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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it.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

Ethnic Spatial Segmentation in Immigrant Destinations—Edmonton and Calgary

Immigrant destinations other than Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are often overlooked in Canadian immigration and settlement debates and discussions. Between 2011 and 2016, such destinations received over 40% of all immigrants arriving in Canada. This study endeavors to systematize the classification of communities where immigrants are destined to settle. It also explores the issue of spatial segmentation in two such places in Alberta—Edmonton and Calgary. In both metropolitan areas, ethnic spatial segmentation exists, but not at the same scale as in a large metropolis like Toronto. Both metropolitan areas still have a substantial population of established white Canadians who identify as Germans or Ukrainians, although most of them reside in rural parts of these two areas. However, the rest of the urban landscapes is a mix of the white Canadians and recently arrived visible minorities. Immigrant destinations other than Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are often overlooked in Canadian immigration and settlement debates and discussions. Between 2011 and 2016, such destinations received over 40% of all immigrants arriving in Canada. This study endeavors to systematize the classification of communities where immigrants are destined to settle. It also explores the issue of spatial segmentation in two such places in Alberta—Edmonton and Calgary. In both metropolitan areas, ethnic spatial segmentation exists, but not at the same scale as in a large metropolis like Toronto. Both metropolitan areas still have a substantial population of established white Canadians who identify as Germans or Ukrainians, although most of them reside in rural parts of these two areas. However, the rest of the urban landscapes is a mix of the white Canadians and recently arrived visible minorities.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Decolonising dominant knowledge constructions in the education of immigrant youth in Canada

This paper looks at how Canadian public schools present knowledge to students. This study finds that some teachers have biased knowledge and tend to racialize their students. They also tend to devalue the indigenous knowledges that immigrant youth bring to the classroom. They also reproduce anti-immigrant discourses and reinforced racial hierarchies in Canadian society. As a consequence, this affects how immigrant students identify themselves. It also negatively affects their sense of belonging in Canada. This article argues that Canadian schools need to create decolonized educational environments. This will change teacher’s interactions with immigrant students and eliminate the harm perpetuated by colonial discourses. This paper looks at how Canadian public schools present knowledge to students. This study finds that some teachers have biased knowledge and tend to racialize their students. They also tend to devalue the indigenous knowledges that immigrant youth bring to the classroom. They also reproduce anti-immigrant discourses and reinforced racial hierarchies in Canadian society. As a consequence, this affects how immigrant students identify themselves. It also negatively affects their sense of belonging in Canada. This article argues that Canadian schools need to create decolonized educational environments. This will change teacher’s interactions with immigrant students and eliminate the harm perpetuated by colonial discourses.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Health care choices of Ghanaian adult immigrants in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. This research used a qualitative naturalistic approach with ten Ghanaian adult immigrants. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. This research used a qualitative naturalistic approach with ten Ghanaian adult immigrants. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Newcomer introduction to classes online program (NICO) : Research report

This research is purposed for an assessment of needs so as to identify the barriers to successful on-line language learning for new immigrants, especially those with language proficiency at CLB 3. This research is purposed for an assessment of needs so as to identify the barriers to successful on-line language learning for new immigrants, especially those with language proficiency at CLB 3.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Fort McMurray Immigrant Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis

Surveys and focus groups were conducted with immigrants and service providers in Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) in Alberta. The population of immigrants in these areas has increased greatly over the years, and these communities hold mixed attitudes towards immigrants. Service needs and gaps, as well as future recommendations in a 10 year timeline, are also identified. Surveys and focus groups were conducted with immigrants and service providers in Fort McMurray and the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) in Alberta. The population of immigrants in these areas has increased greatly over the years, and these communities hold mixed attitudes towards immigrants. Service needs and gaps, as well as future recommendations in a 10 year timeline, are also identified.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Healthcare choices of Ghanian immigrants in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ healthcare choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. This research used a qualitative naturalistic approach with ten Ghanaian adult immigrants. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong supportive system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers. Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ healthcare choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. This research used a qualitative naturalistic approach with ten Ghanaian adult immigrants. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong supportive system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

A place to call home?: recent immigrant integration experiences in Lethbridge, Alberta

The settlement and integration of immigrants is a common policy focus for governments and researchers across the world. In Canada, these policies have become more relevant over the last twenty years. Still, most of the conversations about integration processes in Canada occur in the context of Canada’s largest and most diverse cities. In this thesis, I examine the settlement experiences of recent landed immigrants in Lethbridge—a small Albertan city. My analyses especially highlight the crucial roles that community support, length of residence, and admission class play in determining settlement outcomes of recent immigrants in Lethbridge, Alberta. Based on the data, it is safe to say that integration is promoted in Lethbridge, but immigrants still do not fare as well as the general population. The outcomes of integration process also varies depending on the lived experience of newcomers. For example, refugees are more susceptible to poorer outcomes of integration processes, while highly educated immigrants tend to perform relatively well. To increase the efficiency of integration programmes in Lethbridge, I propose to hire more immigrants to have their perspectives at the table in decision-making; increase access to and availability of relevant settlement information to immigrants; provide more mental health support; provide specific employment supports for economic immigrants; offer services to people without PR status. The settlement and integration of immigrants is a common policy focus for governments and researchers across the world. In Canada, these policies have become more relevant over the last twenty years. Still, most of the conversations about integration processes in Canada occur in the context of Canada’s largest and most diverse cities. In this thesis, I examine the settlement experiences of recent landed immigrants in Lethbridge—a small Albertan city. My analyses especially highlight the crucial roles that community support, length of residence, and admission class play in determining settlement outcomes of recent immigrants in Lethbridge, Alberta. Based on the data, it is safe to say that integration is promoted in Lethbridge, but immigrants still do not fare as well as the general population. The outcomes of integration process also varies depending on the lived experience of newcomers. For example, refugees are more susceptible to poorer outcomes of integration processes, while highly educated immigrants tend to perform relatively well. To increase the efficiency of integration programmes in Lethbridge, I propose to hire more immigrants to have their perspectives at the table in decision-making; increase access to and availability of relevant settlement information to immigrants; provide more mental health support; provide specific employment supports for economic immigrants; offer services to people without PR status.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Canadian Refugee Sponsorship Programs: Experience of Syrian Refugees in Alberta, Canada

The article documents the settlement experiences of Syrian refugees in a major city in Alberta, Canada, in the first year of their resettlement. It then compares them across the three government and private sponsorship programs to understand which program is most effective in helping refugees settle and integrate in Canada. The findings suggest that all three programs were largely successful in bringing in Syrian refugees, from various asylum countries in the Middle East to safe places in Canada. However, the settlement experience of refugees varied after they arrived in Canada. Challenges in learning English and finding employment were paramount among all three refugee streams. Contrary to some academic literature, privately sponsored refugees faced resettlement challenges similar to their counterparts in the two other sponsorship streams. The article documents the settlement experiences of Syrian refugees in a major city in Alberta, Canada, in the first year of their resettlement. It then compares them across the three government and private sponsorship programs to understand which program is most effective in helping refugees settle and integrate in Canada. The findings suggest that all three programs were largely successful in bringing in Syrian refugees, from various asylum countries in the Middle East to safe places in Canada. However, the settlement experience of refugees varied after they arrived in Canada. Challenges in learning English and finding employment were paramount among all three refugee streams. Contrary to some academic literature, privately sponsored refugees faced resettlement challenges similar to their counterparts in the two other sponsorship streams.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Transnationalism, parenting, and child disciplinary practices of African immigrants in Alberta, Canada

Child discipline remains a topic of public health interest across the globe. Despite this enduring interest, very little is known about the child disciplinary practices of African immigrants in Canada. This paper explores the disciplinary practices of African immigrant parents in Alberta, a Canadian province with a recent surge in the population of African immigrants. As members of the African immigrant community, we were deeply immersed in the research settings, which afforded us the opportunity to collect observational data in the form of reflexive notes. We found that African immigrant parents used corporal discipline (i.e. spanking and pinching, and more severe practices as kicking and slapping), persuasive discipline (i.e. timeouts and withdrawal of privileges, positive reinforcement techniques, such as the use of rewards), and a hybrid of the two. They also used emerging practices involving transnational fostering (fostering chronically misbehaving children to relatives and friends in Africa) and emotional isolation of children who persistently misbehaved. These practices, in their totality, appeared to be influenced by parents’ cultural backgrounds, as well as their interactions with Canadian educational system. We present theoretical, policy, and service implications of our findings, including a recommendation to incorporate sociocultural dimensions of child discipline into Canadian child welfare policies and practices. Child discipline remains a topic of public health interest across the globe. Despite this enduring interest, very little is known about the child disciplinary practices of African immigrants in Canada. This paper explores the disciplinary practices of African immigrant parents in Alberta, a Canadian province with a recent surge in the population of African immigrants. As members of the African immigrant community, we were deeply immersed in the research settings, which afforded us the opportunity to collect observational data in the form of reflexive notes. We found that African immigrant parents used corporal discipline (i.e. spanking and pinching, and more severe practices as kicking and slapping), persuasive discipline (i.e. timeouts and withdrawal of privileges, positive reinforcement techniques, such as the use of rewards), and a hybrid of the two. They also used emerging practices involving transnational fostering (fostering chronically misbehaving children to relatives and friends in Africa) and emotional isolation of children who persistently misbehaved. These practices, in their totality, appeared to be influenced by parents’ cultural backgrounds, as well as their interactions with Canadian educational system. We present theoretical, policy, and service implications of our findings, including a recommendation to incorporate sociocultural dimensions of child discipline into Canadian child welfare policies and practices.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The Use of Human Capital and Limitations of Social Capital in Advancing Economic Security among Immigrant Women Living in Central Alberta, Canada

This paper focuses on experiences of settlement and seeking employment of immigrant women in Central Alberta. The study shows that immigrant women tend to rely on their family, ethnic, and religious networks to “survive” in the first stages of settlement, as well as when seeking employment. However, the support that they can receive from their social networks is limited because: (1) their family and friends themselves often lack economic resources; (2) their non-Canadian skills and credential are not always recognized by employers; (3) they have low income and have difficulty accessing training and educational programs that may be recognized by Canadian employers; (4) they are burdened by childcare; (5) some experience language barrier that affect their confidence and mental health. This paper focuses on experiences of settlement and seeking employment of immigrant women in Central Alberta. The study shows that immigrant women tend to rely on their family, ethnic, and religious networks to “survive” in the first stages of settlement, as well as when seeking employment. However, the support that they can receive from their social networks is limited because: (1) their family and friends themselves often lack economic resources; (2) their non-Canadian skills and credential are not always recognized by employers; (3) they have low income and have difficulty accessing training and educational programs that may be recognized by Canadian employers; (4) they are burdened by childcare; (5) some experience language barrier that affect their confidence and mental health.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly