Research Library

We investigated health risks associated with climate and air pollution hazards and community covariates to generate insights into the resilience of older adults and immigrants at the community level in a northern urban center in the Canadian prairies (i.e. Edmonton, AB). Communities with higher proportions of older adults were associated with increased cardiovascular, injury, mental, and respiratory health event rates. Notably, heat effects on injury rates impacted communities with higher percentages of older adults (Prevalence Rate Ratio (PRR) [95%CI] 1.110 [1.011, 1.219] at 25% ≥65 years). Ozone effects on cardiovascular event rates exhibited similar trends. Areas with higher percentages of immigrants generally had lower rates of health events. However, increasing diurnal temperature range became a risk factor for respiratory health rates where there were higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.205 [1.004, 1.447] at 20%). Industrial emission effects on injury and respiratory health rates also amplified in areas with higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.127 [1.058, 1.200]; 1.130 [1.050, 1.216] at 20%). Similar effects were observed for mental health event rates and total immigrants. Greater neighborhood material and social deprivation were significant risk factors for increased health event rates across outcomes. Future work should focus on disproportionately affected vulnerable populations to address community-level resilience. We investigated health risks associated with climate and air pollution hazards and community covariates to generate insights into the resilience of older adults and immigrants at the community level in a northern urban center in the Canadian prairies (i.e. Edmonton, AB). Communities with higher proportions of older adults were associated with increased cardiovascular, injury, mental, and respiratory health event rates. Notably, heat effects on injury rates impacted communities with higher percentages of older adults (Prevalence Rate Ratio (PRR) [95%CI] 1.110 [1.011, 1.219] at 25% ≥65 years). Ozone effects on cardiovascular event rates exhibited similar trends. Areas with higher percentages of immigrants generally had lower rates of health events. However, increasing diurnal temperature range became a risk factor for respiratory health rates where there were higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.205 [1.004, 1.447] at 20%). Industrial emission effects on injury and respiratory health rates also amplified in areas with higher percentages of refugees (PRR 1.127 [1.058, 1.200]; 1.130 [1.050, 1.216] at 20%). Similar effects were observed for mental health event rates and total immigrants. Greater neighborhood material and social deprivation were significant risk factors for increased health event rates across outcomes. Future work should focus on disproportionately affected vulnerable populations to address community-level resilience.
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This report contains the assessment done by Constellation Consulting Group to assess the impact of service delivery mode on client satisfaction and therapy outcomes provided by CCIS during COVID. The main goal is to capture learnings about client preferences and service outcomes. This report contains the assessment done by Constellation Consulting Group to assess the impact of service delivery mode on client satisfaction and therapy outcomes provided by CCIS during COVID. The main goal is to capture learnings about client preferences and service outcomes.
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This report presents an overview of the work that the EMCN has done in 2020 to help newcomers in Edmonton. These include the expansion of their language delivery programs; provision of online support for the Settlement in Schools program on top of its phone and face to face services; increased participation for the Safe Families Program; and many others. The year 2021 also celebrates 40 years of the EMCN. This report presents an overview of the work that the EMCN has done in 2020 to help newcomers in Edmonton. These include the expansion of their language delivery programs; provision of online support for the Settlement in Schools program on top of its phone and face to face services; increased participation for the Safe Families Program; and many others. The year 2021 also celebrates 40 years of the EMCN.
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This study investigates measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunization rates during the measles outbreak in Calgary and Edmonton of 2014. The measles outbreak of 2013/2014 involved the entirety of Alberta and led to both provincial and city-specific interventions in which Calgary deployed three mass immunization clinics in 2014, where Edmonton did not. The Calgary coverage data showed an increase in coverage inequalities across all indicators and the Edmonton data showed mixed results in terms of equity gains/losses. Calgary’s additive intervention of three mass immunization clinics in 2014 appears to have contributed to both the higher gross immunization rates in Calgary (90.77%) and an inequitable increase in coverage rates as compared with Edmonton (88.96%), in most cases. Public health policy-makers must be cognizant that large-scale public health efforts must be optimized for accessibility across all socio-economic levels to ensure public and population health gains are realized equitably. This study investigates measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) immunization rates during the measles outbreak in Calgary and Edmonton of 2014. The measles outbreak of 2013/2014 involved the entirety of Alberta and led to both provincial and city-specific interventions in which Calgary deployed three mass immunization clinics in 2014, where Edmonton did not. The Calgary coverage data showed an increase in coverage inequalities across all indicators and the Edmonton data showed mixed results in terms of equity gains/losses. Calgary’s additive intervention of three mass immunization clinics in 2014 appears to have contributed to both the higher gross immunization rates in Calgary (90.77%) and an inequitable increase in coverage rates as compared with Edmonton (88.96%), in most cases. Public health policy-makers must be cognizant that large-scale public health efforts must be optimized for accessibility across all socio-economic levels to ensure public and population health gains are realized equitably.
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Heritage language schools in Edmonton, AB are grassroots organizations that provide various services for newcomers, such as language classes, employment opportunities, community connections, and day care. 25 heritage language schools were studied during the COVID-19 pandemic, and results showed that the schools gave important support to temporary foreign workers (TFWs), combatted anti-Asian racism, and supported front-line workers. Heritage language schools in Edmonton, AB are grassroots organizations that provide various services for newcomers, such as language classes, employment opportunities, community connections, and day care. 25 heritage language schools were studied during the COVID-19 pandemic, and results showed that the schools gave important support to temporary foreign workers (TFWs), combatted anti-Asian racism, and supported front-line workers.
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The purpose of this qualitative arts-informed and play-based case study was to explore and better understand how young newcomer children use common childhood activities of play and personal art-making as tools or vehicles of communication, for exploration of their ideas and sharing perspectives, and to demonstrate what they considered personally significant about their everyday lives and experiences. The research study was guided by the following questions: 1) What are the personally significant experiences and influences in young newcomer children’s daily lives?; 2) How do young newcomer children use play and personal art-making to understand, negotiate, and make sense of experiences, and communicate the personally significant? and; 3) How do adults support young newcomer children’s play and personal art-making and their communication of the personally significant? The purpose of this qualitative arts-informed and play-based case study was to explore and better understand how young newcomer children use common childhood activities of play and personal art-making as tools or vehicles of communication, for exploration of their ideas and sharing perspectives, and to demonstrate what they considered personally significant about their everyday lives and experiences. The research study was guided by the following questions: 1) What are the personally significant experiences and influences in young newcomer children’s daily lives?; 2) How do young newcomer children use play and personal art-making to understand, negotiate, and make sense of experiences, and communicate the personally significant? and; 3) How do adults support young newcomer children’s play and personal art-making and their communication of the personally significant?
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Parenting is a socially and culturally constructed role and experience. Parenting practices vary across and within communities yet most of what we know about parenting in the literature stems from Western worldviews on what ideal parenting and child-rearing looks like in practice. Taking a postcolonial feminist approach, this study helps to diversify the literature by presenting the perspectives of 11 parents with traditional and postcolonial African worldviews who have migrated to Canada. With the purpose of examining gender-based parenting practices of African refugees in Alberta, Canada, this study drew upon existing interviews from a larger study focused on gender relations in African immigrant families. The study used interpretative phenomenological analysis informed by three theoretical frameworks (transnationalism, postcolonial feminism, and intersectionality) to generate three themes and nine subthemes. These findings reveal old, new, and bifocal ways African refugees practice parenting in a postmigration context as well as the impacts of structural forces on their practices. Key among the complicating factors described involve a lack of community-focused and culturally-informed social supports for adjusting to new gender roles and relations in cultural traditions, family life, and parenting challenges typical in their post-migration experiences. Implications for childcare, community, and workplace supports to help African refugees successfully manage the higher risk of facing a host of interpersonal, systemic, and structural barriers when they arrive in Western host countries like Canada are discussed. Studies on gender roles and relations in parenting practices for African refugee parents are rare and this study provides much-needed insights that can be further explored. Parenting is a socially and culturally constructed role and experience. Parenting practices vary across and within communities yet most of what we know about parenting in the literature stems from Western worldviews on what ideal parenting and child-rearing looks like in practice. Taking a postcolonial feminist approach, this study helps to diversify the literature by presenting the perspectives of 11 parents with traditional and postcolonial African worldviews who have migrated to Canada. With the purpose of examining gender-based parenting practices of African refugees in Alberta, Canada, this study drew upon existing interviews from a larger study focused on gender relations in African immigrant families. The study used interpretative phenomenological analysis informed by three theoretical frameworks (transnationalism, postcolonial feminism, and intersectionality) to generate three themes and nine subthemes. These findings reveal old, new, and bifocal ways African refugees practice parenting in a postmigration context as well as the impacts of structural forces on their practices. Key among the complicating factors described involve a lack of community-focused and culturally-informed social supports for adjusting to new gender roles and relations in cultural traditions, family life, and parenting challenges typical in their post-migration experiences. Implications for childcare, community, and workplace supports to help African refugees successfully manage the higher risk of facing a host of interpersonal, systemic, and structural barriers when they arrive in Western host countries like Canada are discussed. Studies on gender roles and relations in parenting practices for African refugee parents are rare and this study provides much-needed insights that can be further explored.
