Research Library

Analyzing data from a focus group with service providers in the city of Calgary, Alberta, this article identifies the barriers to financial well-being among racialized older immigrants and newcomers. Structural barriers discussed included the ten-year and twenty-year dependency period, and experiences of structured dependency within intergenerational family units. Analyzing data from a focus group with service providers in the city of Calgary, Alberta, this article identifies the barriers to financial well-being among racialized older immigrants and newcomers. Structural barriers discussed included the ten-year and twenty-year dependency period, and experiences of structured dependency within intergenerational family units.
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Interview with Jose (they/he), a queer, non-binary Mexican immigrant living in St. Albert, AB. Jose talks about how their supportive parents changed their entire coming out experience, especially as a Catholic immigrant. Interview with Jose (they/he), a queer, non-binary Mexican immigrant living in St. Albert, AB. Jose talks about how their supportive parents changed their entire coming out experience, especially as a Catholic immigrant.
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Administrative data was used to study COVID-19 vaccine coverage in immigrants and refugees compared to the Canadian-born population. Broadly, immigrants and refugees (78.2%) had comparable vaccine coverage to Canadian-born individuals (76%). However, initiatives to improve vaccine coverage is needed for older immigrants, immigrants in rural areas, and immigrants from certain ethnicities. Administrative data was used to study COVID-19 vaccine coverage in immigrants and refugees compared to the Canadian-born population. Broadly, immigrants and refugees (78.2%) had comparable vaccine coverage to Canadian-born individuals (76%). However, initiatives to improve vaccine coverage is needed for older immigrants, immigrants in rural areas, and immigrants from certain ethnicities.
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The Rainbow Refuge Program (through the Edmonton Newcomer Centre, formerly called the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers) provides settlement services, housing support, settlement support and community building for 2SLGBTQ+ newcomers in Edmonton. Since the start of the program, the acceptance rate of 2SLGBTQ+ refugee claims in Edmonton has increased exponentially. The Rainbow Refuge Program (through the Edmonton Newcomer Centre, formerly called the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers) provides settlement services, housing support, settlement support and community building for 2SLGBTQ+ newcomers in Edmonton. Since the start of the program, the acceptance rate of 2SLGBTQ+ refugee claims in Edmonton has increased exponentially.
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Canada’s National Housing Strategy (2017) identifies LGBTQ2 people and newcomers (including refugees) as vulnerable groups within Canada’s housing system. Members of each group are known to experience significant barriers to housing in Canada. However, the unique experiences of LGBTQ refugees—who fall into both groups—have yet to be investigated. This thesis asks: To what extent are LGBTQ refugees able to access safe, stable and affordable housing in Alberta, Canada? Interviews and policy analysis found that LGBTQ refugees do not have adequate access to safe, stable and affordable housing in the province. They continue to experience significant barriers related to affordability, social housing supply, and discrimination, among other factors. Policy recommendations are also included in this thesis. Canada’s National Housing Strategy (2017) identifies LGBTQ2 people and newcomers (including refugees) as vulnerable groups within Canada’s housing system. Members of each group are known to experience significant barriers to housing in Canada. However, the unique experiences of LGBTQ refugees—who fall into both groups—have yet to be investigated. This thesis asks: To what extent are LGBTQ refugees able to access safe, stable and affordable housing in Alberta, Canada? Interviews and policy analysis found that LGBTQ refugees do not have adequate access to safe, stable and affordable housing in the province. They continue to experience significant barriers related to affordability, social housing supply, and discrimination, among other factors. Policy recommendations are also included in this thesis.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Available evidence in Canada suggests children born to immigrants face a greater risk of poor mental health outcomes. However, these comparisons often mask important ethno-racial differences in mental health risks and outcomes among immigrant populations. Recent evidence suggests African immigrant children have some of the poorest social and mental health outcomes in Canada. Despite this awareness, research has yet to identify community-based strategies for addressing the stressors underpinning such outcomes. This study used data obtained from focus groups with African immigrant parents in Edmonton, AB and surrounding towns to identify child mental health stressors and child mental health promotion strategies in the African immigrant community. Available evidence in Canada suggests children born to immigrants face a greater risk of poor mental health outcomes. However, these comparisons often mask important ethno-racial differences in mental health risks and outcomes among immigrant populations. Recent evidence suggests African immigrant children have some of the poorest social and mental health outcomes in Canada. Despite this awareness, research has yet to identify community-based strategies for addressing the stressors underpinning such outcomes. This study used data obtained from focus groups with African immigrant parents in Edmonton, AB and surrounding towns to identify child mental health stressors and child mental health promotion strategies in the African immigrant community.
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This community-based research study provides new data collected from 25 in-depth individual interviews with immigrant women HCAs who were working in LTC in Calgary, Alberta between January 1 and March 30, 2021. The data, analysed through the lens of intersectional exclusion, highlight how the pandemic has impacted the working lives of immigrant women employed in LTC facilities on a daily basis, as well as their suggestions for enhancing their safety and employment conditions. Two key themes emerged during the process of data analysis: (a) HCA experiences of economic exclusion and workplace precarity—many of which pre-dated the pandemic but have been exacerbated by current policies and practices that prioritize profits over quality of community care, and (b) experiences of broader social exclusion, many of which are tied to being considered “just HCAs” who are doing “immigrant’s work”, rather than including HCAs in broader conversations about how to reform and improve the LTC sector for future. Concluding thoughts discuss how to improve policy to support low wage workers within LTC in order to address intersectional inequalities and to better support front-line care workers during current and future health pandemic recovery efforts. This community-based research study provides new data collected from 25 in-depth individual interviews with immigrant women HCAs who were working in LTC in Calgary, Alberta between January 1 and March 30, 2021. The data, analysed through the lens of intersectional exclusion, highlight how the pandemic has impacted the working lives of immigrant women employed in LTC facilities on a daily basis, as well as their suggestions for enhancing their safety and employment conditions. Two key themes emerged during the process of data analysis: (a) HCA experiences of economic exclusion and workplace precarity—many of which pre-dated the pandemic but have been exacerbated by current policies and practices that prioritize profits over quality of community care, and (b) experiences of broader social exclusion, many of which are tied to being considered “just HCAs” who are doing “immigrant’s work”, rather than including HCAs in broader conversations about how to reform and improve the LTC sector for future. Concluding thoughts discuss how to improve policy to support low wage workers within LTC in order to address intersectional inequalities and to better support front-line care workers during current and future health pandemic recovery efforts.
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We investigated health risks associated with climate and air pollution hazards and community covariates to generate insights into the resilience of older adults and immigrants at the community level in a northern urban center in the Canadian prairies (i.e. Edmonton, AB). Communities with higher proportions of older adults were associated with increased cardiovascular, injury, mental, and respiratory health event rates. Notably, heat effects on injury rates impacted communities with higher percentages of older adults (Prevalence Rate Ratio (PRR) [95%CI] 1.110 [1.011, 1.219] at 25% ≥65 years). Ozone effects on cardiovascular event rates exhibited similar trends. Areas with higher percentages of immigrants generally had lower rates of health events. However, increasing diurnal temperature range became a risk factor for respiratory health rates where there were higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.205 [1.004, 1.447] at 20%). Industrial emission effects on injury and respiratory health rates also amplified in areas with higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.127 [1.058, 1.200]; 1.130 [1.050, 1.216] at 20%). Similar effects were observed for mental health event rates and total immigrants. Greater neighborhood material and social deprivation were significant risk factors for increased health event rates across outcomes. Future work should focus on disproportionately affected vulnerable populations to address community-level resilience. We investigated health risks associated with climate and air pollution hazards and community covariates to generate insights into the resilience of older adults and immigrants at the community level in a northern urban center in the Canadian prairies (i.e. Edmonton, AB). Communities with higher proportions of older adults were associated with increased cardiovascular, injury, mental, and respiratory health event rates. Notably, heat effects on injury rates impacted communities with higher percentages of older adults (Prevalence Rate Ratio (PRR) [95%CI] 1.110 [1.011, 1.219] at 25% ≥65 years). Ozone effects on cardiovascular event rates exhibited similar trends. Areas with higher percentages of immigrants generally had lower rates of health events. However, increasing diurnal temperature range became a risk factor for respiratory health rates where there were higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.205 [1.004, 1.447] at 20%). Industrial emission effects on injury and respiratory health rates also amplified in areas with higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.127 [1.058, 1.200]; 1.130 [1.050, 1.216] at 20%). Similar effects were observed for mental health event rates and total immigrants. Greater neighborhood material and social deprivation were significant risk factors for increased health event rates across outcomes. Future work should focus on disproportionately affected vulnerable populations to address community-level resilience.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This cross-sectional study examines the healthcare experiences of Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on comparing experiences between those born in and outside Canada. The study collected 10,175 surveys in October 2020, with nearly 10% of respondents reporting their status as born outside Canada. The study found that foreign-born Albertans experienced more delays in care and had less access to healthcare services than Canadian-born Albertans. The study highlights the need for policy and practice changes to address the healthcare disparities faced by immigrant populations during the pandemic. This cross-sectional study examines the healthcare experiences of Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on comparing experiences between those born in and outside Canada. The study collected 10,175 surveys in October 2020, with nearly 10% of respondents reporting their status as born outside Canada. The study found that foreign-born Albertans experienced more delays in care and had less access to healthcare services than Canadian-born Albertans. The study highlights the need for policy and practice changes to address the healthcare disparities faced by immigrant populations during the pandemic.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The entire healthcare system, including primary healthcare (PHC) services, has been disrupted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the crisis threatens all citizens significantly, further barriers to accessing care exist for those who are most vulnerable, experience marginalization, and have pre-existing challenges. We aimed to explore immigrants’ lived experiences in accessing and receiving PHC services during the pandemic. A multiphase mixed-methods study using a sequential explanatory design was employed. The first study includes a systematic review that synthesizes the evidence on the experiences that immigrant patients have receiving PHC. Study two provides insights from a recently employed “COVID-19 Experiences and Impacts Survey” data and compares the experiences of Albertans that were born in and outside Canada. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were performed, using STATA. The third study is a qualitative inquiry that aims to gain a deeper understanding of the newcomers’ (living in Canada ≤5 years) and providers’ experiences in PHC during the pandemic. A thematic analysis was applied, using NVivo software. Immigrants reported many challenges in accessing and receiving PHC, and these challenges have been increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this thesis yielded six recommendations that can inform PHC quality improvement initiatives and PHC policy. The entire healthcare system, including primary healthcare (PHC) services, has been disrupted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the crisis threatens all citizens significantly, further barriers to accessing care exist for those who are most vulnerable, experience marginalization, and have pre-existing challenges. We aimed to explore immigrants’ lived experiences in accessing and receiving PHC services during the pandemic. A multiphase mixed-methods study using a sequential explanatory design was employed. The first study includes a systematic review that synthesizes the evidence on the experiences that immigrant patients have receiving PHC. Study two provides insights from a recently employed “COVID-19 Experiences and Impacts Survey” data and compares the experiences of Albertans that were born in and outside Canada. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were performed, using STATA. The third study is a qualitative inquiry that aims to gain a deeper understanding of the newcomers’ (living in Canada ≤5 years) and providers’ experiences in PHC during the pandemic. A thematic analysis was applied, using NVivo software. Immigrants reported many challenges in accessing and receiving PHC, and these challenges have been increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this thesis yielded six recommendations that can inform PHC quality improvement initiatives and PHC policy.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly