Research Library

This article analyzes perspectives and strategies through which Black African immigrant youth in Calgary, Alberta, promote their social inclusion in Canadian society. This article stresses the agency and resilience among Black African youth in Calgary. Overall, the findings emphasize that Black African immigrant youths’ sense and strategies of inclusion are rooted in their ethnic group and religious associations. Specifically, participants identified 1) spaces of safety, 2) empowerment initiatives, and 3) support through social networks that made their sense of inclusion meaningful. The analysis of the agency of Black African youth illuminates the strength and power of the youth and their respective communities. Finding themselves in a new environment and context, they drew on continuous, centuries-long cultural knowledge and strategies to adapt to change. Not only are they coping, but they are also thriving and teaching and sharing their heritage and humanistic values with various peoples and cultures. This article analyzes perspectives and strategies through which Black African immigrant youth in Calgary, Alberta, promote their social inclusion in Canadian society. This article stresses the agency and resilience among Black African youth in Calgary. Overall, the findings emphasize that Black African immigrant youths’ sense and strategies of inclusion are rooted in their ethnic group and religious associations. Specifically, participants identified 1) spaces of safety, 2) empowerment initiatives, and 3) support through social networks that made their sense of inclusion meaningful. The analysis of the agency of Black African youth illuminates the strength and power of the youth and their respective communities. Finding themselves in a new environment and context, they drew on continuous, centuries-long cultural knowledge and strategies to adapt to change. Not only are they coping, but they are also thriving and teaching and sharing their heritage and humanistic values with various peoples and cultures.
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The inflow of refugees to Calgary fluctuates widely over time, and varies considerably by country of origin. Social agencies must adapt to a continuously shifting kaleidoscope of people, cultures, languages and needs. The inflow of refugees to Calgary fluctuates widely over time, and varies considerably by country of origin. Social agencies must adapt to a continuously shifting kaleidoscope of people, cultures, languages and needs.
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In this article, we discuss our recent and current efforts to offer an innovative form of ongoing teacher education designed explicitly for Internationally Educated Teachers (IETs). This form might be considered a type of in-service teacher education. Using data gathered from IETs, the article describes how that the program was successful. The participants were satisfied with the design and outcome of the program. They learned a great deal from the seminars and were also able to find jobs commensurate with their qualifications. At the same time the paper points out the lack of financial support for such programs. The authors mention that the future of the Bridging Program at the University Alberta is facing uncertainty due to shifting government priorities. In this article, we discuss our recent and current efforts to offer an innovative form of ongoing teacher education designed explicitly for Internationally Educated Teachers (IETs). This form might be considered a type of in-service teacher education. Using data gathered from IETs, the article describes how that the program was successful. The participants were satisfied with the design and outcome of the program. They learned a great deal from the seminars and were also able to find jobs commensurate with their qualifications. At the same time the paper points out the lack of financial support for such programs. The authors mention that the future of the Bridging Program at the University Alberta is facing uncertainty due to shifting government priorities.
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This study examined the challenges and critical psychosocial needs of Syrian refugee families with young children in Western Canada. It also looked at the role of cultural brokering in facilitating their psychosocial adaptation. Results reveal that Syrian families struggled with feeling safe and secure in Canada, adjusting to the changing roles in the family, and trying to find meaning in their lives. These struggles were attributed to families’ overall challenges navigating various domains of integration (i.e., health, social services, and education), resulting in a heavy reliance on cultural brokers for social linking and bonding activities, including connecting families to needed supports and helping family members build relationships with one another. This study provides evidence for the use of both of these frameworks in further studies involving Syrian refugee populations; they proved useful for understanding how families, over time, can develop necessary skills to engage on their own in linking activities with various Canadian institutions and bridging activities with communities at large. This study examined the challenges and critical psychosocial needs of Syrian refugee families with young children in Western Canada. It also looked at the role of cultural brokering in facilitating their psychosocial adaptation. Results reveal that Syrian families struggled with feeling safe and secure in Canada, adjusting to the changing roles in the family, and trying to find meaning in their lives. These struggles were attributed to families’ overall challenges navigating various domains of integration (i.e., health, social services, and education), resulting in a heavy reliance on cultural brokers for social linking and bonding activities, including connecting families to needed supports and helping family members build relationships with one another. This study provides evidence for the use of both of these frameworks in further studies involving Syrian refugee populations; they proved useful for understanding how families, over time, can develop necessary skills to engage on their own in linking activities with various Canadian institutions and bridging activities with communities at large.