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Although culturally-tailored diabetes treatment is recommended, there is a lack of relevant dietary resources for Chinese in Canada. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of culturally-tailored menu plan combined with nutrition education on clinical outcomes, diet quality and qualitative outcomes among Chinese immigrants with type 2 diabetes. A flexible, culturally-tailored menu plan was a feasible and effective tool for improving diabetes knowledge, diet quality, and metabolic outcomes among Chinese immigrants with type 2 diabetes. Although culturally-tailored diabetes treatment is recommended, there is a lack of relevant dietary resources for Chinese in Canada. This study aimed to assess the feasibility and efficacy of culturally-tailored menu plan combined with nutrition education on clinical outcomes, diet quality and qualitative outcomes among Chinese immigrants with type 2 diabetes. A flexible, culturally-tailored menu plan was a feasible and effective tool for improving diabetes knowledge, diet quality, and metabolic outcomes among Chinese immigrants with type 2 diabetes.
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Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) provides settlement and integration services to all immigrants and refugees in Southern Alberta. Recognizing that newcomers who settle in rural Southern Alberta communities often have unique experiences and service needs, CCIS provides specialized services for newcomers in rural communities through BCIS (Brooks), FCIS (High Rover), RVIS (Rockyview), and WCIS (Willow Creek). From April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, 1,372 unique newcomers were supported. This included 742 clients supported in Brooks (57%), 233 clients supported in High River (18%), 105 clients supported in Rockyview County (8%), 89 clients supported in Okotoks (7%), 80 (6%) clients supported in Willow Creek District, 39 clients supported in Strathmore (3%), 11 clients supported in Drumheller (1%), 5 clients supported in Hanna (<1%). To ensure continuous program improvement and deep understanding of the impact of the rural services offered by CCIS, in 2022 research and evaluation experts at Constellation Consulting Group were hired to evaluate CCIS’ rural service offering. The evaluation involved multiple stakeholders and used mixed methods to garner robust results. The evaluation examined the period from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, and found that services offered through BCIS, FCIS, RVIS, and WCIS are creating positive social outcomes for newcomers across Southern Alberta, including increased ability for newcomers to integrate within their communities and feel a sense of belonging in Canada. Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS) provides settlement and integration services to all immigrants and refugees in Southern Alberta. Recognizing that newcomers who settle in rural Southern Alberta communities often have unique experiences and service needs, CCIS provides specialized services for newcomers in rural communities through BCIS (Brooks), FCIS (High Rover), RVIS (Rockyview), and WCIS (Willow Creek). From April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, 1,372 unique newcomers were supported. This included 742 clients supported in Brooks (57%), 233 clients supported in High River (18%), 105 clients supported in Rockyview County (8%), 89 clients supported in Okotoks (7%), 80 (6%) clients supported in Willow Creek District, 39 clients supported in Strathmore (3%), 11 clients supported in Drumheller (1%), 5 clients supported in Hanna (<1%). To ensure continuous program improvement and deep understanding of the impact of the rural services offered by CCIS, in 2022 research and evaluation experts at Constellation Consulting Group were hired to evaluate CCIS’ rural service offering. The evaluation involved multiple stakeholders and used mixed methods to garner robust results. The evaluation examined the period from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, and found that services offered through BCIS, FCIS, RVIS, and WCIS are creating positive social outcomes for newcomers across Southern Alberta, including increased ability for newcomers to integrate within their communities and feel a sense of belonging in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The report presents research findings on the challenges faced by different communities, examines these findings in light of stakeholders’ experiences and insights, and explores the strengths and weaknesses of these communities. The report highlights key areas of concern for Black community leaders and organizations in Edmonton, AB and across Canada, including issues related to accessibility, professional integration, social and cultural isolation, minority statuses, and shifting identity. A systematic analysis is currently underway to expand on this preliminary report. The report presents research findings on the challenges faced by different communities, examines these findings in light of stakeholders’ experiences and insights, and explores the strengths and weaknesses of these communities. The report highlights key areas of concern for Black community leaders and organizations in Edmonton, AB and across Canada, including issues related to accessibility, professional integration, social and cultural isolation, minority statuses, and shifting identity. A systematic analysis is currently underway to expand on this preliminary report.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly