Please note, this is not an open access database or repository. We have focused on creating simple summaries of reports and articles that we have accessed through websites and academic journals, with a focus on key findings, so that even if a full report is not free to access you can reference it. When possible, we include a link to wherever the original document is hosted (which may or may not be open-access). If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it. There are also some reports that will have been submitted directly to the project. In this case, these reports are uploaded directly with permission from the author or publisher. Any original documents found on this site are stored in Canada on our secure servers
The EMCN Community Report 2022-2023 highlights the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers’ efforts in empowering immigrants and refugees in Edmonton through a range of services and programs. The report showcases initiatives like the Enhanced Settlement Workers in Schools and Rainbow Refuge programs, emphasizing collaboration, community engagement, and advocacy. By sharing success stories, donor contributions, and program outcomes, EMCN demonstrates its commitment to supporting newcomers facing challenges. The report also underscores the organization’s partnerships, innovative approaches, and celebration of immigrant achievements, reflecting its mission to create an inclusive and welcoming community for all residents in Edmonton. The EMCN Community Report 2022-2023 highlights the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers’ efforts in empowering immigrants and refugees in Edmonton through a range of services and programs. The report showcases initiatives like the Enhanced Settlement Workers in Schools and Rainbow Refuge programs, emphasizing collaboration, community engagement, and advocacy. By sharing success stories, donor contributions, and program outcomes, EMCN demonstrates its commitment to supporting newcomers facing challenges. The report also underscores the organization’s partnerships, innovative approaches, and celebration of immigrant achievements, reflecting its mission to create an inclusive and welcoming community for all residents in Edmonton.
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 accessibility of domestic violence services for South Asian immigrant women in several Canadian cities (Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal) is examined. There are challenges in seeking help for domestic violence in the South Asian community, which is highly unreported due to its private and personal nature. Main topics discussed are: 1) barriers that prevent South Asian immigrant women from seeking help, and 2) the current gaps in domestic violence services. Recommendations for domestic violence organizations to better address the needs of South Asian immigrant women are also included. The accessibility of domestic violence services for South Asian immigrant women in several Canadian cities (Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal) is examined. There are challenges in seeking help for domestic violence in the South Asian community, which is highly unreported due to its private and personal nature. Main topics discussed are: 1) barriers that prevent South Asian immigrant women from seeking help, and 2) the current gaps in domestic violence services. Recommendations for domestic violence organizations to better address the needs of South Asian immigrant women are also included.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
A comprehensive guide of community resources, services and programs in Leduc County (i.e. Leduc, Calmar, Warburg, Thorsby), Alberta. A comprehensive guide of community resources, services and programs in Leduc County (i.e. Leduc, Calmar, Warburg, Thorsby), Alberta.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Older Muslim immigrants experience multiple vulnerabilities living in Canada. This study explores the experiences of Muslim older adults in Edmonton, AB during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify ways to build community resilience. Three major themes were: 1) loneliness, 2) decreased access to resources for connection, 3) capacity limits on services. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges associated with aging in the Muslim population and contributed to further marginalization, with mosques being sites of support during times of crises. Policymakers and service providers must explore ways of engaging mosque-based support systems in meeting the needs of older Muslim adults during pandemics. Older Muslim immigrants experience multiple vulnerabilities living in Canada. This study explores the experiences of Muslim older adults in Edmonton, AB during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify ways to build community resilience. Three major themes were: 1) loneliness, 2) decreased access to resources for connection, 3) capacity limits on services. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges associated with aging in the Muslim population and contributed to further marginalization, with mosques being sites of support during times of crises. Policymakers and service providers must explore ways of engaging mosque-based support systems in meeting the needs of older Muslim adults during pandemics.
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