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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it.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

UCalgary Researcher Aims to Improve Intersectional Experiences of LGBTQ2S+ Newcomers to Canada

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

Challenges South Asian immigrant youth face in transnational contexts

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

Jasper Local Immigration Partnership: Objectives, Strategy and Achievements

The Jasper Local Immigration Partnership’s (JLIP) vision is a welcoming and inclusive Jasper where immigrants and refugees participate fully in the social, economic, cultural and political life of the community. JLIP focuses on bringing stakeholders together for better solutions, community-based research and consultation, and improved service coordination. The 8 areas in the JLIP strategy are discussed, as well as the progress JLIP as made thus far. The Jasper Local Immigration Partnership’s (JLIP) vision is a welcoming and inclusive Jasper where immigrants and refugees participate fully in the social, economic, cultural and political life of the community. JLIP focuses on bringing stakeholders together for better solutions, community-based research and consultation, and improved service coordination. The 8 areas in the JLIP strategy are discussed, as well as the progress JLIP as made thus far.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Immigrating to Calgary allowed me to be openly gay- but our city needs more space for LGBTQ+ Calgarians

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

Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers 2022 – 2023 Community Report

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 implementation of community translation by newcomer serving organizations in the city of Edmonton

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

‘It is not easy at all’: A phenomenological study of learning experiences of resettled 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. 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

Decade of turmoil: A characterization of a specialized refugee health clinic 2011-2020

Canadian refugee healthcare has been impacted by periodic upheavals including federal funding cuts, Syrian and Yazidi resettlement programs, and COVID-19. These upheavals will have undoubtedly led to changes in clinic use, shifts in clinic demographics, or clinic policy. Refugees are a vulnerable population with specific physical health, mental health, and social needs. One model of care that can address these needs is a specialized refugee health clinic. Understanding the impacts of recent upheavals on a specialized refugee health clinic’s utilization, its staff and clinicians is critical for future planning. We studied a specialized refugee health clinic in Calgary, AB from 2011 to 2020, across five time periods: Pre-Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) Cuts (January 2011 – June 2012), IFHP Cuts (July 2012 – October 2015), Syrian Surge (November 2015- January 2017), Yazidi Period (February 2017 – February 2020), and COVID-19 (March 2020 – December 2020). We analyzed quantitative changes as well as conducted semi-structured interviews with clinic leadership. Utilization increased greatly over different policy changes and a pandemic, at a specialized refugee clinic over ten years. These upheavals challenged clinic leadership and providers to adapt. The stress of these upheavals negatively impacted staff wellness and patient care. Understanding how health and immigration policy changes affect care, especially at specialized refugee clinics, is critical for being able to anticipate and thrive through future upheavals as turmoil globally seems to continue. Canadian refugee healthcare has been impacted by periodic upheavals including federal funding cuts, Syrian and Yazidi resettlement programs, and COVID-19. These upheavals will have undoubtedly led to changes in clinic use, shifts in clinic demographics, or clinic policy. Refugees are a vulnerable population with specific physical health, mental health, and social needs. One model of care that can address these needs is a specialized refugee health clinic. Understanding the impacts of recent upheavals on a specialized refugee health clinic’s utilization, its staff and clinicians is critical for future planning. We studied a specialized refugee health clinic in Calgary, AB from 2011 to 2020, across five time periods: Pre-Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) Cuts (January 2011 – June 2012), IFHP Cuts (July 2012 – October 2015), Syrian Surge (November 2015- January 2017), Yazidi Period (February 2017 – February 2020), and COVID-19 (March 2020 – December 2020). We analyzed quantitative changes as well as conducted semi-structured interviews with clinic leadership. Utilization increased greatly over different policy changes and a pandemic, at a specialized refugee clinic over ten years. These upheavals challenged clinic leadership and providers to adapt. The stress of these upheavals negatively impacted staff wellness and patient care. Understanding how health and immigration policy changes affect care, especially at specialized refugee clinics, is critical for being able to anticipate and thrive through future upheavals as turmoil globally seems to continue.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Vicarious resilience among ethnic minority counsellors working with attempted genocide survivors

This qualitative study used basic interpretive inquiry to explore experiences of vicarious resilience among racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners who have worked with resilient attempted genocide survivor clients within a counselling setting. Five self-identified racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners participated in semistructured interviews regarding their experiences. This qualitative study used basic interpretive inquiry to explore experiences of vicarious resilience among racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners who have worked with resilient attempted genocide survivor clients within a counselling setting. Five self-identified racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners participated in semistructured interviews regarding their experiences.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The Annual State of Immigration and Settlement Year 2: Edmonton City Council Report

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