Research Library

It is well documented that immigrant and racialized groups often experience greater access barriers to health and social services in Canada. This occurs because of multiple factors including language, transportation, information, service fees, and discrimination. This report provides a profile of immigrant health in Calgary. Key findings include significant differences between immigrants and their Canadian-born counterparts in rates of unmet health care needs, physical health status, mental health status, sense of belonging to the local community, and the number and presence of chronic conditions experienced. The results often differ by immigrants’ length of time in Canada, which is also associated with age. Significant differences between immigrants and the Canadian-born population in the Calgary Zone are also found in rates of racialized identity, having a mother tongue other than English, living arrangements, sexual orientation, employment, and educational attainment—often differing by immigrants’ length of time in Canada. In addition, there are statistically significant differences between immigrants and their Canadian-born counterparts in terms of health care access and general health status, some of which may have implications for service provision and, ultimately, health outcomes. In sum, this research demonstrates statistically significant differences in several of the social determinants of health, in health care access and general health status, and in the health outcomes experienced by immigrants as compared to Canadian-born individuals living in the Calgary Zone Community Health Region. It is well documented that immigrant and racialized groups often experience greater access barriers to health and social services in Canada. This occurs because of multiple factors including language, transportation, information, service fees, and discrimination. This report provides a profile of immigrant health in Calgary. Key findings include significant differences between immigrants and their Canadian-born counterparts in rates of unmet health care needs, physical health status, mental health status, sense of belonging to the local community, and the number and presence of chronic conditions experienced. The results often differ by immigrants’ length of time in Canada, which is also associated with age. Significant differences between immigrants and the Canadian-born population in the Calgary Zone are also found in rates of racialized identity, having a mother tongue other than English, living arrangements, sexual orientation, employment, and educational attainment—often differing by immigrants’ length of time in Canada. In addition, there are statistically significant differences between immigrants and their Canadian-born counterparts in terms of health care access and general health status, some of which may have implications for service provision and, ultimately, health outcomes. In sum, this research demonstrates statistically significant differences in several of the social determinants of health, in health care access and general health status, and in the health outcomes experienced by immigrants as compared to Canadian-born individuals living in the Calgary Zone Community Health Region.
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The home language environment and language abilities were compared between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with typical development, both from newcomer families in Edmonton. Children were in elementary school, mostly 6 and 7 year olds. The goal was to understand if there were differences in bilingual development between children with ASD and children with typical development at the same age. Specifically, we wanted to understand if children with ASD have the capacity to become bilingual and whether this is supported by their communities, clinicians and educators. We conclude that children with ASD are more at risk than children with typical development for losing their heritage language. In other words, children with ASD have the capacity to be bilingual, but have limited opportunities to develop their heritage language. The home language environment and language abilities were compared between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with typical development, both from newcomer families in Edmonton. Children were in elementary school, mostly 6 and 7 year olds. The goal was to understand if there were differences in bilingual development between children with ASD and children with typical development at the same age. Specifically, we wanted to understand if children with ASD have the capacity to become bilingual and whether this is supported by their communities, clinicians and educators. We conclude that children with ASD are more at risk than children with typical development for losing their heritage language. In other words, children with ASD have the capacity to be bilingual, but have limited opportunities to develop their heritage language.
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The purpose of this survey was to better understand why Calgarians who were born outside of Canada do or do not access Canadian settlement services during their migration process. Many people advocated for more relevant, accurate information to be provided pre-arrival. They really wanted to know more about living in Canada and the realities of daily life in Calgary. This related to different social and economic systems in Canada—banking, housing, childcare, children’s education, health care, transit, and how to dress for Calgary’s weather—as well as social norms about environmental protection and recycling. Respondents also recommended various way to advertise settlement services and to help newcomers to effectively navigate the local service system upon arrival in Calgary. Helping newcomers find the programs that exist to help them is critical. More widespread, however, is the disconnection between the attraction of skilled workers and professionals to Canada and the realities of the job market in Calgary. Respondents lamented that they arrived with hope and optimism, only to find they had little chance of working in their chosen field upon arrival. Moreover, they found few if any appropriate supports to help them transition quickly or easily into the work they were trained to do. What this survey has shown is that better advertising of existing programs and services is essential. In addition, different kinds of services and supports are needed for professional and non-skilled migrants. The purpose of this survey was to better understand why Calgarians who were born outside of Canada do or do not access Canadian settlement services during their migration process. Many people advocated for more relevant, accurate information to be provided pre-arrival. They really wanted to know more about living in Canada and the realities of daily life in Calgary. This related to different social and economic systems in Canada—banking, housing, childcare, children’s education, health care, transit, and how to dress for Calgary’s weather—as well as social norms about environmental protection and recycling. Respondents also recommended various way to advertise settlement services and to help newcomers to effectively navigate the local service system upon arrival in Calgary. Helping newcomers find the programs that exist to help them is critical. More widespread, however, is the disconnection between the attraction of skilled workers and professionals to Canada and the realities of the job market in Calgary. Respondents lamented that they arrived with hope and optimism, only to find they had little chance of working in their chosen field upon arrival. Moreover, they found few if any appropriate supports to help them transition quickly or easily into the work they were trained to do. What this survey has shown is that better advertising of existing programs and services is essential. In addition, different kinds of services and supports are needed for professional and non-skilled migrants.
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The CCIS New Pride Program Annual Evaluation Report provides an overview of the program’s activities and outputs, as well as feedback from clients. The report highlights successful workshops, presentations, and events held by the program, which aim to serve LGBTQ newcomers and create new resources and connections. The report also details the direct impact the program has had on clients’ lives, including increased access to services and improved mental health outcomes. Client feedback is included, providing insight into their experiences with the program and suggestions for future improvements. Overall, the report showcases the effectiveness of the New Pride Program in serving the LGBTQ newcomer community. The CCIS New Pride Program Annual Evaluation Report provides an overview of the program’s activities and outputs, as well as feedback from clients. The report highlights successful workshops, presentations, and events held by the program, which aim to serve LGBTQ newcomers and create new resources and connections. The report also details the direct impact the program has had on clients’ lives, including increased access to services and improved mental health outcomes. Client feedback is included, providing insight into their experiences with the program and suggestions for future improvements. Overall, the report showcases the effectiveness of the New Pride Program in serving the LGBTQ newcomer community.
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Centre for Newcomers in Calgary, Alberta hosted a conference on settlement of LGBTQ+ newcomers. Key themes from the conference include: 1) complex barriers faced by LGBTQ+ newcomers; 2) service gaps for LGBTQ+ newcomers; 3) lack of Canadian research on this topic; 4) several promising programs currently exist. This report summarizes the key themes of the two-day conference and documents the key outcomes of the brainstorming and action planning sessions. It also provides a summative evaluation, documenting both the expectations and feedback from conference participants. Centre for Newcomers in Calgary, Alberta hosted a conference on settlement of LGBTQ+ newcomers. Key themes from the conference include: 1) complex barriers faced by LGBTQ+ newcomers; 2) service gaps for LGBTQ+ newcomers; 3) lack of Canadian research on this topic; 4) several promising programs currently exist. This report summarizes the key themes of the two-day conference and documents the key outcomes of the brainstorming and action planning sessions. It also provides a summative evaluation, documenting both the expectations and feedback from conference participants.
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Recent statistics indicate that Alberta will continue to be a popular destination for African immigrants, however African families face parenting challenges that threaten their integration, mental health and general wellbeing. This meeting, the first of its kind in Alberta, brought together around 150 stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including African immigrant parents, service providers, policy makers and researchers across Alberta. This report is a summary of the presentations, panels and focus groups in the meeting. Recent statistics indicate that Alberta will continue to be a popular destination for African immigrants, however African families face parenting challenges that threaten their integration, mental health and general wellbeing. This meeting, the first of its kind in Alberta, brought together around 150 stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, including African immigrant parents, service providers, policy makers and researchers across Alberta. This report is a summary of the presentations, panels and focus groups in the meeting.
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This study assesses the services provided in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in response to the Syrian refugee crisis in terms of housing needs, language training, and job search experiences. Upon arrival, the vast majority of the refugees are provided short-term accommodation in hotels. Only one third, however, is satisfied with the response to their housing needs. Women are not facing as much difficulty as men. Compared to PSRs, the GARs are face greater difficulty finding work in Alberta. This study assesses the services provided in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in response to the Syrian refugee crisis in terms of housing needs, language training, and job search experiences. Upon arrival, the vast majority of the refugees are provided short-term accommodation in hotels. Only one third, however, is satisfied with the response to their housing needs. Women are not facing as much difficulty as men. Compared to PSRs, the GARs are face greater difficulty finding work in Alberta.
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The “Accessing Mental Health Services in Alberta” research project was initiated by the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) to assess the diversity of mental health services available to newcomers in Alberta and offer recommendations for improving accessibility. The report highlights the challenges that newcomers face when accessing mental health services, as well as gaps in the existing mental health system in Alberta. Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing the specific needs of newcomers in mental health service provision and improving accessibility to ensure that all Albertans have access to the care they need. The “Accessing Mental Health Services in Alberta” research project was initiated by the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) to assess the diversity of mental health services available to newcomers in Alberta and offer recommendations for improving accessibility. The report highlights the challenges that newcomers face when accessing mental health services, as well as gaps in the existing mental health system in Alberta. Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing the specific needs of newcomers in mental health service provision and improving accessibility to ensure that all Albertans have access to the care they need.
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This is an environmental scan. It examines the impact of federal policy changes on the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) and the flow of nominees to the Alberta labour market and communities. It was found that the AINP has taken on a broad scope of helping to achieve provincial economic and labour market needs. It is mainly low/semi-skilled TFWs who use the program to achieve residency, as the federal immigration streams tend to have higher requirements. The program itself has been criticized for creating a vulnerable environment for TFWs in addition to its limited capacity to process applications in a timely manner. The key learnings of the report find that immigrant retention is best achieved through community and family support. Although there were moves away from this with the closing of the family stream of the AINP in 2013, the new Liberal government has highlighted family reunification as a key immigration goal. However, federal and provincial immigration goals have also been shown to conflict with each other, as the provincial labour market need for low/semi-skilled workers is misaligned with the federal target of a highly-skilled and educated workforce. Lack of intergovernmental communication in the past resulted in confusion and little consideration of how immigration streams may influence each other. Behaviour of employers is also as a key factor contributing to TFW vulnerability. Thus, we recommend increasing intergovernmental communication and lateral dialogue on policy changes and how they may affect other immigration streams. Long-term labour market assessments are recommended to support the provision of residency to immigrants who are needed most. Furthermore, the AINP’s structural complexity should be reduced to be more inclusive, consistent and easy to access for applicants. Greater accountability, transparency and oversight should also be employed to reduce labour abuses and reduce the vulnerability of nominees of the program. This is an environmental scan. It examines the impact of federal policy changes on the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) and the flow of nominees to the Alberta labour market and communities. It was found that the AINP has taken on a broad scope of helping to achieve provincial economic and labour market needs. It is mainly low/semi-skilled TFWs who use the program to achieve residency, as the federal immigration streams tend to have higher requirements. The program itself has been criticized for creating a vulnerable environment for TFWs in addition to its limited capacity to process applications in a timely manner. The key learnings of the report find that immigrant retention is best achieved through community and family support. Although there were moves away from this with the closing of the family stream of the AINP in 2013, the new Liberal government has highlighted family reunification as a key immigration goal. However, federal and provincial immigration goals have also been shown to conflict with each other, as the provincial labour market need for low/semi-skilled workers is misaligned with the federal target of a highly-skilled and educated workforce. Lack of intergovernmental communication in the past resulted in confusion and little consideration of how immigration streams may influence each other. Behaviour of employers is also as a key factor contributing to TFW vulnerability. Thus, we recommend increasing intergovernmental communication and lateral dialogue on policy changes and how they may affect other immigration streams. Long-term labour market assessments are recommended to support the provision of residency to immigrants who are needed most. Furthermore, the AINP’s structural complexity should be reduced to be more inclusive, consistent and easy to access for applicants. Greater accountability, transparency and oversight should also be employed to reduce labour abuses and reduce the vulnerability of nominees of the program.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Migration is an experience of the self, a personal journey for those who leave their places of origin. The movement from one place to another carries with it material and subjective meanings. Mobility also implies change, transformation or seeming difference in its social interactions with another culture or a different social system. These changes undeniably affect one’s notion of identity and belonging. This chapter uses a feminist approach in examining selected personal case studies of Filipina immigrants in Lethbridge, a small city in southern Alberta. This chapter demonstrates how gender roles, labour migration and identity construction are interconnected. A concluding section deals with the prospect of whether these Filipina immigrants will stay or leave the city, emphasizing the best the city has to offer or not. Migration is an experience of the self, a personal journey for those who leave their places of origin. The movement from one place to another carries with it material and subjective meanings. Mobility also implies change, transformation or seeming difference in its social interactions with another culture or a different social system. These changes undeniably affect one’s notion of identity and belonging. This chapter uses a feminist approach in examining selected personal case studies of Filipina immigrants in Lethbridge, a small city in southern Alberta. This chapter demonstrates how gender roles, labour migration and identity construction are interconnected. A concluding section deals with the prospect of whether these Filipina immigrants will stay or leave the city, emphasizing the best the city has to offer or not.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly