Research Library

For vulnerable patients (immigrants or those with low income), it is crucial for pharmacists to be accessible to allow patients benefit from pharmacists’ advanced services, such as independent prescribing. This research examines the geographical relationship between Alberta pharmacists with Additional Prescribing Authorization (APA) and a neighbourhood’s proportion of vulnerable populations. Our research shows that high income areas estimated to have 0.44 more APA pharmacists. Similarly, areas with the highest number of recent immigrants were estimated to have 0.66 more APA pharmacists than other aggregated dissemination areas. A sizable proportion of the Alberta population still does not have access to a pharmacist with APA, and those with APA seem to concentrate in areas with higher income and higher proportions of the population who are immigrants. Future research should examine the utilization of expanded scope of practice in relation to the distribution of vulnerable populations. For vulnerable patients (immigrants or those with low income), it is crucial for pharmacists to be accessible to allow patients benefit from pharmacists’ advanced services, such as independent prescribing. This research examines the geographical relationship between Alberta pharmacists with Additional Prescribing Authorization (APA) and a neighbourhood’s proportion of vulnerable populations. Our research shows that high income areas estimated to have 0.44 more APA pharmacists. Similarly, areas with the highest number of recent immigrants were estimated to have 0.66 more APA pharmacists than other aggregated dissemination areas. A sizable proportion of the Alberta population still does not have access to a pharmacist with APA, and those with APA seem to concentrate in areas with higher income and higher proportions of the population who are immigrants. Future research should examine the utilization of expanded scope of practice in relation to the distribution of vulnerable populations.
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Investigations into immigrant resilience are now being called for in scholarly reviews of literature, policy, and practice related to immigrants, following decades in which the challenges they face in or pose to Western host societies took centre stage. Focusing on resilience not only recognizes immigrants’ strengths and contributions to their new homelands, but also creates a fertile landscape to explore possible pathways to optimize migration outcomes. The findings of focus group discussions with African immigrant stakeholders (service providers, community/religious leaders, and staff of policy-making bodies) in three Canadian cities align with this new emphasis. However, these findings also raise crucial questions about current conceptualizations of resilience applied to immigrants. Our thematic analysis indicates that African immigrants attach meanings, processes, and values to resilience that differ from conceptions of resilience in the scholarly literature. Their viewpoints and lived experiences presented below offer new understandings that prompt a re-evaluation of currently held assumptions about resilience rooted in Western individualistic notions about mental health. These assumptions, our study show, do not capture African immigrants’ settlement experiences and long-term adaptation to life in Western nations—as collectivist cultures. Investigations into immigrant resilience are now being called for in scholarly reviews of literature, policy, and practice related to immigrants, following decades in which the challenges they face in or pose to Western host societies took centre stage. Focusing on resilience not only recognizes immigrants’ strengths and contributions to their new homelands, but also creates a fertile landscape to explore possible pathways to optimize migration outcomes. The findings of focus group discussions with African immigrant stakeholders (service providers, community/religious leaders, and staff of policy-making bodies) in three Canadian cities align with this new emphasis. However, these findings also raise crucial questions about current conceptualizations of resilience applied to immigrants. Our thematic analysis indicates that African immigrants attach meanings, processes, and values to resilience that differ from conceptions of resilience in the scholarly literature. Their viewpoints and lived experiences presented below offer new understandings that prompt a re-evaluation of currently held assumptions about resilience rooted in Western individualistic notions about mental health. These assumptions, our study show, do not capture African immigrants’ settlement experiences and long-term adaptation to life in Western nations—as collectivist cultures.
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Interviews were used to explore the experiences of immigrant parents in accessing Albertan healthcare services for their children. The findings highlight several challenges faced by immigrant families, including long wait times for health services, income inequity, and language barriers. The study emphasizes the importance of increasing the supply of health professionals, addressing income inequity, and providing trained interpreters to assist immigrant populations. Additionally, developing a therapeutic relationship with immigrants is identified as vital for improving access to healthcare. Interviews were used to explore the experiences of immigrant parents in accessing Albertan healthcare services for their children. The findings highlight several challenges faced by immigrant families, including long wait times for health services, income inequity, and language barriers. The study emphasizes the importance of increasing the supply of health professionals, addressing income inequity, and providing trained interpreters to assist immigrant populations. Additionally, developing a therapeutic relationship with immigrants is identified as vital for improving access to healthcare.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Although Canada is recognized internationally as a leader in immigration policy, supports are not responsive to the traumatic experiences of many newcomers. Many mothers and children arriving in Canada are at elevated risk of homelessness. Individual and group interviews with 18 newcomer mothers with current or recent experiences with homelessness and with 16 service providers working in multiple sectors were conducted. Three main themes emerged: gendered and racialized pathways into homelessness; system failures, and pre- and post-migration trauma. This study revealed structural barriers rooted in preoccupation with economic success that negate and exacerbate the effects of violence and homelessness. The impacts of structural discrimination and violence are embedded in federal policy. It is critical to posit gender and culturally appropriate alternatives that focus on system issues. Although Canada is recognized internationally as a leader in immigration policy, supports are not responsive to the traumatic experiences of many newcomers. Many mothers and children arriving in Canada are at elevated risk of homelessness. Individual and group interviews with 18 newcomer mothers with current or recent experiences with homelessness and with 16 service providers working in multiple sectors were conducted. Three main themes emerged: gendered and racialized pathways into homelessness; system failures, and pre- and post-migration trauma. This study revealed structural barriers rooted in preoccupation with economic success that negate and exacerbate the effects of violence and homelessness. The impacts of structural discrimination and violence are embedded in federal policy. It is critical to posit gender and culturally appropriate alternatives that focus on system issues.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This study in Calgary, AB explored how dual-language books (DLBs) can foster literacy instruction and learner engagement through language awareness. Canada’s changing demographics have resulted in mother tongue diversity and many urban schools identifying at least 25% of students as being English language learners, making it crucial to include a mix of languages in classroom interactions to engage all learners. The case study combined prereading linguistic prompts with a reading of 10 DLBs, one each week, by guest readers in Urdu, Tagalog, and Spanish, alongside the teacher reading in English. Video recordings and surveys collected data on the teacher’s, guest readers’, and learners’ reflections on the experience. Findings indicate that regardless of the learners’ linguistic heritage or English language competence, the DLBs offered a unique support for literacy engagement while fostering a focus on language awareness, reading strategies, and higher order engagement with text. This study in Calgary, AB explored how dual-language books (DLBs) can foster literacy instruction and learner engagement through language awareness. Canada’s changing demographics have resulted in mother tongue diversity and many urban schools identifying at least 25% of students as being English language learners, making it crucial to include a mix of languages in classroom interactions to engage all learners. The case study combined prereading linguistic prompts with a reading of 10 DLBs, one each week, by guest readers in Urdu, Tagalog, and Spanish, alongside the teacher reading in English. Video recordings and surveys collected data on the teacher’s, guest readers’, and learners’ reflections on the experience. Findings indicate that regardless of the learners’ linguistic heritage or English language competence, the DLBs offered a unique support for literacy engagement while fostering a focus on language awareness, reading strategies, and higher order engagement with text.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The 2013 Albertan flood resulted in devastating impacts for immigrant children, youth, and families across the province. This article presents the findings of the Alberta Resilient Communities (ARC) Project, a collaborative research initiative that aimed to better understand the social, economic, health, cultural, spiritual, and personal factors that contribute to resiliency among immigrant children and youth following the flood. The study findings demonstrate that immigrants faced significant socio-economic impacts, trauma, job loss, and housing instability as a result of the flood and its aftermath. Schools, immigrant parents, and community connections were found to play a key role in fostering immigrant child and youth resilience post-disaster. The 2013 Albertan flood resulted in devastating impacts for immigrant children, youth, and families across the province. This article presents the findings of the Alberta Resilient Communities (ARC) Project, a collaborative research initiative that aimed to better understand the social, economic, health, cultural, spiritual, and personal factors that contribute to resiliency among immigrant children and youth following the flood. The study findings demonstrate that immigrants faced significant socio-economic impacts, trauma, job loss, and housing instability as a result of the flood and its aftermath. Schools, immigrant parents, and community connections were found to play a key role in fostering immigrant child and youth resilience post-disaster.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

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.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This study investigated the impacts of nature-based leisure on the well-being of refugees in Canada. We explored how the experiences of a two-day winter camping in northern Alberta affected refugees’ well-being. Participants, from three African countries, and Iran, welcomed an opportunity to be away in a natural setting, to connect with others, to learn new activities, involve their families, and as a distraction from their daily lives. Refugees acknowledged the welcoming efforts of the social services and parks agencies in bolstering their confidence and well-being. Refugees’ experiences underscored both the importance of access to nature-based leisure in mitigating stress, and host societies’ attitudes toward newcomers in fostering their well-being. Our findings suggest that developing nature-based leisure opportunities for refugees may promote their well-being and sense of belonging. This study investigated the impacts of nature-based leisure on the well-being of refugees in Canada. We explored how the experiences of a two-day winter camping in northern Alberta affected refugees’ well-being. Participants, from three African countries, and Iran, welcomed an opportunity to be away in a natural setting, to connect with others, to learn new activities, involve their families, and as a distraction from their daily lives. Refugees acknowledged the welcoming efforts of the social services and parks agencies in bolstering their confidence and well-being. Refugees’ experiences underscored both the importance of access to nature-based leisure in mitigating stress, and host societies’ attitudes toward newcomers in fostering their well-being. Our findings suggest that developing nature-based leisure opportunities for refugees may promote their well-being and sense of belonging.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly