Research Library

The Brooks Local Immigration Partnership (Brooks LIP) is a collaborative community effort to support the settlement and integration of newcomers in Brooks and area. After completing a literature review, needs assessment and community consultations, Brooks LIP has identified 3 priority areas to address to further support newcomers. This document presents a brief overview of the reasoning behind these priority areas. The Brooks Local Immigration Partnership (Brooks LIP) is a collaborative community effort to support the settlement and integration of newcomers in Brooks and area. After completing a literature review, needs assessment and community consultations, Brooks LIP has identified 3 priority areas to address to further support newcomers. This document presents a brief overview of the reasoning behind these priority areas.
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Place is powerful in our life because to be human is to be emplaced. In the human geographic interpretation of place, a conceptualization of the emplacement of human experience has been underdeveloped for a long time. This dissertation contributes to this area of inquiry by adopting a phenomenological case study approach to examine family sponsored late-age Chinese immigrants’ lived experience and sense of place in Edmonton, Canada. The focus of this study is to explore the relationship between late-age immigrants and their places at different scales. This work presents how the research participants develop a relationship with place based on their subjective perceptions and experiences. Two studies are presented in this dissertation. Theoretically, this research contributes to a scholarly understanding of the role of place in human life by establishing two frameworks to illustrate the relationships between participants and their places. Substantively, the research challenges the stereotype of sponsored late-age Chinese immigrants in Canada by revealing their roles and contributions in both their families and in society. Place is powerful in our life because to be human is to be emplaced. In the human geographic interpretation of place, a conceptualization of the emplacement of human experience has been underdeveloped for a long time. This dissertation contributes to this area of inquiry by adopting a phenomenological case study approach to examine family sponsored late-age Chinese immigrants’ lived experience and sense of place in Edmonton, Canada. The focus of this study is to explore the relationship between late-age immigrants and their places at different scales. This work presents how the research participants develop a relationship with place based on their subjective perceptions and experiences. Two studies are presented in this dissertation. Theoretically, this research contributes to a scholarly understanding of the role of place in human life by establishing two frameworks to illustrate the relationships between participants and their places. Substantively, the research challenges the stereotype of sponsored late-age Chinese immigrants in Canada by revealing their roles and contributions in both their families and in society.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Over the past years, more newcomers have moved to Lloydminster, particularly when the economy was strong and there were numerous opportunities for employment. The Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership (LLIP) was tasked with determining the experiences of newcomers in Lloydminster and their settlement needs. A survey, community engagement sessions and interviews were conducted to determine what was working well and what areas need to be enhanced to better assist newcomers in resettlement. Additionally, recommendations were created from this information to provide avenues for LLIP to move forwards and enhance the newcomer experience in Lloydminster. Over the past years, more newcomers have moved to Lloydminster, particularly when the economy was strong and there were numerous opportunities for employment. The Lloydminster Local Immigration Partnership (LLIP) was tasked with determining the experiences of newcomers in Lloydminster and their settlement needs. A survey, community engagement sessions and interviews were conducted to determine what was working well and what areas need to be enhanced to better assist newcomers in resettlement. Additionally, recommendations were created from this information to provide avenues for LLIP to move forwards and enhance the newcomer experience in Lloydminster.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Although more Albertan Muslims are entering older age, there is still limited research, evidence and policy focused on older Muslims’ lived experiences and needs in Canada. This community-based participatory study serves to describe the experiences of Muslim seniors and community stakeholders, with regards to healthy aging and related needs in Edmonton, Alberta. 64 Canadian Muslims from multiple ethno-cultural communities in Edmonton participated in individual interviews and focus groups. Muslim seniors defined healthy aging as being financially independent, staying socially connected, and feeling spiritually fulfilled. The article also emphasizes the importance of the Islamic obligation to care for seniors in the community, as well as the increased risks of vulnerable seniors in social isolation. Overall, this study’s findings highlights strong community motivation to support healthy aging, combined with significant barriers to community action. Although more Albertan Muslims are entering older age, there is still limited research, evidence and policy focused on older Muslims’ lived experiences and needs in Canada. This community-based participatory study serves to describe the experiences of Muslim seniors and community stakeholders, with regards to healthy aging and related needs in Edmonton, Alberta. 64 Canadian Muslims from multiple ethno-cultural communities in Edmonton participated in individual interviews and focus groups. Muslim seniors defined healthy aging as being financially independent, staying socially connected, and feeling spiritually fulfilled. The article also emphasizes the importance of the Islamic obligation to care for seniors in the community, as well as the increased risks of vulnerable seniors in social isolation. Overall, this study’s findings highlights strong community motivation to support healthy aging, combined with significant barriers to community action.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This article presents the issues and challenges facing older Chinese immigrants in accessing mainstream services in Edmonton, Alberta, in Western Canada. The awareness and access to mainstream services and information, perceptions of services, system improvements and use of social media are discussed. Barriers to services include: isolation, impacting physical and mental health; few multicultural services (barriers around translation and access to services); barriers around age and ability (accessibility); cost barriers. The article suggests several recommendations: culturally competent service provision by mainstream services (including removing cost barriers, improving translation and accessibility); more collaboration between ‘mainstream’ service providers and ethno-specific organizations; more consultation with Chinese community; greater accessibility to translation; increased funding for human resources and training. This article presents the issues and challenges facing older Chinese immigrants in accessing mainstream services in Edmonton, Alberta, in Western Canada. The awareness and access to mainstream services and information, perceptions of services, system improvements and use of social media are discussed. Barriers to services include: isolation, impacting physical and mental health; few multicultural services (barriers around translation and access to services); barriers around age and ability (accessibility); cost barriers. The article suggests several recommendations: culturally competent service provision by mainstream services (including removing cost barriers, improving translation and accessibility); more collaboration between ‘mainstream’ service providers and ethno-specific organizations; more consultation with Chinese community; greater accessibility to translation; increased funding for human resources and training.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This document provides questions for organizations to assess how well they are addressing organizational racism and anti-racism within their staff, mission, and clients. This document provides questions for organizations to assess how well they are addressing organizational racism and anti-racism within their staff, mission, and clients.
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This report explores the challenges faced by LGBTQ newcomers in accessing settlement services in Edmonton, AB. It highlights the current settlement experiences of LGBTQ newcomers to Edmonton, discrimination and barriers, and perspectives of settlement workers serving LGBTQ newcomers. This report explores the challenges faced by LGBTQ newcomers in accessing settlement services in Edmonton, AB. It highlights the current settlement experiences of LGBTQ newcomers to Edmonton, discrimination and barriers, and perspectives of settlement workers serving LGBTQ newcomers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

New immigrants generally arrive in Canada with a health advantage over their Canadian counterparts, but lose that advantage over time. Difficulties in acquiring a physician may contribute. Past studies relied on older data, and lacked control for many confounders and assessment of gender differences. We assessed the relationship between immigrant status and having a regular doctor among Canadian adults. New Canadian immigrants are less likely to have a regular doctor compared to non-immigrants, and should be targeted by policies and programs facilitating finding a doctor. New immigrants generally arrive in Canada with a health advantage over their Canadian counterparts, but lose that advantage over time. Difficulties in acquiring a physician may contribute. Past studies relied on older data, and lacked control for many confounders and assessment of gender differences. We assessed the relationship between immigrant status and having a regular doctor among Canadian adults. New Canadian immigrants are less likely to have a regular doctor compared to non-immigrants, and should be targeted by policies and programs facilitating finding a doctor.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This paper examines the relationships between self-reported loneliness and living arrangements. A questionnaire with some open-ended questions was administered face-to-face in English, Hindi or Punjabi to a sample of 161 elderly South Asian immigrants 60 or more years of age living in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 2003. The majority of respondents said that they never felt lonely. More than one in three (37.3%) respondents indicated that they felt lonely occasionally, frequently or all of the time. Those living alone were significantly more likely to report feeling lonely at least occasionally than were those living with others, especially those living with their spouse in an extended family. The fact that South Asian immigrant seniors typically lived with others, often in an extended family with or without their spouse, and rarely lived alone protected them to some extent from loneliness. However, our findings showed that among those living with others, it was the amount of waking time spent alone at home and the quality of family relationships rather than living arrangement per se that significantly predicted self-reported loneliness. Nevertheless, living in a larger household was associated with spending less time alone. This paper examines the relationships between self-reported loneliness and living arrangements. A questionnaire with some open-ended questions was administered face-to-face in English, Hindi or Punjabi to a sample of 161 elderly South Asian immigrants 60 or more years of age living in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 2003. The majority of respondents said that they never felt lonely. More than one in three (37.3%) respondents indicated that they felt lonely occasionally, frequently or all of the time. Those living alone were significantly more likely to report feeling lonely at least occasionally than were those living with others, especially those living with their spouse in an extended family. The fact that South Asian immigrant seniors typically lived with others, often in an extended family with or without their spouse, and rarely lived alone protected them to some extent from loneliness. However, our findings showed that among those living with others, it was the amount of waking time spent alone at home and the quality of family relationships rather than living arrangement per se that significantly predicted self-reported loneliness. Nevertheless, living in a larger household was associated with spending less time alone.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Current recommendations for tuberculosis control are to screen high risk populations and provide chemoprophylaxis for those infected. In Edmonton, Alberta, one strategy has been to identify and provide TB skin tests to newly arrived immigrant school age children from TB endemic areas. The difficulty has been in identifying these children in the school population. This article describes a process tried in 1993–94 to find a better approach and to determine the outcome of a concentrated effort at screening and follow-up of this population. Using this method, 1,146 students were TB skin tested using 5tu PPD: 15% showed significant reactions (10mm), 89% were offered chemoprophylaxis, and 68% of those offered (84% of those accepting) completed 9 months of chemoprophylaxis. The success of this process was dependent on the dedicated follow-up provided by the specialty public health clinic devoted to the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis. Current recommendations for tuberculosis control are to screen high risk populations and provide chemoprophylaxis for those infected. In Edmonton, Alberta, one strategy has been to identify and provide TB skin tests to newly arrived immigrant school age children from TB endemic areas. The difficulty has been in identifying these children in the school population. This article describes a process tried in 1993–94 to find a better approach and to determine the outcome of a concentrated effort at screening and follow-up of this population. Using this method, 1,146 students were TB skin tested using 5tu PPD: 15% showed significant reactions (10mm), 89% were offered chemoprophylaxis, and 68% of those offered (84% of those accepting) completed 9 months of chemoprophylaxis. The success of this process was dependent on the dedicated follow-up provided by the specialty public health clinic devoted to the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly