Research Library

Dr. Tonya Callaghan at the University of Calgary, in partnership with the Centre of Newcomers, is studying the challenges and gaps in settlement services for LGBTQ2S+ newcomers to Calgary. This emerging research project hopes to tangibly change policy and practice around creating and implementing trauma-informed supports for the intersectional experiences of LGBTQ2S+ newcomers. Dr. Tonya Callaghan at the University of Calgary, in partnership with the Centre of Newcomers, is studying the challenges and gaps in settlement services for LGBTQ2S+ newcomers to Calgary. This emerging research project hopes to tangibly change policy and practice around creating and implementing trauma-informed supports for the intersectional experiences of LGBTQ2S+ newcomers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

South Asian immigrant youth (SAIY) confront challenges like racial discrimination, stigma, and acculturative stress due to their marginalised identities. Limited research exists on the barriers they face adjusting to Canadian life. Our findings underscore the varied experiences of SAIY in Edmonton, Alberta, highlighting the need for better accessibility to social and healthcare services. South Asian immigrant youth (SAIY) confront challenges like racial discrimination, stigma, and acculturative stress due to their marginalised identities. Limited research exists on the barriers they face adjusting to Canadian life. Our findings underscore the varied experiences of SAIY in Edmonton, Alberta, highlighting the need for better accessibility to social and healthcare services.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Croatian 2SLGBTQIA+ immigrant Tihana Radojcic shares her story of the changing political landscape in her home, immigrating to Calgary, and where Calgary needs to go in the future to be more supportive and friendly to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Croatian 2SLGBTQIA+ immigrant Tihana Radojcic shares her story of the changing political landscape in her home, immigrating to Calgary, and where Calgary needs to go in the future to be more supportive and friendly to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The City of Edmonton is a diverse and constantly evolving city. As more newcomers move to the city, the need for specific language resources changes and organizations must adapt to these changes. Edmonton has many organizations that specifically assist newcomers with integrating into society. These organizations include Edmonton Immigrant Services Association (EISA), Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA), Action for Healthy Communities, Catholic Social Services and the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (EMCN), among others. Other organizations provide services to specific cultural groups, such as language and culture schools, which also assist newcomers. This thesis will discuss the research project “Mapping Spaces of Translation and Interpretation in Edmonton,” which mapped and documented organizations that make use of translation and interpretation to provide services for newcomers, immigrants, and refugees, within Edmonton and surrounding areas. The project sought to research the following two questions: 1) How do organizations within the city of Edmonton that provide services to newcomers utilize translation (text-to-text) or interpretation (spoken/verbal) to facilitate their services? 2) What challenges do these organizations face in using translation and interpretation while providing their services? The City of Edmonton is a diverse and constantly evolving city. As more newcomers move to the city, the need for specific language resources changes and organizations must adapt to these changes. Edmonton has many organizations that specifically assist newcomers with integrating into society. These organizations include Edmonton Immigrant Services Association (EISA), Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA), Action for Healthy Communities, Catholic Social Services and the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers (EMCN), among others. Other organizations provide services to specific cultural groups, such as language and culture schools, which also assist newcomers. This thesis will discuss the research project “Mapping Spaces of Translation and Interpretation in Edmonton,” which mapped and documented organizations that make use of translation and interpretation to provide services for newcomers, immigrants, and refugees, within Edmonton and surrounding areas. The project sought to research the following two questions: 1) How do organizations within the city of Edmonton that provide services to newcomers utilize translation (text-to-text) or interpretation (spoken/verbal) to facilitate their services? 2) What challenges do these organizations face in using translation and interpretation while providing their services?
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

With the decade long security crises in Afghanistan, many Afghan refugees have arrived in Canada with a significant history of trauma due to war, with hopes to rebuild their lives by learning and adapting the norms and structures of their host societies. Amidst the extended nature of their displacement, learning and education can be a source of healing and gaining social and economic mobilities. However, they experience multifaceted difficulties in their learning journeys, and their learning experiences and needs often go unnoticed. Capturing the rich experiences of refugees, particularly Afghans, have received limited attention in the past. Previous studies on refugee learning experiences have majorly focused on secondary and postsecondary education and their associated challenges, and little attention is paid on the importance of other forms of learnings which help learners accumulate social and cultural capital necessary for their resettlement. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore learning experiences of adult Afghan refugees in Calgary, AB, Canada. Specifically, this study examines the factors, sources, and strategies that facilitate their learning experiences, and barriers and challenges they face during their learning processes. By utilizing the theoretical framework of forms of capital, this qualitative study describes transformative learning experiences of Afghan refugees in Canada. With the decade long security crises in Afghanistan, many Afghan refugees have arrived in Canada with a significant history of trauma due to war, with hopes to rebuild their lives by learning and adapting the norms and structures of their host societies. Amidst the extended nature of their displacement, learning and education can be a source of healing and gaining social and economic mobilities. However, they experience multifaceted difficulties in their learning journeys, and their learning experiences and needs often go unnoticed. Capturing the rich experiences of refugees, particularly Afghans, have received limited attention in the past. Previous studies on refugee learning experiences have majorly focused on secondary and postsecondary education and their associated challenges, and little attention is paid on the importance of other forms of learnings which help learners accumulate social and cultural capital necessary for their resettlement. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study is to explore learning experiences of adult Afghan refugees in Calgary, AB, Canada. Specifically, this study examines the factors, sources, and strategies that facilitate their learning experiences, and barriers and challenges they face during their learning processes. By utilizing the theoretical framework of forms of capital, this qualitative study describes transformative learning experiences of Afghan refugees in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges faced by newcomers in rural areas of Alberta and the support networks available to them. The report is based on research conducted between fall 2022 and spring 2023 and includes insights from network discussions, conversations with background experts, and supplementary information gathered during the project. The report highlights the importance of community organizations and government programs in helping newcomers settle in rural areas and provides recommendations for improving support networks. The report also outlines the demographic information about each participant’s role, the services they provide, their funding situation, the specific industries operating in each participant community, their Rural Renewal or Rural Entrepreneur stream status, and other information to provide an at-a-glance picture of the community context for each interview. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges faced by newcomers in rural areas of Alberta and the support networks available to them. The report is based on research conducted between fall 2022 and spring 2023 and includes insights from network discussions, conversations with background experts, and supplementary information gathered during the project. The report highlights the importance of community organizations and government programs in helping newcomers settle in rural areas and provides recommendations for improving support networks. The report also outlines the demographic information about each participant’s role, the services they provide, their funding situation, the specific industries operating in each participant community, their Rural Renewal or Rural Entrepreneur stream status, and other information to provide an at-a-glance picture of the community context for each interview.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The following report continues on Community and Public Services Committee’s request for information on trends, issues and concerns from Edmonton’s newcomer, refugee and mmigrant communities; The Annual State of Immigration and Settlement – Year 2 report builds upon the first year report that was presented at the August 25, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee meeting, Citizen Services report CR_7720. ● The report builds upon foundational elements in the Year 1 report such as the Multidimensional Immigrant Model and Cultural Wealth Model and adds new employment and education themes. ● The report creates a holistic picture of the resilience of ethno-cultural communities, agencies and other stakeholders who support newcomers, refugees and migrants while narrating the challenges many face as they make Edmonton their new home. ● Ideas under consideration to include in the Year 3 report included the private sponsorship system, migrants with precarious status and building upon policy implications and actions from Year 1 and Year 2 reports. The following report continues on Community and Public Services Committee’s request for information on trends, issues and concerns from Edmonton’s newcomer, refugee and mmigrant communities; The Annual State of Immigration and Settlement – Year 2 report builds upon the first year report that was presented at the August 25, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee meeting, Citizen Services report CR_7720. ● The report builds upon foundational elements in the Year 1 report such as the Multidimensional Immigrant Model and Cultural Wealth Model and adds new employment and education themes. ● The report creates a holistic picture of the resilience of ethno-cultural communities, agencies and other stakeholders who support newcomers, refugees and migrants while narrating the challenges many face as they make Edmonton their new home. ● Ideas under consideration to include in the Year 3 report included the private sponsorship system, migrants with precarious status and building upon policy implications and actions from Year 1 and Year 2 reports.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The Community Anti-Racism Action Strategy is a comprehensive report developed by the City of Calgary to inform its Anti-Racism Strategic Plan for 2023-2027. The report outlines recommendations for shifting the city as an overall system, including actions that focus on underlying policies, structures, and procedures. It is an invitation to create positive relationships, live in reciprocity, and take action towards a future that includes all of us. The report is committed to creating a Calgary where Indigenous, Black and diverse Racialized communities feel safe, welcome, included and are treated with dignity. It incorporates Indigenous teachings and perspectives into its anti-racism framework and provides guidance for individuals and communities to actively participate in anti-racism efforts in Calgary. The Community Anti-Racism Action Strategy is a comprehensive report developed by the City of Calgary to inform its Anti-Racism Strategic Plan for 2023-2027. The report outlines recommendations for shifting the city as an overall system, including actions that focus on underlying policies, structures, and procedures. It is an invitation to create positive relationships, live in reciprocity, and take action towards a future that includes all of us. The report is committed to creating a Calgary where Indigenous, Black and diverse Racialized communities feel safe, welcome, included and are treated with dignity. It incorporates Indigenous teachings and perspectives into its anti-racism framework and provides guidance for individuals and communities to actively participate in anti-racism efforts in Calgary.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The Youth and Anti-Racism (YARI) Collective, a research project by Dr. Pallavi Banerjee and Dr. Pratim Sengupta at the University of Calgary, connects racialized refugee and newcomer youth to art, anti-racism and community experiences. On March 28, 2023 YARI hosted an interactive art and technology installation titled ‘Landings: Anti-Racist Futures in Stories’ highlighting the youth’s stories of love, friendships, grief and pain through various artistic mediums (e.g. stop motion animation). The Youth and Anti-Racism (YARI) Collective, a research project by Dr. Pallavi Banerjee and Dr. Pratim Sengupta at the University of Calgary, connects racialized refugee and newcomer youth to art, anti-racism and community experiences. On March 28, 2023 YARI hosted an interactive art and technology installation titled ‘Landings: Anti-Racist Futures in Stories’ highlighting the youth’s stories of love, friendships, grief and pain through various artistic mediums (e.g. stop motion animation).
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The challenges faced by Muslim youth in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto in developing a meaningful and stable identity in an era of global conflicts, collective surveillance, and suspicion are explored. The study focuses on the negotiation of belonging and citizenship among Canadian Muslim youth, who navigate multiple, complex, and hybrid identities. 5 major themes were identified: navigation of multiple identities, religious identity and spirituality, media portrayals of Muslims, claiming inclusion and belonging in the face of anti-Muslim racism, and recommendations for positive youth development. By listening to the voices of Canadian Muslim youth, policymakers, practitioners, Muslim communities, and organizations can develop strategies to support their development. The challenges faced by Muslim youth in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto in developing a meaningful and stable identity in an era of global conflicts, collective surveillance, and suspicion are explored. The study focuses on the negotiation of belonging and citizenship among Canadian Muslim youth, who navigate multiple, complex, and hybrid identities. 5 major themes were identified: navigation of multiple identities, religious identity and spirituality, media portrayals of Muslims, claiming inclusion and belonging in the face of anti-Muslim racism, and recommendations for positive youth development. By listening to the voices of Canadian Muslim youth, policymakers, practitioners, Muslim communities, and organizations can develop strategies to support their development.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly