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 If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it.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

Municipal Approaches and Settlement System Development in Small Communities: Report

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

Community readiness for building newcomer belonging: City of Chestermere, AB

The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging. The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Community readiness for building newcomer belonging: town of Hanna, AB

The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging. The Community Newcomer Needs Assessment is an opportunity for municipalities to learn about the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps of local services and supports for newcomers, and challenges the communities to develop a plan to address gaps and weaknesses; help municipalities assess challenges for newcomers provide information about the immigration process. Key strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in services and various challenges and opportunities for newcomers are identified in this report through the lens of the newcomer journey and the newcomer developing a sense of belonging.
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 & Saskatchewan

The objective of the Health of the Sector (HOTS) survey is to identify challenges, strengths, and opportunities through a quantitative survey. Akin to other employee surveys, the primary objective of the HOTS survey is to evaluate and accordingly improve staff workplace-related experience in order to deliver quality settlement and integration services across the PNT region. By improving the satisfaction of front-line employees, settlement agencies will retain their competent and experienced employees and promote and encourage their long-term commitment to the organization. The objective of the Health of the Sector (HOTS) survey is to identify challenges, strengths, and opportunities through a quantitative survey. Akin to other employee surveys, the primary objective of the HOTS survey is to evaluate and accordingly improve staff workplace-related experience in order to deliver quality settlement and integration services across the PNT region. By improving the satisfaction of front-line employees, settlement agencies will retain their competent and experienced employees and promote and encourage their long-term commitment to the organization.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Physical activity guideline adherence among Canadian immigrant youth: A qualitative exploratory study

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) Youth Physical Activity Guidelines are the national criterion standard for youth physical activity. Minimal research exists regarding CSEP Guideline adherence in immigrant youth despite this population’s significance in Canada. The purpose of this study was to foster an understanding of physical activity guideline adherence in Albertan immigrant youth. The study objectives were to determine Albertan immigrant youth’s adherence levels, barriers to adherence, recommendations to improve adherence, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adherence. A qualitative exploratory design was used. Purposive sampling from Edmonton community-agencies occurred to generate a sample of 6 community service-workers who have experience with Canadian immigrant youth and physical activity. Data collection occurred through virtual semi-structured interviews. Data analysis occurred via Braun and Clarke’s Six Thematic Analysis Steps. This study’s findings can optimize nursing health promotion efforts and organizational policies, inform health promotion protocols in nursing education, and guide further research that would enhance the breadth of current literature. Collectively, this study helps provide a foundation for promoting the health of Albertan immigrant youth. The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) Youth Physical Activity Guidelines are the national criterion standard for youth physical activity. Minimal research exists regarding CSEP Guideline adherence in immigrant youth despite this population’s significance in Canada. The purpose of this study was to foster an understanding of physical activity guideline adherence in Albertan immigrant youth. The study objectives were to determine Albertan immigrant youth’s adherence levels, barriers to adherence, recommendations to improve adherence, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adherence. A qualitative exploratory design was used. Purposive sampling from Edmonton community-agencies occurred to generate a sample of 6 community service-workers who have experience with Canadian immigrant youth and physical activity. Data collection occurred through virtual semi-structured interviews. Data analysis occurred via Braun and Clarke’s Six Thematic Analysis Steps. This study’s findings can optimize nursing health promotion efforts and organizational policies, inform health promotion protocols in nursing education, and guide further research that would enhance the breadth of current literature. Collectively, this study helps provide a foundation for promoting the health of Albertan immigrant youth.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Should I stay or should I go home? Newcomer employment experiences in mid-sized Canadian cities

Despite changes to Canadian immigration policy to address declining labour market outcomes, many highly educated immigrants still face challenges when searching for career-related employment. Interviews with newcomers in Edmonton, Alberta and Winnipeg, Manitoba illustrate challenges and barriers in employment searching in Canada. Despite changes to Canadian immigration policy to address declining labour market outcomes, many highly educated immigrants still face challenges when searching for career-related employment. Interviews with newcomers in Edmonton, Alberta and Winnipeg, Manitoba illustrate challenges and barriers in employment searching in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Picturing Settlement Experiences: Immigrant Women’s Senses of Comfortable and Uncomfortable Places in a Small Urban Center in Canada

Small cities tend to have modest immigrant settlement services and cultural amenities, engendering a distinct sense of place among immigrants and impacting their wellbeing differently from large cities. This research examines the sense of place among immigrant women through their attribution of meanings to places of comfort and discomfort as they settled in a small city in Canada. Immigrant women took photographs of places that they considered to be either comfortable or uncomfortable. Findings indicated that these women appreciated the warmth and support extended to them by settlement services provider organizations, libraries, and faith-based organizations, attesting to the relational nature of the place. Nevertheless, immigrant women dreaded harsh winter conditions and felt unsafe in downtown areas. Immigrant women sought comfort in locales that this paper terms “restorative space,” showing their creative use of private and public spaces for relaxation. The findings from this study call for settlement policies that attend to distinct characteristics of local places to better serve the settlement needs of immigrants. Small cities tend to have modest immigrant settlement services and cultural amenities, engendering a distinct sense of place among immigrants and impacting their wellbeing differently from large cities. This research examines the sense of place among immigrant women through their attribution of meanings to places of comfort and discomfort as they settled in a small city in Canada. Immigrant women took photographs of places that they considered to be either comfortable or uncomfortable. Findings indicated that these women appreciated the warmth and support extended to them by settlement services provider organizations, libraries, and faith-based organizations, attesting to the relational nature of the place. Nevertheless, immigrant women dreaded harsh winter conditions and felt unsafe in downtown areas. Immigrant women sought comfort in locales that this paper terms “restorative space,” showing their creative use of private and public spaces for relaxation. The findings from this study call for settlement policies that attend to distinct characteristics of local places to better serve the settlement needs of immigrants.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience: Youth Therapy 2020-2021 Evaluation

The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy 2020-2021 Evaluation is a report that highlights the positive impact of the Youth Therapy Program on immigrant and refugee children and their families. The report provides an overview of the mental health services offered by the program, including individual and group therapy, as well as the use of interpreters to ensure multilingual accessibility. The report also emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in the program and provides data on the success of the program in helping children heal from trauma. The report concludes with a list of resources consulted in the evaluation, including academic studies and government reports. Overall, the report demonstrates the effectiveness of the CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy program in supporting the mental health and well-being of immigrant and refugee children. The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy 2020-2021 Evaluation is a report that highlights the positive impact of the Youth Therapy Program on immigrant and refugee children and their families. The report provides an overview of the mental health services offered by the program, including individual and group therapy, as well as the use of interpreters to ensure multilingual accessibility. The report also emphasizes the importance of confidentiality in the program and provides data on the success of the program in helping children heal from trauma. The report concludes with a list of resources consulted in the evaluation, including academic studies and government reports. Overall, the report demonstrates the effectiveness of the CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth Therapy program in supporting the mental health and well-being of immigrant and refugee children.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Discrimination, Psychological Isolation, and Flight from School

Discrimination negatively impacts students’ ability to adapt to and deal with the educational stressors of a new environment. When students experience discrimination, their options are to fight, fawn, or flee—that is, skip school. Results show that experiences of discrimination and psychological isolation are significant predictors of truancy (skipping school). I also find support for the effects of length of residency, paid employment, and participation in voluntary activities on increasing truancy, suggesting the importance of acculturation, socio-economic status, and time availability. Discrimination negatively impacts students’ ability to adapt to and deal with the educational stressors of a new environment. When students experience discrimination, their options are to fight, fawn, or flee—that is, skip school. Results show that experiences of discrimination and psychological isolation are significant predictors of truancy (skipping school). I also find support for the effects of length of residency, paid employment, and participation in voluntary activities on increasing truancy, suggesting the importance of acculturation, socio-economic status, and time availability.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Fewer losses in the cascade of care for latent tuberculosis with solo interferon-gamma release assay screening compared to sequential screening

Refugees are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) soon after resettlement. Targeting high-risk populations for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and treatment is an important measure towards eliminating TB in low incidence countries, however, there are low rates of screening and treatment completion in the LTBI cascade of care. The authors hypothesized that an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) screening strategy would lead to a higher proportion of refugees completing LTBI screening and treatment, compared to sequential screening with tuberculin skin test (TST) and confirmatory IGRA. Refugees are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) soon after resettlement. Targeting high-risk populations for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and treatment is an important measure towards eliminating TB in low incidence countries, however, there are low rates of screening and treatment completion in the LTBI cascade of care. The authors hypothesized that an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) screening strategy would lead to a higher proportion of refugees completing LTBI screening and treatment, compared to sequential screening with tuberculin skin test (TST) and confirmatory IGRA.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly