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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it.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

Rainbow Refuge Program

An overview of the Rainbow Refuge program at the Edmonton Newcomers Centre (previously called the Edmonton Mennonite Newcomers Centre). Rainbow Refuge was the first LGBTQ+ program in the Edmonton settlement sector, and provides support and programming in the following 4 areas: 1) immigration, 2) settlement, employment and mental health, 3) community connection, and 4) education and advocacy. An overview of the Rainbow Refuge program at the Edmonton Newcomers Centre (previously called the Edmonton Mennonite Newcomers Centre). Rainbow Refuge was the first LGBTQ+ program in the Edmonton settlement sector, and provides support and programming in the following 4 areas: 1) immigration, 2) settlement, employment and mental health, 3) community connection, and 4) education and advocacy.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Racism in Red Deer: Community Report

This community research report delves into the complexities of racism in the Red Deer community, shedding light on its various forms and impacts. Through a comprehensive analysis of survey responses and community engagement, the report uncovers prevalent issues such as Islamophobia and the costs of complacency towards racism. Acknowledging the contributions of the Red Deer Anti-Racism Steering Committee and research team, the report emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts to combat racism and promote inclusivity. This abstract encapsulates the report’s dedication to understanding and addressing racism in Red Deer, aiming to foster a more equitable and harmonious community. This community research report delves into the complexities of racism in the Red Deer community, shedding light on its various forms and impacts. Through a comprehensive analysis of survey responses and community engagement, the report uncovers prevalent issues such as Islamophobia and the costs of complacency towards racism. Acknowledging the contributions of the Red Deer Anti-Racism Steering Committee and research team, the report emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts to combat racism and promote inclusivity. This abstract encapsulates the report’s dedication to understanding and addressing racism in Red Deer, aiming to foster a more equitable and harmonious community.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Vital Signs 2022: A Look at Systemic Racism in Edmonton

The Vital Signs Report 2022 is a comprehensive document that sheds light on the issue of systemic racism in Edmonton. The report highlights the demographics of the city and the historical factors that have contributed to the systemic racism that exists today. It emphasizes the need to acknowledge the existence of discrimination and take action to eliminate it. The report also acknowledges the limitations of available data and language used in the report. The document encourages individuals and organizations to start conversations and take action to combat systemic racism. It provides a list of organizations working to improve the community and offers guidance on how individuals can make a difference. The report also features profiles of poet laureates, BIPOC, QTIBPOCs, Bear Clan Beaver Hills House, YEG the Come Up, 1884 Fellowship, and African Canadian Civic Engagement Council. Overall, the Vital Signs Report 2022 is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and addressing systemic racism in Edmonton. The Vital Signs Report 2022 is a comprehensive document that sheds light on the issue of systemic racism in Edmonton. The report highlights the demographics of the city and the historical factors that have contributed to the systemic racism that exists today. It emphasizes the need to acknowledge the existence of discrimination and take action to eliminate it. The report also acknowledges the limitations of available data and language used in the report. The document encourages individuals and organizations to start conversations and take action to combat systemic racism. It provides a list of organizations working to improve the community and offers guidance on how individuals can make a difference. The report also features profiles of poet laureates, BIPOC, QTIBPOCs, Bear Clan Beaver Hills House, YEG the Come Up, 1884 Fellowship, and African Canadian Civic Engagement Council. Overall, the Vital Signs Report 2022 is a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding and addressing systemic racism in Edmonton.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Enhancing Small Centre Collaboration

This research report prepared for AAISA aims to answer, “What factors drive successful collaboration in Alberta’s Immigrant Settlement Sector?”, particularly for small centres. Through surveys and interviews, findings discuss key elements of collaborations, tensions to creating successful collaborations, a proposed model to use moving forwards and opportunities for change that AAISA can facilitate. This research report prepared for AAISA aims to answer, “What factors drive successful collaboration in Alberta’s Immigrant Settlement Sector?”, particularly for small centres. Through surveys and interviews, findings discuss key elements of collaborations, tensions to creating successful collaborations, a proposed model to use moving forwards and opportunities for change that AAISA can facilitate.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The borders of sexuality: Immigration policy and sexual education in Canada

Comprehensive sexual education (CSE) is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as “a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality” (2018, p. 16). Given the social and cultural aspects of sexual education, my research posits that newcomer access to comprehensive sexual education could be crucial to settlement and inclusion processes in Canada. Thus, my research asks: where does immigration and settlement policy intersect with sexual education policy in Canada? How does newcomer and immigrant community access to sexual education impact immigration and settlement processes? To investigate the ways in which the policy areas of immigration and settlement and sexual education overlap, I examine how sexual education is delivered in Edmonton, Alberta, a city that has one of the most robust and multifaceted settlement frameworks in Canada. A key data source for this research includes interviews with settlement workers and others who administer social integration programming, to assess whether or not they think sexual education is integral to settlement and integration, what barriers might exist in providing these services, and relationships between organizations who work in these fields. Before engaging with interview findings, however, this thesis will first provide several contextual chapters. This includes discussion of how access to sexual education and sexual health for newcomers and immigrant communities are part of the landscapes of biopolitics and sexual citizenship in Canada, the multijurisdictional nature of immigration and settlement policy, the terrain of sexual education policy in Canada, and the capacity of comprehensive sexual education to engage in anti-racist approaches. This thesis establishes that sexual education does in fact overlap with immigration and settlement policy, as norms around sex and gender are woven into the immigration process. Although issues related to sexual education do arise in a settlement context, there are both structural and cultural barriers that hinder a more fulsome engagement with sexual education in the services and programs provided by settlement agencies. However, these barriers have been challenged by service providers with strategies that emphasize integrative and relational approaches to sexual education with clients, as well as framing sexual educational content around individual and family wellness. These strategies relate to approaches outlined by UNESCO for effective implementation of CSE, suggesting that settlement work can be conducive to CSE. This thesis also identifies key service gaps in the provision of settlement services at large, and thus sexual education in this context. The research also highlights service gaps from organizations invested in the implementation of CSE in serving newcomer and immigrant communities. The research culminates in recommendations to address these gaps and further areas of research to be pursued. Comprehensive sexual education (CSE) is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization as “a curriculum-based process of teaching and learning about the cognitive, emotional, physical and social aspects of sexuality” (2018, p. 16). Given the social and cultural aspects of sexual education, my research posits that newcomer access to comprehensive sexual education could be crucial to settlement and inclusion processes in Canada. Thus, my research asks: where does immigration and settlement policy intersect with sexual education policy in Canada? How does newcomer and immigrant community access to sexual education impact immigration and settlement processes? To investigate the ways in which the policy areas of immigration and settlement and sexual education overlap, I examine how sexual education is delivered in Edmonton, Alberta, a city that has one of the most robust and multifaceted settlement frameworks in Canada. A key data source for this research includes interviews with settlement workers and others who administer social integration programming, to assess whether or not they think sexual education is integral to settlement and integration, what barriers might exist in providing these services, and relationships between organizations who work in these fields. Before engaging with interview findings, however, this thesis will first provide several contextual chapters. This includes discussion of how access to sexual education and sexual health for newcomers and immigrant communities are part of the landscapes of biopolitics and sexual citizenship in Canada, the multijurisdictional nature of immigration and settlement policy, the terrain of sexual education policy in Canada, and the capacity of comprehensive sexual education to engage in anti-racist approaches. This thesis establishes that sexual education does in fact overlap with immigration and settlement policy, as norms around sex and gender are woven into the immigration process. Although issues related to sexual education do arise in a settlement context, there are both structural and cultural barriers that hinder a more fulsome engagement with sexual education in the services and programs provided by settlement agencies. However, these barriers have been challenged by service providers with strategies that emphasize integrative and relational approaches to sexual education with clients, as well as framing sexual educational content around individual and family wellness. These strategies relate to approaches outlined by UNESCO for effective implementation of CSE, suggesting that settlement work can be conducive to CSE. This thesis also identifies key service gaps in the provision of settlement services at large, and thus sexual education in this context. The research also highlights service gaps from organizations invested in the implementation of CSE in serving newcomer and immigrant communities. The research culminates in recommendations to address these gaps and further areas of research to be pursued.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Pride Centre of Edmonton Refugee and Newcomer Resources

A list of resources and contact information for a variety of organizations that support 2SLGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers. Focuses on Edmonton-specific resources, with the addition of some national resources. A list of resources and contact information for a variety of organizations that support 2SLGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers. Focuses on Edmonton-specific resources, with the addition of some national resources.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

How Collecting Race-Based Data Can Address Systemic Racism in Public Education

Edmonton Public School Trustee Michael Janz discusses forward movement in collecting race-based data in Edmonton schools since 2020, while also highlighting multiple areas where Edmonton schools can improve their race-based data, anti-racism and diversity initiatives. Edmonton Public School Trustee Michael Janz discusses forward movement in collecting race-based data in Edmonton schools since 2020, while also highlighting multiple areas where Edmonton schools can improve their race-based data, anti-racism and diversity initiatives.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

“Language alludes to everything”: A pilot study on front-line worker experience with newcomer integration

There remains an ongoing need to address not only the post-migration experiences of newcomers settling in Calgary but also to understand how systems that serve them perceive, make sense of, and contribute to these experiences. By hearing from those who work with newcomers within the institutional settings that support newcomers, we can begin to understand some complexities of newcomer integration. The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to explore the perceptions that front-line workers hold regarding needs and experiences of newcomers. This study involved a series of eleven semi-structured interviews with workers at an immigrant-serving language-learning agency which were analyzed using thematic coding. The findings highlighted: front-line workers perception of their newcomer cli-ents’ identity in connection to language; the clients’ emotional burden and sense of belonging; and the challenges clients faced balancing everyday commitments. Moreover, this study explored the front-line worker’s role in cultural brokerage and promoting wellness. This study provided reason to value the practices and interpretations that front-line workers have of the newcomer experience due to the role they play in creating a sense of integration for newcom-ers. The interpretations that surfaced in this study sheds light on the complexity that both front-line workers and newcomers face and implies that further research and interventions are needed to ensure successful integration There remains an ongoing need to address not only the post-migration experiences of newcomers settling in Calgary but also to understand how systems that serve them perceive, make sense of, and contribute to these experiences. By hearing from those who work with newcomers within the institutional settings that support newcomers, we can begin to understand some complexities of newcomer integration. The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to explore the perceptions that front-line workers hold regarding needs and experiences of newcomers. This study involved a series of eleven semi-structured interviews with workers at an immigrant-serving language-learning agency which were analyzed using thematic coding. The findings highlighted: front-line workers perception of their newcomer cli-ents’ identity in connection to language; the clients’ emotional burden and sense of belonging; and the challenges clients faced balancing everyday commitments. Moreover, this study explored the front-line worker’s role in cultural brokerage and promoting wellness. This study provided reason to value the practices and interpretations that front-line workers have of the newcomer experience due to the role they play in creating a sense of integration for newcom-ers. The interpretations that surfaced in this study sheds light on the complexity that both front-line workers and newcomers face and implies that further research and interventions are needed to ensure successful integration
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Health and well-being among trans and non-binary immigrants and newcomers

Research is lacking on the intersection between being trans or non-binary and a newcomer in Canada. Alberta, in particular, is one of the top 4 provinces where the most trans or non-binary immigrants reside. Reasons for immigration included: persecution, humanitarian claims, to access gender-affirming healthcare, employment, and/or education. Only 1 in 5 trans or non-binary newcomers accessed a settlement service within their first year in Canada. Trans or non-binary newcomers were 2x as likely to NOT have a primary healthcare provider than trans or non-binary second generation immigrants and trans or non-binary immigrants who have been in Canada for more than 5 years. Research is lacking on the intersection between being trans or non-binary and a newcomer in Canada. Alberta, in particular, is one of the top 4 provinces where the most trans or non-binary immigrants reside. Reasons for immigration included: persecution, humanitarian claims, to access gender-affirming healthcare, employment, and/or education. Only 1 in 5 trans or non-binary newcomers accessed a settlement service within their first year in Canada. Trans or non-binary newcomers were 2x as likely to NOT have a primary healthcare provider than trans or non-binary second generation immigrants and trans or non-binary immigrants who have been in Canada for more than 5 years.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Guide for Medicine Hatters Who Support Newcomers

A guide for individuals and organizations in Medicine Hat who work with newcomers, including employers, healthcare workers, private sponsors, educators, faith communities, etc. Resources, services and programs in Medicine Hat for newcomers are included across 20 different categories. A guide for individuals and organizations in Medicine Hat who work with newcomers, including employers, healthcare workers, private sponsors, educators, faith communities, etc. Resources, services and programs in Medicine Hat for newcomers are included across 20 different categories.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly