This study explored the support and service experiences of resettled Syrian refugee parents of autistic children in terms of their pre- and post-migration. These lived experiences were investigated with participants (n = 3) through semi-structured interviews using interpretive phenomenological analysis. This study identified the supports and services parents received, their experiences with those services, their overall experiences with resettlement having an autistic child(ren), the implications of culture in support/service provision, and their perceived areas of service need during and after their resettlement in Alberta, Canada. Parents all had unique experiences that were delineated through clustered emergent themes and subsequently organized into a superordinate conceptual structure. The results of the study are discussed in the context of theory and relevant literature to elucidate and make findings applicable. Practical implications and future directions are discussed. This study explored the support and service experiences of resettled Syrian refugee parents of autistic children in terms of their pre- and post-migration. These lived experiences were investigated with participants (n = 3) through semi-structured interviews using interpretive phenomenological analysis. This study identified the supports and services parents received, their experiences with those services, their overall experiences with resettlement having an autistic child(ren), the implications of culture in support/service provision, and their perceived areas of service need during and after their resettlement in Alberta, Canada. Parents all had unique experiences that were delineated through clustered emergent themes and subsequently organized into a superordinate conceptual structure. The results of the study are discussed in the context of theory and relevant literature to elucidate and make findings applicable. Practical implications and future directions are discussed.
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Edmonton and Calgary have gained the status of being friendly cities to LGBTQ+ newcomers. This was started by the Rainbow Refugee Program at the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers; followed by the Centre for Newcomers, LGBTQ+ Refugee Centre Calgary, and End of the Rainbow Foundation in Calgary. The history of sexual orientation and gender identity and gender expression (SOGIE) refugees, the impact of the programs, and new barriers due to COVID-19 are discussed in this report. Edmonton and Calgary have gained the status of being friendly cities to LGBTQ+ newcomers. This was started by the Rainbow Refugee Program at the Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers; followed by the Centre for Newcomers, LGBTQ+ Refugee Centre Calgary, and End of the Rainbow Foundation in Calgary. The history of sexual orientation and gender identity and gender expression (SOGIE) refugees, the impact of the programs, and new barriers due to COVID-19 are discussed in this report.
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The Alberta Settlement and Integration Program (ASIP) Stakeholder Engagement Report is a comprehensive document that highlights the progress made in improving settlement access, building communities’ capacity, responding to emerging needs, and supporting initiatives for better labor market integration in Alberta. The report provides recommendations that are disaggregated into general provincial recommendations and nuanced recommendations that are specific to the unique context of Alberta’s small centers. The report emphasizes the intersectional and mutually supportive nature of the ASIP focus areas, highlighting that many recommendations cross-pollinate across several focus areas. The report also includes an overview of ASIP. Overall, the report provides valuable insights into the progress made in improving settlement and integration services in Alberta and offers recommendations for future improvements. The Alberta Settlement and Integration Program (ASIP) Stakeholder Engagement Report is a comprehensive document that highlights the progress made in improving settlement access, building communities’ capacity, responding to emerging needs, and supporting initiatives for better labor market integration in Alberta. The report provides recommendations that are disaggregated into general provincial recommendations and nuanced recommendations that are specific to the unique context of Alberta’s small centers. The report emphasizes the intersectional and mutually supportive nature of the ASIP focus areas, highlighting that many recommendations cross-pollinate across several focus areas. The report also includes an overview of ASIP. Overall, the report provides valuable insights into the progress made in improving settlement and integration services in Alberta and offers recommendations for future improvements.
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This thesis examined the narrative abilities of bilingual, English L2 newcomer and immigrant children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and Typical Development (TD). Compared to the monolingual research, there have been fewer studies examining narratives in clinical bilingual groups, especially bilinguals with ASD, and no study so far has compared bilinguals with ASD to bilinguals with DLD. This thesis asked: (1) Is
macrostructure an area of weakness in DLD? (2) Do children with ASD experience difficulties with structural language, i.e., morphology and syntax? (3) Are narrative skills requiring perspective-taking abilities equally vulnerable in ASD and DLD? (4) Do bilinguals with ASD and DLD use the second language input they receive to the same as bilinguals with TD? Identified differences between newcomer children with ASD, DLD or TD can be utilized to create tailored interventions. This thesis examined the narrative abilities of bilingual, English L2 newcomer and immigrant children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) and Typical Development (TD). Compared to the monolingual research, there have been fewer studies examining narratives in clinical bilingual groups, especially bilinguals with ASD, and no study so far has compared bilinguals with ASD to bilinguals with DLD. This thesis asked: (1) Is
macrostructure an area of weakness in DLD? (2) Do children with ASD experience difficulties with structural language, i.e., morphology and syntax? (3) Are narrative skills requiring perspective-taking abilities equally vulnerable in ASD and DLD? (4) Do bilinguals with ASD and DLD use the second language input they receive to the same as bilinguals with TD? Identified differences between newcomer children with ASD, DLD or TD can be utilized to create tailored interventions.
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Rainbow Railroad, an organization that helps LGBTQ+ asylum-seekers get to a safe(r) country, calls upon the government to make 3 changes to the refugee system to create more pathways to safety for persecuted and displaced LGBTQ+ people. Rainbow Railroad, an organization that helps LGBTQ+ asylum-seekers get to a safe(r) country, calls upon the government to make 3 changes to the refugee system to create more pathways to safety for persecuted and displaced LGBTQ+ people.
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About one in five Canadians is a former immigrant. In 2019, Canada welcomed over 340,000 permanent residents, 43,000 of whom came to Alberta.2 Starting in 2021, Canada proposes an ambitious plan to welcome even more permanent residents to Canada, increasing Canada’s population by more than 1 per cent every year for the next three years. Newcomers are an integral part of Canada; they support the local economy in towns and cities across the country by filling employment gaps and contributing their knowledge, skills and experiences to the community. Educated, skilled economic newcomers allow Canada to build its future economic capacity to address a shrinking labour force in the country. To help newcomers integrate in Canada, achieve their full potential and participate in the labour market and in society, the Government of Canada supports newcomers through settlement and integration services. The Settlement Program is characterized by a public-private partnership between the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), provinces
and territories, municipalities and many partner organizations. Settlement services are delivered
by a network of local organizations and service providers to all newcomers arriving in Canada,
removing barriers to their full participation in life and work in Canada and providing them with
the tools needed for a smooth and fast integration into their new home – Canada. To evaluate the success of its Settlement Program, the IRCC developed a Performance
Measurement Strategy. The Strategy outlines some immediate and intermediate desired outcomes of newcomer settlement and integration, including newcomers’ labour market
participation and income, their ability to use the official languages, their uptake of services, participation in the community and the program’s ability to meet and adapt to their needs. To
measure the level of integration by newcomers and estimate the direct and measurable outputs of program delivery, the government often uses proxy variables (such as service uptake, naturalization rate, labour market indicators and newcomers’ own sense of belonging). The introduction of Express Entry system in 2015 changed the way Canada selects immigrants. Canada now prioritizes younger, educated individuals with work experience, strong English or French language skills and the ability to integrate in Canada. These immigrants have
high human capital (intangible personal attributes such as knowledge, skills, training and
experience). These highly-educated skilled economic newcomers prioritize employment integration above all in the hopes of putting their knowledge, education and skills into use upon
arrival in Canada. However, once in Canada, many skilled economic immigrants struggle to quickly and effectively integrate economically.
This varied economic integration occurs in part because Canada’s Settlement Program is slow to respond to the needs of high skilled economic immigrants. Additional opportunities of on-the job training and improvements to the system of professional accreditation would allow
newcomers to contribute their knowledge and skills to the Canadian society while enhancing their skills and easing their integration. To achieve this, settlement services must be made more accessible for all types of newcomers by offering services much sooner in the immigration
process and expanding the eligibility criteria for services beyond permanent residents to include temporary residents and naturalized Canadians.
To understand newcomer integration from a local perspective, I address settlement and integration services in Calgary, Alberta. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a cooling
off of the natural resources market, the city is experiencing unemployment levels much higher
than the national average. Newcomers in Calgary are especially impacted by the recession as they tend to experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. With the economy
predicted to be sluggish for the next few years, settlement programs are more important than ever, especially as the Government of Canada prepares to welcome over 400,000 of newcomers annually until at least 2023, some of whom will arrive in Calgary. Afterwards, I also give a preliminary overview and evaluation of the Alberta Gateway Project. About one in five Canadians is a former immigrant. In 2019, Canada welcomed over 340,000 permanent residents, 43,000 of whom came to Alberta.2 Starting in 2021, Canada proposes an ambitious plan to welcome even more permanent residents to Canada, increasing Canada’s population by more than 1 per cent every year for the next three years. Newcomers are an integral part of Canada; they support the local economy in towns and cities across the country by filling employment gaps and contributing their knowledge, skills and experiences to the community. Educated, skilled economic newcomers allow Canada to build its future economic capacity to address a shrinking labour force in the country. To help newcomers integrate in Canada, achieve their full potential and participate in the labour market and in society, the Government of Canada supports newcomers through settlement and integration services. The Settlement Program is characterized by a public-private partnership between the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), provinces
and territories, municipalities and many partner organizations. Settlement services are delivered
by a network of local organizations and service providers to all newcomers arriving in Canada,
removing barriers to their full participation in life and work in Canada and providing them with
the tools needed for a smooth and fast integration into their new home – Canada. To evaluate the success of its Settlement Program, the IRCC developed a Performance
Measurement Strategy. The Strategy outlines some immediate and intermediate desired outcomes of newcomer settlement and integration, including newcomers’ labour market
participation and income, their ability to use the official languages, their uptake of services, participation in the community and the program’s ability to meet and adapt to their needs. To
measure the level of integration by newcomers and estimate the direct and measurable outputs of program delivery, the government often uses proxy variables (such as service uptake, naturalization rate, labour market indicators and newcomers’ own sense of belonging). The introduction of Express Entry system in 2015 changed the way Canada selects immigrants. Canada now prioritizes younger, educated individuals with work experience, strong English or French language skills and the ability to integrate in Canada. These immigrants have
high human capital (intangible personal attributes such as knowledge, skills, training and
experience). These highly-educated skilled economic newcomers prioritize employment integration above all in the hopes of putting their knowledge, education and skills into use upon
arrival in Canada. However, once in Canada, many skilled economic immigrants struggle to quickly and effectively integrate economically.
This varied economic integration occurs in part because Canada’s Settlement Program is slow to respond to the needs of high skilled economic immigrants. Additional opportunities of on-the job training and improvements to the system of professional accreditation would allow
newcomers to contribute their knowledge and skills to the Canadian society while enhancing their skills and easing their integration. To achieve this, settlement services must be made more accessible for all types of newcomers by offering services much sooner in the immigration
process and expanding the eligibility criteria for services beyond permanent residents to include temporary residents and naturalized Canadians.
To understand newcomer integration from a local perspective, I address settlement and integration services in Calgary, Alberta. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and a cooling
off of the natural resources market, the city is experiencing unemployment levels much higher
than the national average. Newcomers in Calgary are especially impacted by the recession as they tend to experience higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. With the economy
predicted to be sluggish for the next few years, settlement programs are more important than ever, especially as the Government of Canada prepares to welcome over 400,000 of newcomers annually until at least 2023, some of whom will arrive in Calgary. Afterwards, I also give a preliminary overview and evaluation of the Alberta Gateway Project.
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Service providers and program managers from organizations working with newcomers participated in focus groups or interviews. Questions centered on mental health challenges, opportunities and/or priorities of newcomer young men in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Service providers and program managers from organizations working with newcomers participated in focus groups or interviews. Questions centered on mental health challenges, opportunities and/or priorities of newcomer young men in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
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Research is lacking on the intersection between being trans or non-binary and a racialized immigrant in Canada. Alberta, in particular, is one of the top 4 provinces where the most trans or non-binary immigrants reside. Racialized trans or non-binary participants reported alarmingly high levels of discrimination, violence, assault, fear, and negative experiences with the police and legal system. Findings from this research apply to Canada in general. Research is lacking on the intersection between being trans or non-binary and a racialized immigrant in Canada. Alberta, in particular, is one of the top 4 provinces where the most trans or non-binary immigrants reside. Racialized trans or non-binary participants reported alarmingly high levels of discrimination, violence, assault, fear, and negative experiences with the police and legal system. Findings from this research apply to Canada in general.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE) refugees face discriminatory and harsh experiences in the refugee claimant and hearing process in Canada. Additionally, SOGIE refugees face higher risks, barriers and vulnerability than some other refugee groups. After Bill C-31 (Protecting Canada’s Immigration Act) was passed in 2012, the Immigrant and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) was responsible for determining which SOGIE refugee claims were ‘authentic’ or not, despite little knowledge on the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The IRB recently released guidelines to improve this practice. This policy brief describes the state of SOGIE refugees in Alberta and Canada, challenges the group faces, and the efficacy of the new guidelines for the SOGIE refugee claim process. Sexual orientation and gender identity or expression (SOGIE) refugees face discriminatory and harsh experiences in the refugee claimant and hearing process in Canada. Additionally, SOGIE refugees face higher risks, barriers and vulnerability than some other refugee groups. After Bill C-31 (Protecting Canada’s Immigration Act) was passed in 2012, the Immigrant and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) was responsible for determining which SOGIE refugee claims were ‘authentic’ or not, despite little knowledge on the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The IRB recently released guidelines to improve this practice. This policy brief describes the state of SOGIE refugees in Alberta and Canada, challenges the group faces, and the efficacy of the new guidelines for the SOGIE refugee claim process.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
