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Community readiness for building newcomer belonging: town of Hanna, AB

Abstract
The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging.
Publication Date: 1/1/2022

Publication Type: Report
Notes

Open-access – Yes

Location

  • Hanna

  • Alberta

Key recommendations

  • Start conversations about diversity and inclusion
  • Conduct education campaigns about newcomers, in order to spread awareness
  • Create a community ambassador program for newcomers

Key populations

Newcomers

Key findings

  • There is a “welcome to our community” package provided through the business hub, though there is very low awareness within the newcomer community in Hanna, and may be poorly organized. Newcomers have little to no awareness of resources, and residents frequently have little to no awareness of newcomer arrival
  • Some unhealthy living conditions are present, and newcomers may not know which resources to look for – There is no public transportation or taxi services for newcomers, but there are resources such as a Handi-Van, and businesses are walking distance
  • The business hub has worked with newcomers, though some individuals did not think there was an employment service. 30% of businesses did not have formal or informal plans to increase diversity. 50% of participants in the Social Resilience Audit disagreed with the notion that good work opportunities were available.
  • There is recruitment of new doctors, but large wait times, little mental health resources, and distance to more specialized facilities present barriers to healthcare.
  • Though there may be resources to make connections within the community, there is little to no resources translated into different languages. Many individuals either believe that there are not enough actions being done to provide these opportunities, or do not feel interested in interacting more with newcomers, resulting in a less open environment
  • There is an international student programs for Japan, and Brazil, though some individuals feel unwelcome due to RCMP, and many newcomers have experiences of violence, and racism. There are no current education initiatives to deal with racism, and it is a prevalent issue, as well as hostile attitudes towards newcomers

Integration timeline

Gaps identified

Community organizations


Collections discrimination-and-belonging , resettlement-integration , social-services

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