Research Library

Focus groups are a useful strategy in qualitative health research when it is important to understand how social contexts shape participants’ health. However, when cross-lingual focus groups are conducted, and in languages in which the researcher is not fluent, it raises questions regarding the usefulness and rigor of the findings. In this article, we will discuss three different approaches to cross-lingual focus groups used in a community-based participatory research project with pregnant and postpartum, African immigrant women in Alberta, Canada. In two approaches, we moderated focus groups in women’s mother tongue with the support of real-time interpreters, but in the first approach, audio recording was used and in the second approach, audio recording was not used. In the third approach, a bilingual moderator facilitated focus groups in women’s mother tongue, with transcription and translation of audio-recorded data upon completion of data generation. We expect the lessons learned in this project may assist others in planning and implementing cross-lingual focus groups, especially in the context of community-based participatory research. Focus groups are a useful strategy in qualitative health research when it is important to understand how social contexts shape participants’ health. However, when cross-lingual focus groups are conducted, and in languages in which the researcher is not fluent, it raises questions regarding the usefulness and rigor of the findings. In this article, we will discuss three different approaches to cross-lingual focus groups used in a community-based participatory research project with pregnant and postpartum, African immigrant women in Alberta, Canada. In two approaches, we moderated focus groups in women’s mother tongue with the support of real-time interpreters, but in the first approach, audio recording was used and in the second approach, audio recording was not used. In the third approach, a bilingual moderator facilitated focus groups in women’s mother tongue, with transcription and translation of audio-recorded data upon completion of data generation. We expect the lessons learned in this project may assist others in planning and implementing cross-lingual focus groups, especially in the context of community-based participatory research.
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Chinese Canadian youth are usually represented as a model minority and are therefore rendered invisible in identity debates. This paper examines how racism affects the identity construction of Chinese youth in different school fields. Particularly, I raise and discuss a theoretical concept, racialized habitus, which is manifested as both intergroup exclusion and intragroup distinction. This study indicates the continuing significance of research on racism. It calls for challenging racism as an act of distinction, habitus, and action, as well as a discursive practice of discourse. Chinese Canadian youth are usually represented as a model minority and are therefore rendered invisible in identity debates. This paper examines how racism affects the identity construction of Chinese youth in different school fields. Particularly, I raise and discuss a theoretical concept, racialized habitus, which is manifested as both intergroup exclusion and intragroup distinction. This study indicates the continuing significance of research on racism. It calls for challenging racism as an act of distinction, habitus, and action, as well as a discursive practice of discourse.
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This paper aims to understand information-gathering and decision-making processes of immigrant mothers for scheduled childhood vaccines, vaccination during pregnancy, seasonal flu and pandemic vaccination. Our three main findings on information gathering and use in vaccination decisions were: 1) participants in all three communities passively received immunization information. Most mothers learned about vaccine practices exclusively from health care practitioners during scheduled visits. Social networks were primary sources of information in origin countries but were lost during immigration to Canada; 2) participants demonstrated universal trust in vaccines (i.e., no anti-vaccination sentiment). They were comfortable in receiving vaccines for themselves and their children, regardless of past adverse reactions; 3) participants’ recollection of the H1N1 vaccination campaign was almost nil, demonstrating the lack of reach of public health vaccination campaigns to designated priority groups (pregnant women and children) in Alberta. Our results highlight the limitations of Alberta’s current vaccination communication strategies in reaching immigrant women. When immigrant mothers receive vaccination information, our results indicate they will likely follow recommendations. However, our study shows that current communication strategies are not making this information accessible to immigrant women, which limits their ability to make informed vaccination decisions for themselves and their children. This paper aims to understand information-gathering and decision-making processes of immigrant mothers for scheduled childhood vaccines, vaccination during pregnancy, seasonal flu and pandemic vaccination. Our three main findings on information gathering and use in vaccination decisions were: 1) participants in all three communities passively received immunization information. Most mothers learned about vaccine practices exclusively from health care practitioners during scheduled visits. Social networks were primary sources of information in origin countries but were lost during immigration to Canada; 2) participants demonstrated universal trust in vaccines (i.e., no anti-vaccination sentiment). They were comfortable in receiving vaccines for themselves and their children, regardless of past adverse reactions; 3) participants’ recollection of the H1N1 vaccination campaign was almost nil, demonstrating the lack of reach of public health vaccination campaigns to designated priority groups (pregnant women and children) in Alberta. Our results highlight the limitations of Alberta’s current vaccination communication strategies in reaching immigrant women. When immigrant mothers receive vaccination information, our results indicate they will likely follow recommendations. However, our study shows that current communication strategies are not making this information accessible to immigrant women, which limits their ability to make informed vaccination decisions for themselves and their children.
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This paper presents the stories of four immigrant teachers as they endeavor to resume their teaching careers in Calgary, Alberta. The teachers in this study participated in a six-month professional bridging program in Calgary in 2008 in order to upgrade their professional knowledge and to meet Alberta certification requirements before seeking employment in local school boards. The professional integration consists of challenges and reflection on the teachers part, but they are happy that the bridging program helps them meet the Alberta certification requirements to be able to teach in local schools. The process of relearning through this program has improved their professional teaching and confidence level in terms of teaching methodology and interaction with students and colleagues. In a changing educational Alberta landscape that is becoming increasingly diverse, stories of internationally educated professionals are increasingly relevant, yet seldom found in the literature on teaching. This paper presents the stories of four immigrant teachers as they endeavor to resume their teaching careers in Calgary, Alberta. The teachers in this study participated in a six-month professional bridging program in Calgary in 2008 in order to upgrade their professional knowledge and to meet Alberta certification requirements before seeking employment in local school boards. The professional integration consists of challenges and reflection on the teachers part, but they are happy that the bridging program helps them meet the Alberta certification requirements to be able to teach in local schools. The process of relearning through this program has improved their professional teaching and confidence level in terms of teaching methodology and interaction with students and colleagues. In a changing educational Alberta landscape that is becoming increasingly diverse, stories of internationally educated professionals are increasingly relevant, yet seldom found in the literature on teaching.
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Low socioeconomic status, language difficulties and sociocultural barriers can negatively affect many aspects of a healthy pregnancy, including dietary practices. Various life adversities (e.g., poverty), in the absence of women’s family circle created a sense of isolation and increased stress, which were heightened by pregnancy and postpartum. African-immigrant women discussed that in their home countries regardless of their socioeconomic status they felt supported in pregnancy and postpartum as their kinship provided them with “everything they needed” to be healthy. This included nutritious foods, physical activity opportunities, and adequate time for rest. Once in Canada, without sufficient social support, it becomes extremely challenging to be healthy during pregnancy and postpartum. However, women described that services and supports offered through MCHB (Multicultural Health Brokers Co-operatie) (e.g., childcare, cooking classes) facilitated a healthy pregnancy and postpartum. Community-based organizations (CBOs) appear to foster a sense of kinship women often miss when they immigrate to a new country and become pregnant. Policies that support CBOs, and ensure adequate funding, will enable continuing services that can assist immigrant women in being healthier during pregnancy and postpartum in Canada. Low socioeconomic status, language difficulties and sociocultural barriers can negatively affect many aspects of a healthy pregnancy, including dietary practices. Various life adversities (e.g., poverty), in the absence of women’s family circle created a sense of isolation and increased stress, which were heightened by pregnancy and postpartum. African-immigrant women discussed that in their home countries regardless of their socioeconomic status they felt supported in pregnancy and postpartum as their kinship provided them with “everything they needed” to be healthy. This included nutritious foods, physical activity opportunities, and adequate time for rest. Once in Canada, without sufficient social support, it becomes extremely challenging to be healthy during pregnancy and postpartum. However, women described that services and supports offered through MCHB (Multicultural Health Brokers Co-operatie) (e.g., childcare, cooking classes) facilitated a healthy pregnancy and postpartum. Community-based organizations (CBOs) appear to foster a sense of kinship women often miss when they immigrate to a new country and become pregnant. Policies that support CBOs, and ensure adequate funding, will enable continuing services that can assist immigrant women in being healthier during pregnancy and postpartum in Canada.
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Many immigrant and ethno-cultural groups in Canada face substantial barriers to accessing health care including language barriers. This study identified the nature of communication difficulties in maternity services from the perspectives of immigrant women, health care providers and social service providers in a small city in southern Alberta, Canada. We identified four main themes including verbal communication, unshared meaning, non-verbal communication to build relationships, and trauma, culture and open communication. Communication difficulties extended beyond matters of language competency to those encompassing non-verbal communication and its relation to shared meaning as well as the interplay of underlying pre-migration history and cultural factors which affect open communication, accessible health care and perhaps also maternal outcomes. Communication challenges may be experienced by all parties, yet those within health care management and professional bodies are responsible to ensure that providers are equipped with the skills necessary to facilitate culturally appropriate care. Many immigrant and ethno-cultural groups in Canada face substantial barriers to accessing health care including language barriers. This study identified the nature of communication difficulties in maternity services from the perspectives of immigrant women, health care providers and social service providers in a small city in southern Alberta, Canada. We identified four main themes including verbal communication, unshared meaning, non-verbal communication to build relationships, and trauma, culture and open communication. Communication difficulties extended beyond matters of language competency to those encompassing non-verbal communication and its relation to shared meaning as well as the interplay of underlying pre-migration history and cultural factors which affect open communication, accessible health care and perhaps also maternal outcomes. Communication challenges may be experienced by all parties, yet those within health care management and professional bodies are responsible to ensure that providers are equipped with the skills necessary to facilitate culturally appropriate care.
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This paper explores the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Our case studies of temporary foreign workers in nursing and trades in Alberta suggest that the TFWP encourages low trust and sense of belonging among migrant workers and resistance from domestic workers because it promotes inequality and exclusion. The inability of most migrant workers to access settlement services, to bring families, to change employers, or to enroll in further education and training overtly discourages their integration into the local community. The TFWP also impacts the domestic workforce and citizenry by creating a new class of workers and non-citizens without the same rights. The dynamics observed at a workplace level predictably impact local communities and Canadian society overall: patterns of diversity are destabilized, values of fairness and equal opportunity are challenged, and norms of reciprocity are weakened. This paper explores the Canadian Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). Our case studies of temporary foreign workers in nursing and trades in Alberta suggest that the TFWP encourages low trust and sense of belonging among migrant workers and resistance from domestic workers because it promotes inequality and exclusion. The inability of most migrant workers to access settlement services, to bring families, to change employers, or to enroll in further education and training overtly discourages their integration into the local community. The TFWP also impacts the domestic workforce and citizenry by creating a new class of workers and non-citizens without the same rights. The dynamics observed at a workplace level predictably impact local communities and Canadian society overall: patterns of diversity are destabilized, values of fairness and equal opportunity are challenged, and norms of reciprocity are weakened.
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With an increasing number of immigrants arriving in Calgary to work and live, there is a need to better understand how social service organizations attempt to create positive and meaningful changes in relation to the labour market integration of immigrants in Calgary. Skilled immigrants continue to arrive in Calgary, bringing with them skills and expertise that could greatly contribute to the economy. The goal of the study is to identify gaps and capacities of the current services working on immigrant labour market integration in Calgary. There are currently 21 members of the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary (ISCC), and other social service organizations in the greater Calgary community working with immigrants and refugees, and there is a need to identify what organizations, programs, and services aim to facilitate immigrant labour market integration. The analyses were focused on documenting and comparing the scope, mandates, and activities of the agencies providing labour market programs and services to immigrants. With an increasing number of immigrants arriving in Calgary to work and live, there is a need to better understand how social service organizations attempt to create positive and meaningful changes in relation to the labour market integration of immigrants in Calgary. Skilled immigrants continue to arrive in Calgary, bringing with them skills and expertise that could greatly contribute to the economy. The goal of the study is to identify gaps and capacities of the current services working on immigrant labour market integration in Calgary. There are currently 21 members of the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary (ISCC), and other social service organizations in the greater Calgary community working with immigrants and refugees, and there is a need to identify what organizations, programs, and services aim to facilitate immigrant labour market integration. The analyses were focused on documenting and comparing the scope, mandates, and activities of the agencies providing labour market programs and services to immigrants.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Permitting entrance into the borders of Canada to migrants as asylum seekers opens yet a new chapter in the lives of these migrants. It is as though while they are being identified as asylum seekers or refugees, their identities and histories are simultaneously being erased. This article discusses the lack of educational policies that address the needs of refugee learners. Policies can serve to include or exclude refugee youth learners in educational contexts. A holistic approach to refugee education will lead to better outcomes for refugee youth. Positive policies include: welcoming atmosphere in schools; child-centered learning; community programing; supporting foundations. Permitting entrance into the borders of Canada to migrants as asylum seekers opens yet a new chapter in the lives of these migrants. It is as though while they are being identified as asylum seekers or refugees, their identities and histories are simultaneously being erased. This article discusses the lack of educational policies that address the needs of refugee learners. Policies can serve to include or exclude refugee youth learners in educational contexts. A holistic approach to refugee education will lead to better outcomes for refugee youth. Positive policies include: welcoming atmosphere in schools; child-centered learning; community programing; supporting foundations.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This research explores the shifting subjectivities of eight Nigerian immigrant women as they negotiate gender roles and marital relations in Lethbridge. Using the Gendered Geographies of Power framework, this study uncovers a reflexive relationship between the social location of participants, and the type and degree of agency that they display as immigrant women, mothers, and wives, within geographies that include, the Canadian labour market, extended family networks in Nigeria, and nuclear households in Canada. Overall, findings show that by demonstrating agency, participants were able to appropriate social-cultural realities of migration and transnational living for the transformation of marital relations in ways that promoted gendered wellbeing and positioning within their marriages. This research explores the shifting subjectivities of eight Nigerian immigrant women as they negotiate gender roles and marital relations in Lethbridge. Using the Gendered Geographies of Power framework, this study uncovers a reflexive relationship between the social location of participants, and the type and degree of agency that they display as immigrant women, mothers, and wives, within geographies that include, the Canadian labour market, extended family networks in Nigeria, and nuclear households in Canada. Overall, findings show that by demonstrating agency, participants were able to appropriate social-cultural realities of migration and transnational living for the transformation of marital relations in ways that promoted gendered wellbeing and positioning within their marriages.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly