Research Library

This learning note identifies key insights and challenges that newcomers experience in relation to their mental health and provides recommendations for how programs and services can support the mental health of newcomers in Canada. This learning note identifies key insights and challenges that newcomers experience in relation to their mental health and provides recommendations for how programs and services can support the mental health of newcomers in Canada.
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This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges that newcomer youth in Canada face throughout the settlement journey and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomers youth in Canada. This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges that newcomer youth in Canada face throughout the settlement journey and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and effective programs to support the diverse experiences of newcomers youth in Canada.
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This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges faced by newcomer seniors in Canada and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and supportive programming. This learning note provides a brief overview of the challenges faced by newcomer seniors in Canada and identifies key considerations for designing inclusive and supportive programming.
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Children with disabilities are among the most at-risk groups for marginalization due to compounded disadvantages from the intersection of risk factors such as refugee status and disability status. Despite this high risk, there is no systematic data collected on this group and scant literature on the topic contributing to a feeling of invisibility. We conducted a narrative inquiry on the experiences of two Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities. Narrative inquiry is a way to understand experience as a storied phenomenon. In order to understand the complexities of the experience as a refugee with a child living with disabilities, attending to the lived and told stories is essential. In hearing the narration of these experiences across time, place, and social contexts various narrative threads emerged. The narrative threads that resonated across the experiences of two families included waiting and a struggle for agency, as well as disruption and continuity. Children with disabilities are among the most at-risk groups for marginalization due to compounded disadvantages from the intersection of risk factors such as refugee status and disability status. Despite this high risk, there is no systematic data collected on this group and scant literature on the topic contributing to a feeling of invisibility. We conducted a narrative inquiry on the experiences of two Syrian refugee families with children living with disabilities. Narrative inquiry is a way to understand experience as a storied phenomenon. In order to understand the complexities of the experience as a refugee with a child living with disabilities, attending to the lived and told stories is essential. In hearing the narration of these experiences across time, place, and social contexts various narrative threads emerged. The narrative threads that resonated across the experiences of two families included waiting and a struggle for agency, as well as disruption and continuity.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of depression among African immigrant men in Southern Alberta. The study adopted an exploratory descriptive qualitative research design using focused semi-structured interviews with ten African immigrant men. Thematic analysis showed that African men went through episodes of sadness and frustrations due to intersection of challenges post-migration, which negatively impacted both their physical and mental health. However, instead of seeking professional help, they employed a series of coping mechanisms to mitigate, tolerate, or overcome the mental distress. It was evident that African men’s cultural constructions around masculinity influenced how they perceived, interpreted, and expressed their mental distress. Culture and masculinity also shaped their strategies for coping with the mental distress and behaviour towards help-seeking. It is recommended that stakeholders and policy makers apply cultural safety approaches to support African immigrant men to enhance their mental well-being. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of depression among African immigrant men in Southern Alberta. The study adopted an exploratory descriptive qualitative research design using focused semi-structured interviews with ten African immigrant men. Thematic analysis showed that African men went through episodes of sadness and frustrations due to intersection of challenges post-migration, which negatively impacted both their physical and mental health. However, instead of seeking professional help, they employed a series of coping mechanisms to mitigate, tolerate, or overcome the mental distress. It was evident that African men’s cultural constructions around masculinity influenced how they perceived, interpreted, and expressed their mental distress. Culture and masculinity also shaped their strategies for coping with the mental distress and behaviour towards help-seeking. It is recommended that stakeholders and policy makers apply cultural safety approaches to support African immigrant men to enhance their mental well-being.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

In 2016, Edmonton’s Vital Signs community report focused on the city’s immigrant and refugee population. The report discusses the value immigrants bring to the city, settlement and integration processes, statistics on newcomer health, employment and wellbeing, as well as true stories from Edmonton newcomers. In 2016, Edmonton’s Vital Signs community report focused on the city’s immigrant and refugee population. The report discusses the value immigrants bring to the city, settlement and integration processes, statistics on newcomer health, employment and wellbeing, as well as true stories from Edmonton newcomers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Although more Albertan Muslims are entering older age, there is still limited research, evidence and policy focused on older Muslims’ lived experiences and needs in Canada. This community-based participatory study serves to describe the experiences of Muslim seniors and community stakeholders, with regards to healthy aging and related needs in Edmonton, Alberta. 64 Canadian Muslims from multiple ethno-cultural communities in Edmonton participated in individual interviews and focus groups. Muslim seniors defined healthy aging as being financially independent, staying socially connected, and feeling spiritually fulfilled. The article also emphasizes the importance of the Islamic obligation to care for seniors in the community, as well as the increased risks of vulnerable seniors in social isolation. Overall, this study’s findings highlights strong community motivation to support healthy aging, combined with significant barriers to community action. Although more Albertan Muslims are entering older age, there is still limited research, evidence and policy focused on older Muslims’ lived experiences and needs in Canada. This community-based participatory study serves to describe the experiences of Muslim seniors and community stakeholders, with regards to healthy aging and related needs in Edmonton, Alberta. 64 Canadian Muslims from multiple ethno-cultural communities in Edmonton participated in individual interviews and focus groups. Muslim seniors defined healthy aging as being financially independent, staying socially connected, and feeling spiritually fulfilled. The article also emphasizes the importance of the Islamic obligation to care for seniors in the community, as well as the increased risks of vulnerable seniors in social isolation. Overall, this study’s findings highlights strong community motivation to support healthy aging, combined with significant barriers to community action.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth-Family Therapy Evaluation report highlights the positive impact of therapy services provided by CCIS to immigrant and refugee families in Calgary. The report covers the evaluation methods, client demographics, therapy outcomes, perspectives on coordinated family supports, opportunities for improvement, and conclusions and recommendations. The report also includes case examples and an executive summary. The evaluation shows that CCIS has been successful in addressing the trauma-related experiences of newcomer families and provides recommendations for further improvement. The CCIS Centre for Refugee Resilience Youth-Family Therapy Evaluation report highlights the positive impact of therapy services provided by CCIS to immigrant and refugee families in Calgary. The report covers the evaluation methods, client demographics, therapy outcomes, perspectives on coordinated family supports, opportunities for improvement, and conclusions and recommendations. The report also includes case examples and an executive summary. The evaluation shows that CCIS has been successful in addressing the trauma-related experiences of newcomer families and provides recommendations for further improvement.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This paper discusses the ways of increasing Alberta’s labour force. Increasing Alberta’s labour supply at the extensive margin involves increasing the population, which can be accomplished in three ways: higher birth rates, increased numbers of migrants arriving from other Canadian provinces, and increased immigration. Given these trends, immigration is becoming an increasingly important source of labour force growth throughout Canada, and Alberta is no exception. Immigrants are not a homogenous group, and there are a variety of immigration programs targeted at specific groups of potential newcomers. The economic and labour market outcomes of newcomers admitted under these programs are different, with factors such as language ability, domestic work experience, and the ability of employers to recognize credentials being important to the success of immigrants in the Canadian labour market. Two programs, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), have seen an increase in both the number and proportion of immigrants admitted in recent years, and the evidence to date shows they are performing well economically. The number of immigrants coming to Alberta through the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has dropped significantly from its peak in 2013, but Alberta still accounts for a disproportionate number of workers admitted under the program. While there are significant concerns about both the treatment of workers under the program and its effect on wage suppression in some industries, there is evidence that a limited TFWP may be beneficial. The final source of potential labour through immigration is foreign students. While there has been a tripling of foreign students across Canada over the last 20 years, Alberta has not experienced the same level of growth. Unfortunately, there is very limited room to increase the overall labour supply in Alberta at the intensive margins. Better addressing credential recognition, both in regulated occupations and the skilled trades, is another way Alberta could better utilize the talent of its current population. This paper discusses the ways of increasing Alberta’s labour force. Increasing Alberta’s labour supply at the extensive margin involves increasing the population, which can be accomplished in three ways: higher birth rates, increased numbers of migrants arriving from other Canadian provinces, and increased immigration. Given these trends, immigration is becoming an increasingly important source of labour force growth throughout Canada, and Alberta is no exception. Immigrants are not a homogenous group, and there are a variety of immigration programs targeted at specific groups of potential newcomers. The economic and labour market outcomes of newcomers admitted under these programs are different, with factors such as language ability, domestic work experience, and the ability of employers to recognize credentials being important to the success of immigrants in the Canadian labour market. Two programs, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), have seen an increase in both the number and proportion of immigrants admitted in recent years, and the evidence to date shows they are performing well economically. The number of immigrants coming to Alberta through the controversial Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) has dropped significantly from its peak in 2013, but Alberta still accounts for a disproportionate number of workers admitted under the program. While there are significant concerns about both the treatment of workers under the program and its effect on wage suppression in some industries, there is evidence that a limited TFWP may be beneficial. The final source of potential labour through immigration is foreign students. While there has been a tripling of foreign students across Canada over the last 20 years, Alberta has not experienced the same level of growth. Unfortunately, there is very limited room to increase the overall labour supply in Alberta at the intensive margins. Better addressing credential recognition, both in regulated occupations and the skilled trades, is another way Alberta could better utilize the talent of its current population.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Since the beginning of conflict in Syria, 52, 720 Syrian refugees were admitted to Canada between November 2015 and March 2018. Schools are one of the first and most impactful systems that young refugees enter and the quality of early school experiences significantly influences how successfully and quickly they settle. Yet, there is limited research examining the school experiences of refugee children. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the social, emotional, and academic adjustment experiences of newcomer Syrian refugee children between the ages of five to eight years within Edmonton schools. Following themes emerged during this study: (1) Role of Language in Adjustment, (2) Attitudes and Perspectives Towards Education, (3) Bonds and Relationships, (4) Initial Frustrations, Anxieties, and Fears, (5) Children’s Unique Strategies for Adapting in School, (6) Parental Involvement in the Schooling Process, and (7) Role of Personal Qualities in Adjustment. Since the beginning of conflict in Syria, 52, 720 Syrian refugees were admitted to Canada between November 2015 and March 2018. Schools are one of the first and most impactful systems that young refugees enter and the quality of early school experiences significantly influences how successfully and quickly they settle. Yet, there is limited research examining the school experiences of refugee children. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore the social, emotional, and academic adjustment experiences of newcomer Syrian refugee children between the ages of five to eight years within Edmonton schools. Following themes emerged during this study: (1) Role of Language in Adjustment, (2) Attitudes and Perspectives Towards Education, (3) Bonds and Relationships, (4) Initial Frustrations, Anxieties, and Fears, (5) Children’s Unique Strategies for Adapting in School, (6) Parental Involvement in the Schooling Process, and (7) Role of Personal Qualities in Adjustment.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly