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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it.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

Psychosocial Determinants of Adherence to Preventive Dental Attendance for Preschool Children Among Filipino Immigrants in Edmonton, Alberta

This study explores how immigrant parents in Alberta-Edmonton’s Filipino community adhere to preventive dental attendance (PDA) for their preschool children. We also look at the psychosocial factors influencing parental adherence. Results: Upon arriving in Canada, most Filipino parents thought that PDA was not a priority. After migration, however, they embraced new knowledge about the importance of PDA for their children. Discussion: Filipino parents were open to the Western model of preventive oral healthcare, with the duration of their time in Canada playing a key role in promoting regular dental visits for their children. This study explores how immigrant parents in Alberta-Edmonton’s Filipino community adhere to preventive dental attendance (PDA) for their preschool children. We also look at the psychosocial factors influencing parental adherence. Results: Upon arriving in Canada, most Filipino parents thought that PDA was not a priority. After migration, however, they embraced new knowledge about the importance of PDA for their children. Discussion: Filipino parents were open to the Western model of preventive oral healthcare, with the duration of their time in Canada playing a key role in promoting regular dental visits for their children.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Health care choices of immigrants in Canada: a study among adult Ghanaian immigrants in Calgary, Alberta

Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers. Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Refugee pathways out of homelessness in urban Alberta, Canada: implications for social justice-oriented counselling

The study explores the challenges faced by refugees and how social justice-oriented counselling can help them overcome these challenges. The research involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 refugees who had experienced homelessness. The findings reveal that refugees face multiple challenges, including language barriers, lack of social support, and limited access to resources. Social justice-oriented counselling was found to be effective in helping refugees overcome these challenges and find a better life. The study offers insights into how counselling can be tailored to meet the unique needs of refugees and promote social justice. The study explores the challenges faced by refugees and how social justice-oriented counselling can help them overcome these challenges. The research involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 refugees who had experienced homelessness. The findings reveal that refugees face multiple challenges, including language barriers, lack of social support, and limited access to resources. Social justice-oriented counselling was found to be effective in helping refugees overcome these challenges and find a better life. The study offers insights into how counselling can be tailored to meet the unique needs of refugees and promote social justice.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Unspoken Skills and Tactics: Essentials for Immigrant Professionals in Integration to Workplace Culture

Skilled workers and their dependents are the largest group of economic immigrants in Canada. Their labour market integration is critical for immigrant well-being as well as host country economic productivity. However, immigrant professionals face significant barriers to workplace integration, including unfamiliarity with workplace norms and practices. Participants of this study described challenges related to workplace communication and interactions, adaptation to new workplace cultures, recognition of qualifications and experience, and professional outcomes. They identified general professional values, skills, and capacities, and communication and relationships perceived as essential for workplace integration. Strategies for supporting workplace integration included continuing learning and education, training on cultural diversity and workplace skills, professional field experience, and professional mentorship. These findings have implications for practice and policies facilitating the workplace integration of immigrant professionals in Canada, including training and mentorship approaches. Skilled workers and their dependents are the largest group of economic immigrants in Canada. Their labour market integration is critical for immigrant well-being as well as host country economic productivity. However, immigrant professionals face significant barriers to workplace integration, including unfamiliarity with workplace norms and practices. Participants of this study described challenges related to workplace communication and interactions, adaptation to new workplace cultures, recognition of qualifications and experience, and professional outcomes. They identified general professional values, skills, and capacities, and communication and relationships perceived as essential for workplace integration. Strategies for supporting workplace integration included continuing learning and education, training on cultural diversity and workplace skills, professional field experience, and professional mentorship. These findings have implications for practice and policies facilitating the workplace integration of immigrant professionals in Canada, including training and mentorship approaches.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Searching for Tomorrow-South Sudanese Women Reconstructing Resilience through Photovoice

Experiences of refugees have rarely been described through the concept of resilience because of them dealing with the challenges of flight, exile, forced migration, and resettlement. Researchers were approached by eight South Sudanese refugee women resettled in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who were interested in exploring alternative notions of resilience through reflection, dialogue, and action. Using Photovoice, a technique that employs still photography and text captions, participants of this study used aesthetic expression to deconstruct and reconstruct notions of resilience. Faith and spirituality, circles of support, and the global community were the key overarching themes describing participants’ resilience process which enabled participants to survive their past, foster support in the present and harness hope for the future. At each stage, we also identified supporting factors and threats to resiliency. In conclusion, we suggest that resettlement service providers need to foster the resiliency in their programmes. Experiences of refugees have rarely been described through the concept of resilience because of them dealing with the challenges of flight, exile, forced migration, and resettlement. Researchers were approached by eight South Sudanese refugee women resettled in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who were interested in exploring alternative notions of resilience through reflection, dialogue, and action. Using Photovoice, a technique that employs still photography and text captions, participants of this study used aesthetic expression to deconstruct and reconstruct notions of resilience. Faith and spirituality, circles of support, and the global community were the key overarching themes describing participants’ resilience process which enabled participants to survive their past, foster support in the present and harness hope for the future. At each stage, we also identified supporting factors and threats to resiliency. In conclusion, we suggest that resettlement service providers need to foster the resiliency in their programmes.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Socio-Cultural Determinants of Physical Activity among Latin American Immigrant Women in Alberta, Canada

Acculturation has been associated with decreased physical activity among immigrants. This study assessed the process of changing physical activity patterns within the context of Latin American immigrant women’s migration experiences to Canada. Overall, 86 % of the participants of this study reported gaining weight since coming to Canada. Participants reported becoming more sedentary upon arriving in Canada. Only 27.3 % of recent and 41.7 % of non-recent immigrant women were considered sufficiently physically active. Lack of time, resources, social support, and migration stress were identified as key barriers to physical activity. Migration stress associated with social integration barriers strongly influence physical activity among Latin American immigrant women. Acculturation has been associated with decreased physical activity among immigrants. This study assessed the process of changing physical activity patterns within the context of Latin American immigrant women’s migration experiences to Canada. Overall, 86 % of the participants of this study reported gaining weight since coming to Canada. Participants reported becoming more sedentary upon arriving in Canada. Only 27.3 % of recent and 41.7 % of non-recent immigrant women were considered sufficiently physically active. Lack of time, resources, social support, and migration stress were identified as key barriers to physical activity. Migration stress associated with social integration barriers strongly influence physical activity among Latin American immigrant women.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The Way Forward: African Francophone Immigrants Negotiate Their Multiple Minority Identities

This paper explores the sense of belonging of first-generation Francophone sub-Saharan African immigrants in Alberta towards their co-ethnic communities, Canadian Francophone community, as well as the broader Canadian population. The findings show that while the Francophone sub-Saharan African immigrants were excited about the presence of a Francophone community in Canada before their migration, they experience exclusion and are not accepted as Canadian/Albertan Francophones. They experience alienation due to racism and linguistic discrimination, affecting their sense of belonging to Canada. This paper explores the sense of belonging of first-generation Francophone sub-Saharan African immigrants in Alberta towards their co-ethnic communities, Canadian Francophone community, as well as the broader Canadian population. The findings show that while the Francophone sub-Saharan African immigrants were excited about the presence of a Francophone community in Canada before their migration, they experience exclusion and are not accepted as Canadian/Albertan Francophones. They experience alienation due to racism and linguistic discrimination, affecting their sense of belonging to Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Immigration, Integration and Welcoming Communities: Neighbourhood-based Initiative to Facilitate the Integration of Newcomers in Calgary

Despite the fact that municipalities are primary recipients of immigrants to Canada, they almost have no formal role in developing immigration and integration policies and programs. As such, they are primarily left or kept out of the current model of immigration and integration governance. Since immigration and integration are not stand-alone issues, they require partnership and collaboration involving multiple levels of government and community partners. This study explores municipal roles in immigrant settlement and integration. More specifically it explores how the City of Calgary has worked closely with community partners at the neighbourhood level in developing a hub model of community-based initiatives that engage various organizations as well as newcomers and established community members in using a holistic, multifaceted and collaborative approach for creating warmer and more welcoming communities, inclusive spaces, and innovative and progressive programs needed for facilitating the settlement and integration of newcomers. Despite the fact that municipalities are primary recipients of immigrants to Canada, they almost have no formal role in developing immigration and integration policies and programs. As such, they are primarily left or kept out of the current model of immigration and integration governance. Since immigration and integration are not stand-alone issues, they require partnership and collaboration involving multiple levels of government and community partners. This study explores municipal roles in immigrant settlement and integration. More specifically it explores how the City of Calgary has worked closely with community partners at the neighbourhood level in developing a hub model of community-based initiatives that engage various organizations as well as newcomers and established community members in using a holistic, multifaceted and collaborative approach for creating warmer and more welcoming communities, inclusive spaces, and innovative and progressive programs needed for facilitating the settlement and integration of newcomers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Understanding Job Status Decline among Newcomers to Canada

Problems related to the recognition of skills and education acquired by immigrants abroad and their ability to translate them into similar work and income in Canada are well-known. This paper attempts to quantify, insofar as possible the mismatch between education and skills attained abroad by comparing pre-arrival and post-arrival job statuses amongst newcomers to Canada who have been in the country for five years or less. Our results reveal that there is, in fact, a significant decline in job status for newcomers, which is influenced by province of residence, place of education attainment, and length of time in Canada. Problems related to the recognition of skills and education acquired by immigrants abroad and their ability to translate them into similar work and income in Canada are well-known. This paper attempts to quantify, insofar as possible the mismatch between education and skills attained abroad by comparing pre-arrival and post-arrival job statuses amongst newcomers to Canada who have been in the country for five years or less. Our results reveal that there is, in fact, a significant decline in job status for newcomers, which is influenced by province of residence, place of education attainment, and length of time in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Immigrant status and having a regular medical doctor among Canadian adults

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