Research Library

Underpinned by neoliberal rationalities, the contractual relationship between government funders and immigrant-serving organisations (ISOs) has led these agencies to promote neoliberal values of competition in the business market, prioritising quantity over quality in their services in order to secure government funding. Informed by Foucault’s concept of governmentality as its theoretical framework and institutional ethnography (IE) as its methodology, our study investigates the work experiences of 18 immigrant settlement workers (ISWs) at three ISOs in western Canada. This study identifies how following an outcomes-driven evaluation approach, as required by the federal government, produces a series of textually mediated accountabilities, constructing translocal textual social relations that further coordinate and govern ISWs’ conduct in their local ISO workplaces. This evaluation approach, as analyzed in our study, is exercised as the technologies of ruling power, which is strengthened by the ruling of systems, workplace knowledge, social relations, and the governed-self, producing ideal ISWs who are self-accountable, self-regulated, adaptable, and productive. This process of making ideal ISWs legitimises ISWs’ apparatus role in reinforcing technologies of ruling power from the individual, organisational and institutional perspectives to better serve the agenda of the state. Underpinned by neoliberal rationalities, the contractual relationship between government funders and immigrant-serving organisations (ISOs) has led these agencies to promote neoliberal values of competition in the business market, prioritising quantity over quality in their services in order to secure government funding. Informed by Foucault’s concept of governmentality as its theoretical framework and institutional ethnography (IE) as its methodology, our study investigates the work experiences of 18 immigrant settlement workers (ISWs) at three ISOs in western Canada. This study identifies how following an outcomes-driven evaluation approach, as required by the federal government, produces a series of textually mediated accountabilities, constructing translocal textual social relations that further coordinate and govern ISWs’ conduct in their local ISO workplaces. This evaluation approach, as analyzed in our study, is exercised as the technologies of ruling power, which is strengthened by the ruling of systems, workplace knowledge, social relations, and the governed-self, producing ideal ISWs who are self-accountable, self-regulated, adaptable, and productive. This process of making ideal ISWs legitimises ISWs’ apparatus role in reinforcing technologies of ruling power from the individual, organisational and institutional perspectives to better serve the agenda of the state.
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The EMCN Community Report for 2021-2022 highlights the organization’s efforts to enhance the quality of life for newcomers and all Canadians. The report covers a wide range of topics, including settlement services, employment programs, language services, and therapeutic programs. EMCN has been a key catalyst in positively shaping attitudes and behaviours towards newcomers, and the report showcases the organization’s core values, collaborations with other organizations, and initiatives such as the EMCN Refugee Donation Centre and the RISE Awards. The report also includes personal stories of individuals who have benefited from EMCN’s services, highlighting the impact that the organization has had on their lives. Overall, the EMCN Community Report for 2021-2022 provides a comprehensive overview of the organization’s work and its commitment to building a more inclusive and welcoming community. The EMCN Community Report for 2021-2022 highlights the organization’s efforts to enhance the quality of life for newcomers and all Canadians. The report covers a wide range of topics, including settlement services, employment programs, language services, and therapeutic programs. EMCN has been a key catalyst in positively shaping attitudes and behaviours towards newcomers, and the report showcases the organization’s core values, collaborations with other organizations, and initiatives such as the EMCN Refugee Donation Centre and the RISE Awards. The report also includes personal stories of individuals who have benefited from EMCN’s services, highlighting the impact that the organization has had on their lives. Overall, the EMCN Community Report for 2021-2022 provides a comprehensive overview of the organization’s work and its commitment to building a more inclusive and welcoming community.
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As the population of young newcomers (immigrants, refugees and international students) increases in Canada, there is a growing need to understand the social integration process of these students into Canadian schools. This thesis reports a qualitative analysis of how newcomer students in three Albertan schools perceived their experiences interacting with local students. As the population of young newcomers (immigrants, refugees and international students) increases in Canada, there is a growing need to understand the social integration process of these students into Canadian schools. This thesis reports a qualitative analysis of how newcomer students in three Albertan schools perceived their experiences interacting with local students.
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Sport participation is popularly constructed as a key aspect of integration for newcomers into their new countries of residence. These claims, however, are critiqued by sport and migration researchers. While newcomer sport participation is receiving increasing scholarly interest, lived experiences of newcomers in introductory winter sport programmes and the (in)efficacy of such programmes remains underexplored. Winter sports hold a central place within Canadian culture and identity, making the intersection between winter sport, immigration, integration, and Canadian identity a timely topic of investigation. This thesis explored the realities of designing and implementing introductory winter sport programmes as well as the lived experiences of newcomer participants in Calgary, AB. First, six Canadian Intro to Sport programmes in Calgary involving newcomers were examined. Results from this study were incorporated into designing the WinSport Newcomers Programme (WNP) in WinSport Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, AB. The WNP is an intersectoral community partnership comprising sport administrators, settlement service practitioners from three separate organizations, and me. I adopted a qualitative case study research design to explore the lived experiences of WNP participants and their parents as well as the (in)efficacy of the WNP as an intersectoral community partnership. Results illuminated the value of winter sport participation for newcomers to Canada as well as various challenges facing the sustainability of newcomer winter sport participation. The WNP represents a maturing intersectoral community partnership that has excelled at introducing newcomers to Canadian winter sports. Yet, various weaknesses (e.g., collaborators negotiating job-related time pressures) are obstructing the collaboration’s effectiveness. Together, the results critique and identify shortcomings in newcomer introductory winter sport programmes, while also offering important insights into how newcomer introductory winter sport programmes may be designed to foster positive outcomes. Sport participation is popularly constructed as a key aspect of integration for newcomers into their new countries of residence. These claims, however, are critiqued by sport and migration researchers. While newcomer sport participation is receiving increasing scholarly interest, lived experiences of newcomers in introductory winter sport programmes and the (in)efficacy of such programmes remains underexplored. Winter sports hold a central place within Canadian culture and identity, making the intersection between winter sport, immigration, integration, and Canadian identity a timely topic of investigation. This thesis explored the realities of designing and implementing introductory winter sport programmes as well as the lived experiences of newcomer participants in Calgary, AB. First, six Canadian Intro to Sport programmes in Calgary involving newcomers were examined. Results from this study were incorporated into designing the WinSport Newcomers Programme (WNP) in WinSport Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, AB. The WNP is an intersectoral community partnership comprising sport administrators, settlement service practitioners from three separate organizations, and me. I adopted a qualitative case study research design to explore the lived experiences of WNP participants and their parents as well as the (in)efficacy of the WNP as an intersectoral community partnership. Results illuminated the value of winter sport participation for newcomers to Canada as well as various challenges facing the sustainability of newcomer winter sport participation. The WNP represents a maturing intersectoral community partnership that has excelled at introducing newcomers to Canadian winter sports. Yet, various weaknesses (e.g., collaborators negotiating job-related time pressures) are obstructing the collaboration’s effectiveness. Together, the results critique and identify shortcomings in newcomer introductory winter sport programmes, while also offering important insights into how newcomer introductory winter sport programmes may be designed to foster positive outcomes.
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This report presents an overview of the work that the EMCN has done in 2020 to help newcomers in Edmonton. These include the expansion of their language delivery programs; provision of online support for the Settlement in Schools program on top of its phone and face to face services; increased participation for the Safe Families Program; and many others. The year 2021 also celebrates 40 years of the EMCN. This report presents an overview of the work that the EMCN has done in 2020 to help newcomers in Edmonton. These include the expansion of their language delivery programs; provision of online support for the Settlement in Schools program on top of its phone and face to face services; increased participation for the Safe Families Program; and many others. The year 2021 also celebrates 40 years of the EMCN.
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This study investigates the motivation for Nigerian migration to Canada for undergraduate education, with a focus on parent-sponsored undergraduate Nigerian students in Canadian universities. The study shows that middle-class and upper-class Nigerians send their children to Canadian universities for undergraduate education because the student visa provides employment opportunities for international students, during and after studies, and Canadian permanent residence upon graduation. It is demonstrated in the paper that migration for higher education fits the neoliberal agenda of the current Canadian immigration policies and practices that target “designer im/migrants,” that is, im/migrants that are young, skilled, highly productive, educated, and self-sufficient. It is claimed throughout the paper that migration for higher education is not fortuitous for the parents and their children and the Canadian state, as higher tuition paid by international students augments the declining public funding of post-secondary institutions in Canada and avails international students the opportunity of employment and permanent residence in Canada. The study in essence reveals the contradiction in the claim that the neoliberal state is a neutral entity as evidence shows that Canada’s post-secondary institutions implement neoliberal programs with the aid of the Canadian state. This study investigates the motivation for Nigerian migration to Canada for undergraduate education, with a focus on parent-sponsored undergraduate Nigerian students in Canadian universities. The study shows that middle-class and upper-class Nigerians send their children to Canadian universities for undergraduate education because the student visa provides employment opportunities for international students, during and after studies, and Canadian permanent residence upon graduation. It is demonstrated in the paper that migration for higher education fits the neoliberal agenda of the current Canadian immigration policies and practices that target “designer im/migrants,” that is, im/migrants that are young, skilled, highly productive, educated, and self-sufficient. It is claimed throughout the paper that migration for higher education is not fortuitous for the parents and their children and the Canadian state, as higher tuition paid by international students augments the declining public funding of post-secondary institutions in Canada and avails international students the opportunity of employment and permanent residence in Canada. The study in essence reveals the contradiction in the claim that the neoliberal state is a neutral entity as evidence shows that Canada’s post-secondary institutions implement neoliberal programs with the aid of the Canadian state.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Recent decades have seen an increase in the popularity of international education. Approximately 500,000 international students were in Canada in 2018 and this number is projected to grow. While we know that many international students decide to stay in Canada, we do not fully understand the decision-making process employed by international students regarding staying in Canada or going back home after completing their education. The purpose of this study was to explore how international students make decisions about their post-graduation destination and what factors they see as pivotal in shaping their decision-making process. Our findings suggest that the meaning students attach to staying in Canada varies from obtaining permanent residency to working for a few months upon graduation. We also demonstrate that for most students, the decision to stay in Canada is formed gradually and is shaped by familial obligations, cultural climate they experience in Canada, employment opportunities available to them upon graduation, and the possibility of obtaining permanent residency. Recent decades have seen an increase in the popularity of international education. Approximately 500,000 international students were in Canada in 2018 and this number is projected to grow. While we know that many international students decide to stay in Canada, we do not fully understand the decision-making process employed by international students regarding staying in Canada or going back home after completing their education. The purpose of this study was to explore how international students make decisions about their post-graduation destination and what factors they see as pivotal in shaping their decision-making process. Our findings suggest that the meaning students attach to staying in Canada varies from obtaining permanent residency to working for a few months upon graduation. We also demonstrate that for most students, the decision to stay in Canada is formed gradually and is shaped by familial obligations, cultural climate they experience in Canada, employment opportunities available to them upon graduation, and the possibility of obtaining permanent residency.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This comprehensive report provides insights into the state of language training in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The report is based on a survey of front-line workers in the newcomer-serving sector and identifies key areas that require further reflection and action to promote improved sector health. The report highlights the challenges faced by front-line staff in delivering language training and provides recommendations for addressing these challenges. The report is an essential resource for policymakers, service providers, and other stakeholders interested in improving the quality of language training services for newcomers in the PNT region. This comprehensive report provides insights into the state of language training in Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. The report is based on a survey of front-line workers in the newcomer-serving sector and identifies key areas that require further reflection and action to promote improved sector health. The report highlights the challenges faced by front-line staff in delivering language training and provides recommendations for addressing these challenges. The report is an essential resource for policymakers, service providers, and other stakeholders interested in improving the quality of language training services for newcomers in the PNT region.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

In this qualitative study, researchers conducted interviews with 11 participants who had entered Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and who had since loss status. Findings show policy changes, abuse and exploitation by employers, language barriers, and misinformation and language gaps drive workers out of status. Once without status, people often remain in Canada because they are motivated by issues related to family. These can include the continued desire to bring family members to Canada, financial responsibilities for family members in countries of origin, the desire to stay with Canadian partners or children, or the breakdown of family ties which dissuades the desire to return. Challenges of living without status include mental health struggles, financial strain, and barriers to service access. Interplays between factors driving status loss and experiences of those who live without status in Canada show that the state plays an important role in creating precarity through restrictive immigration and residency policies. Understandings the state’s role in the production of precarity may inform effective policy changes moving forward. In this qualitative study, researchers conducted interviews with 11 participants who had entered Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and who had since loss status. Findings show policy changes, abuse and exploitation by employers, language barriers, and misinformation and language gaps drive workers out of status. Once without status, people often remain in Canada because they are motivated by issues related to family. These can include the continued desire to bring family members to Canada, financial responsibilities for family members in countries of origin, the desire to stay with Canadian partners or children, or the breakdown of family ties which dissuades the desire to return. Challenges of living without status include mental health struggles, financial strain, and barriers to service access. Interplays between factors driving status loss and experiences of those who live without status in Canada show that the state plays an important role in creating precarity through restrictive immigration and residency policies. Understandings the state’s role in the production of precarity may inform effective policy changes moving forward.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This report explores the municipal approaches to settlement system development in small communities in Alberta. It provides insights into the factors that shape municipal approaches to settlement systems in small communities, including economic immigration, collaborative networks, and service systems. The report presents a typology of municipal roles and applies it to specific municipalities, highlighting the constraints, advantages, and emergent issues associated with each role. The report concludes with recommendations for municipalities seeking to develop effective settlement systems in small communities. This report explores the municipal approaches to settlement system development in small communities in Alberta. It provides insights into the factors that shape municipal approaches to settlement systems in small communities, including economic immigration, collaborative networks, and service systems. The report presents a typology of municipal roles and applies it to specific municipalities, highlighting the constraints, advantages, and emergent issues associated with each role. The report concludes with recommendations for municipalities seeking to develop effective settlement systems in small communities.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly