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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it.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

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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

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

Health of the Newcomer-Serving Sector in the PNT Region: A survey of front-line workers in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan – Disaggregated data summary for language training

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

“I feel like I’m just nowhere”: Causes and Challenges of Status Loss in Canada

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

“Language alludes to everything”: A pilot study on front-line worker experience with newcomer integration

There remains an ongoing need to address not only the post-migration experiences of newcomers settling in Calgary but also to understand how systems that serve them perceive, make sense of, and contribute to these experiences. By hearing from those who work with newcomers within the institutional settings that support newcomers, we can begin to understand some complexities of newcomer integration. The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to explore the perceptions that front-line workers hold regarding needs and experiences of newcomers. This study involved a series of eleven semi-structured interviews with workers at an immigrant-serving language-learning agency which were analyzed using thematic coding. The findings highlighted: front-line workers perception of their newcomer cli-ents’ identity in connection to language; the clients’ emotional burden and sense of belonging; and the challenges clients faced balancing everyday commitments. Moreover, this study explored the front-line worker’s role in cultural brokerage and promoting wellness. This study provided reason to value the practices and interpretations that front-line workers have of the newcomer experience due to the role they play in creating a sense of integration for newcom-ers. The interpretations that surfaced in this study sheds light on the complexity that both front-line workers and newcomers face and implies that further research and interventions are needed to ensure successful integration There remains an ongoing need to address not only the post-migration experiences of newcomers settling in Calgary but also to understand how systems that serve them perceive, make sense of, and contribute to these experiences. By hearing from those who work with newcomers within the institutional settings that support newcomers, we can begin to understand some complexities of newcomer integration. The purpose of this qualitative pilot study was to explore the perceptions that front-line workers hold regarding needs and experiences of newcomers. This study involved a series of eleven semi-structured interviews with workers at an immigrant-serving language-learning agency which were analyzed using thematic coding. The findings highlighted: front-line workers perception of their newcomer cli-ents’ identity in connection to language; the clients’ emotional burden and sense of belonging; and the challenges clients faced balancing everyday commitments. Moreover, this study explored the front-line worker’s role in cultural brokerage and promoting wellness. This study provided reason to value the practices and interpretations that front-line workers have of the newcomer experience due to the role they play in creating a sense of integration for newcom-ers. The interpretations that surfaced in this study sheds light on the complexity that both front-line workers and newcomers face and implies that further research and interventions are needed to ensure successful integration
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Integration Experiences of Newcomers Across the Prairies: Untangling Perceived Dichotomy Between Immigrants and New-to-Towns

Despite the lack of a shared definition of integration, this concept word addresses the physical, psychological, and social progress of newcomers, and more. Newcomers are both immigrants and new-to-town individuals, meaning those who have relocated within Canada from other provinces or regions. By exploring literature and lived experiences, this research examines how accurately models of integration reflect and represent the views and experiences of newcomers. Our qualitative case study uses thematic coding of in-depth interviews with newcomers and settlement organizations. Results suggest that models and factors of integration do not fully or effectively reflect the process and desires of newcomers. Though new-to-town individuals possess advantages in their relocation process (e.g., not having to learn a new language or build a cultural foundation in their new location), they do not meet nor do they aspire to meet all the various factors and considerations of integration included in the models. Newcomers seek first to meet their own core needs followed by self-directed needs. In this article, an acculturation model is put forward that encompasses dynamics of individual newcomers’ peculiarities of circumstances. The conclusion is two-fold: Newcomers place priority on immediate core needs and strive to meet other needs leading to place attachment; and their sense of belonging can be brought into question with experiences of discrimination and racism. Despite the lack of a shared definition of integration, this concept word addresses the physical, psychological, and social progress of newcomers, and more. Newcomers are both immigrants and new-to-town individuals, meaning those who have relocated within Canada from other provinces or regions. By exploring literature and lived experiences, this research examines how accurately models of integration reflect and represent the views and experiences of newcomers. Our qualitative case study uses thematic coding of in-depth interviews with newcomers and settlement organizations. Results suggest that models and factors of integration do not fully or effectively reflect the process and desires of newcomers. Though new-to-town individuals possess advantages in their relocation process (e.g., not having to learn a new language or build a cultural foundation in their new location), they do not meet nor do they aspire to meet all the various factors and considerations of integration included in the models. Newcomers seek first to meet their own core needs followed by self-directed needs. In this article, an acculturation model is put forward that encompasses dynamics of individual newcomers’ peculiarities of circumstances. The conclusion is two-fold: Newcomers place priority on immediate core needs and strive to meet other needs leading to place attachment; and their sense of belonging can be brought into question with experiences of discrimination and racism.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Towards social justice and equity in English as an Additional Language (EAL) policies: The agency of immigrant parents in language policy advocacy in Alberta schools

An effective language policy for migrant students is essential for educational systems. This study explored how immigrant parents advocated for more equitable English as an Additional Language (EAL) policies and practices in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Participants challenged the deficit perspective on immigrant parents and English language learning. An effective language policy for migrant students is essential for educational systems. This study explored how immigrant parents advocated for more equitable English as an Additional Language (EAL) policies and practices in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Participants challenged the deficit perspective on immigrant parents and English language learning.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly