolving relationship between the recognition of foreign credentials and qualifications and the labor market in official language minority communities, as well as the breadth of specialized services offered. Each presentation will focus on a specific stage of the journey, allowing participants to better understand the underlying realities of Canadian Francophonie.
- Promoting Greater Inclusion in the Labour Market: An Analysis of the Recognition of Prior Learning Qualifications Obtained Abroad in French-Speaking Minority Communities: A Presentation from RDÉE Canada (Download All Presentations)
Jean-François Parent – Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité du Canada (RDÉE Canada) - Enhancing the Francophone Integration Pathway Through Franco-Anglo Partnerships (Download All Presentations)
Arcelia Camacho and Sol Cano – ACCES Employment - The Francophone Integration Path in Ontario and its Different Steps
Nabila Sissaoui – Réseau en immigration francophone du Centre Sud Ouest de l’Ontario - The Benefits of the Rural Establishment Network (RER)
Carmen Budilean and Michelle Arsenault – New Brunswick Multicultural Centre
Cet atelier est composé d’une série d’interventions portant sur les différentes étapes du parcours d’un individu francophone naviguant plusieurs aspects de la société canadienne. Différentes thématiques, dont le Parcours d’immigration francophone, la relation changeante entre la reconnaissance des acquis ainsi que des titres obtenus à l’étranger et le marché du travail dans les communautés de langues officielles en situation minoritaire, en plus de l’amplitude des services spécialisés offerts, seront examinées. Chacune des interventions sera axée sur l’une des étapes précises du parcours, et permettra aux participants.es de mieux comprendre les réalités sous-jacentes de la francophonie canadienne.
- Favoriser une plus grande inclusion sur le marché du travail : Une analyse de la reconnaissance des acquis et des titres obtenus à l’étranger dans les communautés francophones en situation minoritaire : Une présentation du RDÉE Canada (Télécharger la présentation)
Jean-François Parent – Réseau de développement économique et d’employabilité du Canada (RDÉE Canada) - Le parcours d’intégration francophone en Ontario et ses différentes étapes (Télécharger la présentation)
Arcelia Camacho et Sol Cano – ACCES Employment - Parcours d’intégration francophone en Ontario et ses différentes étapes
Nabila Sissaoui – Réseau en immigration francophone du Centre Sud Ouest de l’Ontario - Les bénéfices du (RER) Réseau d’établissement rural
Carmen Budilean et Michelle Arsenault – Conseil multiculturel du Nouveau-Brunswick
D11 (in person) – Prioritizing Mental Health: Innovative Strategies for the Immigrant and Refugee-Serving Sector
Chair: Caley Cross – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
The pandemic highlighted the critical importance of mental health and wellness within the immigrant and refugee-serving sector. However, many organizations face challenges in effectively integrating mental health and wellness supports into their daily service provision. In this workshop, the OCASI Mental Health Promotion Project (MHP), Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS), and Community Development Council of Durham (CDCD) will share their experience implementing innovative service models to promote mental health for clients along their settlement journey. The session will address mental health stigma, cultural and linguistic barriers, cross-sectoral partnership development, and trauma-informed practices. By integrating mental health into all services, organizations can destigmatize mental health and promote holistic, client-centred services.
- Caley Cross – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
- Alison Baxter – Community Development Council Durham (CDCD)
- Zohra Gillani – Catholic Crosscultural Services (CCS)
D12 (in person) – GBA Plus Data Journeys – Building Equity-Driven Data Frameworks
Chair: Kieran Davis – Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA)
This workshop includes a presentation on the Enhancing National Sector (GBA Plus) service delivery improvement initiative, focusing on GBA Plus data tools developed through the initiative and the experience of creating a data strategy in a small centre. Learn how to better understand who you are working for and what their experiences are to tailor your interventions and opportunities from an equity perspective, using the experience of the Inter-Cultural Association’s Staff Survey to integrate learnings from our gender-based analysis plus support from AMSSA. The workshop concludes with an opportunity for attendees to use data tools to identify organizational data needs.
- Where’s Your Magnifying Glass? The Importance of Data in GBA Plus and Equity Frameworks
Kieran Davis – Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC (AMSSA) - Creating a Small Centre Data Strategy
Jen Gamble and Aileen Wittig – Shuswap Immigrant Services Society - Show and Tell: Improving Staff Capacity to Integrate GBA+ in Diverse Teams
Robin McGeough – Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA)
D13 (in person) – Towards Holistic Responses for Integration: Exploring Intersections between Gender-Based Programs, Affordable Housing and Employment Supports that Work
Chair: Yusra Qadir – Mothers Matter Canada
The session will explore why effective integration needs to transcend across programmatic sectors and partners. The speakers will share global and national data, first-hand experiences, trends, challenges and learning on effective integration of newcomers through gender-based programs and provision of housing, employment, and mentoring supports that center clients over a medium term for catalyzing settlement outcomes at the family level. Discussions will also map missed opportunities to innovate, develop cross-sectoral partnerships, and harnessing newcomer potential effectively.
- Why Only Holistic Intersectional Programs Can Effectively Integrate Newcomers; Global and National Insights from Gender-Based Programming, Gaps and Good Practices (Download Presentation)
Yusra Qadir – Mothers Matter Canada - Supporting Newcomers Find Affordable Housing; Insights, Challenges and Good Practices (Download Presentation)
Lisa Rupert and Uliana Vankovych – YWCA Vancouver - Employment Supports that Work; the Importance of Mentorship Programs (Download Presentation)
Amadea Gareau – The Prosperity Project - Client Centrality in Refugee Resettlement: Holistic Support to Catalyze Settlement; One Size Does Not Fit All (Download Presentation)
Kathy Sherrel and Jennifer York – ISSofBC
D14 (in person) – Understanding Linguistic Racism and Embedding Linguistic Equity
Chair: Lorelei Phillips – Impact North Shore
This workshop will explore what linguistic racism is, and by contrast, what linguistic equity is and why it is important. Through the screening of an educational film, produced by Impact North Shore, and presentations by BIPOC speakers this workshop will explore different experiences of linguistic racism, including colonization, English only policies, and accent discrimination. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the relationship between language and identity, and the consequences of Indigenous and im/migrant language loss. Finally, we will discuss ways of improving linguistic equity throughout the settlement and integration sector.
- Lorelei Phillips – Impact North Shore
- Aaron Williams – Squamish/Indigenous Language Expert
- Sam Seward – Squamish Language Speaker and Elder
D15 (in person) – Bridging Skills and Opportunities: Integrating Internationally Trained Professionals in the Canadian Labour Market Through Employment Bonds and Internships
Chair: Samantha Iyere – Achēv
Join us as we address breaking the cycle of “no experience without a job” and “no job without Canadian experience.” Through an interactive workshop we will examine two pilot projects that help integrate internationally trained professionals (ITPs) into the Canadian labour market using employment bonds and internships. We will delve into the projects’ outcomes, best practices, challenges faced, and research findings that help shift perceptions of ITPs and create smoother workforce transitions. Engage in discussions with program staff and employers to share experiences, ask questions, and learn strategies to maximize the talents of skilled newcomers.
- Samantha Iyere – Achēv
- Ayesha Bhikha – Achēv
- Kim Lehrer – Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
- Larry Chan – MOSAIC
- Kate Liu – MOSAIC
- Maggie Boak – Metro Vancouver
D16 (virtual) – Best Practices for Synchronous Online Settlement Language Training (Video/Vidéo)
Chair: Anita Premkumar – Immigrant Services of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
This workshop addresses pressing needs for guidelines and effective practices in delivering synchronous online Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), ensuring a more focused, appropriate, and engaging language learning experience for newcomers in the post-pandemic era. Participants discuss how instructors and SPOs can best support clients by leveraging technologies and applying research findings by implementing a more consistent, efficient, and reliable approach to online learning, and attain desired (Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) levels faster. We provide SPOs and instructors with reliable training materials tailored to the LINC context, addressing the current gap in resources for online language instruction.
- Project Background – Overview and Outcomes
Anita Premkumar – Immigrant Services of Nova Scotia (ISANS) - Research Methodology and Findings
Matthias Sturm – New Language Solutions - Development of Best Practices Guide and Professional Development Materials
Marijke Geurts – New Language Solutions
D17 (virtual) – Leveraging Stakeholder Partnerships: Pathways to Settlement and Economic Integration for Internationally Trained Newcomers (Video/Vidéo)
Facilitators: Kathleen Holloway Jun, Sebastien Martin, and Katie Sexton – YMCA of the National Capital Region
At this roundtable, participants will learn about a pre-employment program with over a decade of experience supporting in newcomers with experience in the skilled trades, and explore how to harness stakeholder relationships for success. Key points include building partnerships and leveraging non-settlement programs such as Employment Ontario, to identify skill gaps, create tailored job opportunities and educate employers to hire newcomers. We will emphasize the need for a collaborative approach, where continuous feedback from both employers and service providers helps refine integration strategies. By aligning programs with real-world needs and leveraging expert networks, our programs aim to enhance economic integration and career growth for newcomers.
D18 (virtual) – Pathways To Full Integration for Racialized Immigrant and Refugee Women “No More on Margins” (Video/Vidéo)
Chair: Priti Gami Shah – Pathways to Leadership with Racialized, Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Society
This workshop takes a deeper dive into a unique program that addresses integration process through the lenses of intersectionality and social justice. This culturally responsive inclusive integration focuses on cultural identity, citizenship, social and economical integration. Explicit analysis of institutional barriers and gender inequity combined with practical skills on how to negotiate these barriers engages participants emotionally and intellectually and provides them with the confidence and courage to become effective and powerful advocates The learner-centred, learner-driven approach of the PTL model has proven effective in working with diverse groups of women with varied levels of English language, education, employment readiness, self-confidence. Free childcare is provided.
- Impacts and Outcomes of a Multi-Barrier Group
Amea Wilbur – University of Fraser Valley - Importance of Childcare in Integration Process
Sook Lee – Pathways to Leadership with Racialized, Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Society - Rising Voices of Refugee Youths
Sahar Maqsoodi – HerStory - My Integration Experience as a Single Mom
Isatou Sonko – Pathways to Leadership with Racialized, Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Society
D19 (virtual) – Santé mentale et immigration : pratiques inclusives (Video/Vidéo)
Présidente : Jeanne-Marie Rugira – Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQAR)
Les personnes immigrantes et racisées et leurs descendants sont à risque élevé de vivre des problèmes de santé mentale et font face à des obstacles d’accès à des services adaptés. La COVID-19 a eu des effets importants et potentiellement durables sur les inégalités et la santé mentale dans les quartiers défavorisés, où habitent en plus grands nombres ces populations. À partir de résultats de recherches mettant en place des processus participatifs avec des partenaires intersectoriels et multiniveaux, on présentera des pratiques inclusives et adaptées aux personnes immigrantes et aux communautés locales afin de prévenir l’émergence et l’aggravation des problèmes de santé mentale.
- L’impact du racisme quotidien sur la santé mentale des personnes noires
Marcilene Silva da Costa – Observatoire des communautés noires du Québec - Les défis et l’apport de l’action intersectorielle et des pratiques inclusives pour répondre aux enjeux de santé mentale dans la communauté
Lourdes Rodriguez del Barrio – Université de Montréal & Centre InterActions, Marie-Jeanne Blain – Université de Montréal & Centre InterActions, et Rachel Senat – Université de Montréal - Pratiques prometteuses pour élargir l’offre des services en santé mentale et répondre aux besoins des personnes immigrantes. Enjeux dans les secteurs public et communautaire
Maria Cristina Gonzalez Giraldo – Université de Montréal, Lisa Benisty – Prise II, et Maximilien Bouchard – Centre InterActions
A selection of photographs from each day of the Main Conference is now available for all to enjoy