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This is an interview. Tracey Derwing and Ron Thomson reflect on the growth of Canadian second language (L2) pronunciation research from the early 1990s onward. In the early 1980s, little empirical research existed to inform pronunciation pedagogy, despite an influx of Vietnamese refugees, many of whom needed help with intelligibility. It was serendipity that linguistics students from the University of Alberta were teaching in an ESL program; their employer assigned them stand-alone pronunciation classes. Upon graduating, Tracey Derwing and Murray Munro probed L2 pronunciation issues extensively. Initially they found it difficult to publish, because journals could not identify suitable reviewers. Eventually, however, they garnered grants, hired students, and met like-minded colleagues. Graduate students from several universities have pursued pronunciation-related studies, extending our knowledge of pronunciation instruction (PI) and laying the foundation for second and third waves of researchers. Positive team dynamics and sustained scientific curiosity have established Canada as a dominant force in empirical pronunciation research. This is an interview. Tracey Derwing and Ron Thomson reflect on the growth of Canadian second language (L2) pronunciation research from the early 1990s onward. In the early 1980s, little empirical research existed to inform pronunciation pedagogy, despite an influx of Vietnamese refugees, many of whom needed help with intelligibility. It was serendipity that linguistics students from the University of Alberta were teaching in an ESL program; their employer assigned them stand-alone pronunciation classes. Upon graduating, Tracey Derwing and Murray Munro probed L2 pronunciation issues extensively. Initially they found it difficult to publish, because journals could not identify suitable reviewers. Eventually, however, they garnered grants, hired students, and met like-minded colleagues. Graduate students from several universities have pursued pronunciation-related studies, extending our knowledge of pronunciation instruction (PI) and laying the foundation for second and third waves of researchers. Positive team dynamics and sustained scientific curiosity have established Canada as a dominant force in empirical pronunciation research.
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This study investigated how refugees in Edmonton, Alberta descend into homelessness. We conducted interviews with 19 adult refugees from Afghanistan, Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria. All of them experienced homelessness after their arrival. We also did focus groups with housing support workers. These conversations helped us to identify several types of critical incidents that can lead refugees to become homeless after migration. These incidents are: (a) abandonment by or conflict with their sponsor(s), (b) abandonment by settlement counsellors/housing case workers, (c) sudden rent increases, (d) discrimination by landlords or neighbors, and (e) property infestations. These incidents sometimes become paired with long waiting lists for subsidized housing and a lack of knowledge of Canada’s official languages and housing system. This combination create circumstances in which refugees are most likely to become homeless. This study also highlighted critical loopholes in immigration policy implementation. We argue that these loopholes need to be addressed as soon as possible to improve refugee housing outcomes. This study investigated how refugees in Edmonton, Alberta descend into homelessness. We conducted interviews with 19 adult refugees from Afghanistan, Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, and Syria. All of them experienced homelessness after their arrival. We also did focus groups with housing support workers. These conversations helped us to identify several types of critical incidents that can lead refugees to become homeless after migration. These incidents are: (a) abandonment by or conflict with their sponsor(s), (b) abandonment by settlement counsellors/housing case workers, (c) sudden rent increases, (d) discrimination by landlords or neighbors, and (e) property infestations. These incidents sometimes become paired with long waiting lists for subsidized housing and a lack of knowledge of Canada’s official languages and housing system. This combination create circumstances in which refugees are most likely to become homeless. This study also highlighted critical loopholes in immigration policy implementation. We argue that these loopholes need to be addressed as soon as possible to improve refugee housing outcomes.
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The article documents the settlement experiences of Syrian refugees in a major city in Alberta, Canada, in the first year of their resettlement. It then compares them across the three government and private sponsorship programs to understand which program is most effective in helping refugees settle and integrate in Canada. The findings suggest that all three programs were largely successful in bringing in Syrian refugees, from various asylum countries in the Middle East to safe places in Canada. However, the settlement experience of refugees varied after they arrived in Canada. Challenges in learning English and finding employment were paramount among all three refugee streams. Contrary to some academic literature, privately sponsored refugees faced resettlement challenges similar to their counterparts in the two other sponsorship streams. The article documents the settlement experiences of Syrian refugees in a major city in Alberta, Canada, in the first year of their resettlement. It then compares them across the three government and private sponsorship programs to understand which program is most effective in helping refugees settle and integrate in Canada. The findings suggest that all three programs were largely successful in bringing in Syrian refugees, from various asylum countries in the Middle East to safe places in Canada. However, the settlement experience of refugees varied after they arrived in Canada. Challenges in learning English and finding employment were paramount among all three refugee streams. Contrary to some academic literature, privately sponsored refugees faced resettlement challenges similar to their counterparts in the two other sponsorship streams.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

In January 2013, SSEC Canada Ltd. pled guilty to three charges under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act after two of its temporary foreign workers died and two more were seriously injured on the worksite. A fine of $1,225,000—the largest ever ordered in Alberta—was paid to the Alberta Law Foundation, which administered the funds to the Alberta Workers’ Health Centre to develop and provide the “New Alberta Workers program.” In this interview, Jared Matsunaga-Turnbull reflects on the program’s peer-to-peer Occupational Health and Safety workshops for new-to-Alberta workers to illustrate how “creative sentencing” (alternative method of prosecution) related to serious Occupational Health and Safety violation convictions can play out. He discusses what the team learned about the particular work and life context and related needs of new-to-Alberta workers that created challenges and prompted program changes throughout the three-year workshop period. Finally, Jared considers what is needed to meaningfully support new-to-Alberta workers going forward. In January 2013, SSEC Canada Ltd. pled guilty to three charges under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act after two of its temporary foreign workers died and two more were seriously injured on the worksite. A fine of $1,225,000—the largest ever ordered in Alberta—was paid to the Alberta Law Foundation, which administered the funds to the Alberta Workers’ Health Centre to develop and provide the “New Alberta Workers program.” In this interview, Jared Matsunaga-Turnbull reflects on the program’s peer-to-peer Occupational Health and Safety workshops for new-to-Alberta workers to illustrate how “creative sentencing” (alternative method of prosecution) related to serious Occupational Health and Safety violation convictions can play out. He discusses what the team learned about the particular work and life context and related needs of new-to-Alberta workers that created challenges and prompted program changes throughout the three-year workshop period. Finally, Jared considers what is needed to meaningfully support new-to-Alberta workers going forward.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Resettled refugees and asylum seekers receive financial support from federal and provincial governments, however they face costs and barriers unique to their circumstances. Resettled refugees and asylum seekers receive financial support from federal and provincial governments, however they face costs and barriers unique to their circumstances.
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With the arrival of a large number of Syrian families to Canada, educators and other service providers are reflecting on best practices to support the psychosocial adaption of refugees from conflict settings. This article draws on a study and model that examined the psychosocial adaptation of Syrian refugee families with young children in Western Canada. The name of the model is RAISED between Cultures. The acronym stands for Reveal culture, Acknowledge pre-migration experiences, Identify post-migration systemic barriers, Support family and community strengths, Establish connections between environments, and Determine child outcomes together with families. Study focused on the role of cultural brokers in facilitating the adaptation of Syrian refugee families, our results provide evidence for the application of the model for educators and other school personnel. As key figures in refugee children and families’ adaptation to their host country, educators can draw on these findings to identify families’ and children’s’ strengths and challenges during early resettlement to ensure positive child outcomes. With the arrival of a large number of Syrian families to Canada, educators and other service providers are reflecting on best practices to support the psychosocial adaption of refugees from conflict settings. This article draws on a study and model that examined the psychosocial adaptation of Syrian refugee families with young children in Western Canada. The name of the model is RAISED between Cultures. The acronym stands for Reveal culture, Acknowledge pre-migration experiences, Identify post-migration systemic barriers, Support family and community strengths, Establish connections between environments, and Determine child outcomes together with families. Study focused on the role of cultural brokers in facilitating the adaptation of Syrian refugee families, our results provide evidence for the application of the model for educators and other school personnel. As key figures in refugee children and families’ adaptation to their host country, educators can draw on these findings to identify families’ and children’s’ strengths and challenges during early resettlement to ensure positive child outcomes.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly