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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it.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

Alberta makes driver’s license exchange program for Ukrainian refugees permanent

Last year, Alberta launched a temporary 1 year driver’s license exchange program for Ukrainian refugees with a Ukrainian Category B or BE driver’s license. The goal of the program was to help refugees find and access employment and care for their families. As of April 18, 2024, this program is now permanent. Last year, Alberta launched a temporary 1 year driver’s license exchange program for Ukrainian refugees with a Ukrainian Category B or BE driver’s license. The goal of the program was to help refugees find and access employment and care for their families. As of April 18, 2024, this program is now permanent.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Continuing Professional Development for TESOL Instructors Working in Canadian Settlement Language Training Programmes in Alberta

The purpose of this chapter is to discuss continuing professional development (CPD) for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) instructors in the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programme in the province of Alberta, Canada. LINC is a federally funded, tuition-free, basic English language training programme for beginner to intermediate adult learners that is designed to facilitate immigrants’ integration into Canadian society. The Teachers of English as a Second Language (TESL) Canada Federation and provincial professional associations such as the Alberta Teachers of English as a Second Language (ATESL) also organize professional development (PD) activities (e.g., conferences, workshops, webinars). However, these PD activities are typically one-shot events where the learning facilitator determines the learning objectives, but these objectives may not necessarily align with individual instructors’ CPD needs. Over the past decade, groups of LINC instructors with diverse teaching experiences have been participating in researcher-supported professional reading groups as an additional form of informal, situated CPD in Alberta. The group members regularly select and read peer-reviewed articles and meet to discuss articles during unpaid time as a way to address their shared, current CPD needs and goals. They also complete researcher-designed questionnaires and participate in focus group interviews that ask them to reflect on and document the impact that the information in the articles and group discussions had on their professional practices. In these groups, the members reflect on their own practices, and combine one another’s knowledge and experience with the information in the articles to co-create innovative, research-informed solutions to their classroom issues. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss continuing professional development (CPD) for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) instructors in the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programme in the province of Alberta, Canada. LINC is a federally funded, tuition-free, basic English language training programme for beginner to intermediate adult learners that is designed to facilitate immigrants’ integration into Canadian society. The Teachers of English as a Second Language (TESL) Canada Federation and provincial professional associations such as the Alberta Teachers of English as a Second Language (ATESL) also organize professional development (PD) activities (e.g., conferences, workshops, webinars). However, these PD activities are typically one-shot events where the learning facilitator determines the learning objectives, but these objectives may not necessarily align with individual instructors’ CPD needs. Over the past decade, groups of LINC instructors with diverse teaching experiences have been participating in researcher-supported professional reading groups as an additional form of informal, situated CPD in Alberta. The group members regularly select and read peer-reviewed articles and meet to discuss articles during unpaid time as a way to address their shared, current CPD needs and goals. They also complete researcher-designed questionnaires and participate in focus group interviews that ask them to reflect on and document the impact that the information in the articles and group discussions had on their professional practices. In these groups, the members reflect on their own practices, and combine one another’s knowledge and experience with the information in the articles to co-create innovative, research-informed solutions to their classroom issues.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Program Evaluation Plan for ASSIST Community Services Centre Settlement Services Program and AHC New Immigrants Program

This evaluation plan provides a basic framework and steps for assessing the new immigrant service programs conducted at ASSIST Community Services Center and AHC (Action for Healthy Community) in Edmonton. It includes important and typical indicators as examples. The plan primarily applies the Impact Evaluation Process theory (Guerra-López & Toker, 2007) and a program logic model to design and plan the evaluation. The goal is to conduct these assessment steps to provide applicable suggestions or updates for these programs. This will help improve new immigrant settlement programs, enabling them to better address existing and upcoming challenges and optimize their outcomes as expected. This evaluation plan provides a basic framework and steps for assessing the new immigrant service programs conducted at ASSIST Community Services Center and AHC (Action for Healthy Community) in Edmonton. It includes important and typical indicators as examples. The plan primarily applies the Impact Evaluation Process theory (Guerra-López & Toker, 2007) and a program logic model to design and plan the evaluation. The goal is to conduct these assessment steps to provide applicable suggestions or updates for these programs. This will help improve new immigrant settlement programs, enabling them to better address existing and upcoming challenges and optimize their outcomes as expected.
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

The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Maturity Model

The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Maturity Model provides a 5 Level pathway to achieving an anti-racist Calgary. The 5 Levels are: 1) compliance, 2) complacency, 3) awareness, 4) integration, and 5) anti-racist. Since the 2022 assessment, Calgary is currently at Level 2: complacency. The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Strategic Plan 2023-2027 aims to reach Level 5: anti-racist. The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Maturity Model provides a 5 Level pathway to achieving an anti-racist Calgary. The 5 Levels are: 1) compliance, 2) complacency, 3) awareness, 4) integration, and 5) anti-racist. Since the 2022 assessment, Calgary is currently at Level 2: complacency. The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Strategic Plan 2023-2027 aims to reach Level 5: anti-racist.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

One city – one journey – one safe crossing: The City of Calgary Public Safety Anti-racism Action Strategy

The City of Calgary Public Safety Anti-Racism Action Strategy aims to prevent and mitigate systemic racism and racialization in public safety and City programs and services. The strategy highlights the need to examine policies, bylaws, and legislation that regulate behaviors, statements, or decisions that cause or sustain racism and racialization. It also emphasizes the importance of community engagement in supporting The City’s efforts to become anti-racist. This Action Strategy is instrumental in the development of The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which provides an overview of strategic actions to create equitable and fair protection, treatment, and outcomes for all Calgarians by enhancing public safety, dignity, order, and peace. The City of Calgary Public Safety Anti-Racism Action Strategy aims to prevent and mitigate systemic racism and racialization in public safety and City programs and services. The strategy highlights the need to examine policies, bylaws, and legislation that regulate behaviors, statements, or decisions that cause or sustain racism and racialization. It also emphasizes the importance of community engagement in supporting The City’s efforts to become anti-racist. This Action Strategy is instrumental in the development of The City of Calgary Anti-Racism Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which provides an overview of strategic actions to create equitable and fair protection, treatment, and outcomes for all Calgarians by enhancing public safety, dignity, order, and peace.
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Ripples of change: The City of Calgary Organizational Anti-Racism Action Strategy

This strategy outlines the City of Calgary’s commitment to creating a racially-just community. It emphasizes the importance of collective anti-racism work, organizational stamina, anti-racist leadership, and intentional centering of the lived experiences of Indigenous, Black, and diverse Racialized employees. The strategy also highlights the need for a focused approach to address the root causes of systemic racism and oppression. It emphasizes accountability as a public service organization and aims to embed it into the change process. Overall, this strategy serves as a roadmap for the City of Calgary’s efforts towards creating an inclusive and equitable community for all its residents. This strategy outlines the City of Calgary’s commitment to creating a racially-just community. It emphasizes the importance of collective anti-racism work, organizational stamina, anti-racist leadership, and intentional centering of the lived experiences of Indigenous, Black, and diverse Racialized employees. The strategy also highlights the need for a focused approach to address the root causes of systemic racism and oppression. It emphasizes accountability as a public service organization and aims to embed it into the change process. Overall, this strategy serves as a roadmap for the City of Calgary’s efforts towards creating an inclusive and equitable community for all its residents.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Supporting Women Newcomers in Canada: Key Considerations for Inclusive Programming

This learning note identifies provides a brief overview of the how compounding vulnerabilities and responisbilities shape the experiences of newcomer women throughout the settlement journey. It offers key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomer women in Canada. This learning note identifies provides a brief overview of the how compounding vulnerabilities and responisbilities shape the experiences of newcomer women throughout the settlement journey. It offers key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomer women in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Supporting the Mental Health of Newcomers in Canada: Key Insights and Recommendations for Programming

This learning note identifies key insights and challenges that newcomers experience in relation to their mental health and provides recommendations for how programs and services can support the mental health of newcomers in Canada. This learning note identifies key insights and challenges that newcomers experience in relation to their mental health and provides recommendations for how programs and services can support the mental health of newcomers in Canada.
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Supporting Newcomer Youth in Canada: Key Considerations for Inclusive Programming

This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges that newcomer youth in Canada face throughout the settlement journey and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomers youth in Canada. This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges that newcomer youth in Canada face throughout the settlement journey and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomers youth in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly