Pathways to Prosperity Virtual Workshop Series
Pathways to Prosperity is pleased to be launching a new workshop series that will take place on the third Tuesday of each month at 1:00 – 2:15 PM ET, starting in June 2024. These sessions will present results from projects conducted by P2P and its partners, and discussions on current issues of wide interest. They are open to all, but registration is required.
The first workshop will take place on Tuesday June 18 at 1:00 PM ET and will focus on Promoting Positive Attitudes toward Immigrants and Immigration in Smaller Canadian Communities.
As regionalization programs are implemented and smaller communities seek to become more welcoming to newcomers, a critical issue is the attitudes of members of the receiving community to immigrants and immigration. This workshop focuses on some of the recent results we have obtained from analyses of the P2P survey on immigration attitudes in smaller Canadian communities. In addition, we provide recommendations and showcase how a small community works to promote more favorable attitudes that contribute to welcoming communities and the attraction and retention of immigrants.
- Understanding Attitudes toward Immigrants and Immigration in Smaller Canadian Communities (Download Presentation)
Alina Sutter & Victoria Esses, Western University
- Canada’s First Welcoming Community (Download Presentation)
Peter Sulman, Coordinator, Chatham-Kent Local Immigration Partnership
On Tuesday July 16 at 1:00 PM ET, the workshop will focus on How Do Provincial and Municipal Governments Utilize Research?
How do governments use research? How can academics improve the impact of their research? Past P2P workshops have examined these questions among federal government departments. In this workshop, we expand the question to examine the use of research among provincial and municipal governments. This workshop is ideal for academics, graduate students, and independent researchers interested in designing, conducting, and disseminating policy-relevant research, as well as practitioners interested in improving the relevance of evidence-based data collection within their organizations.
Moderators:
Lisa Brunner, The University of British Columbia
Capucine Coustere, Université Laval
Speakers:
Stephen Chase, Government of New Brunswick
Jill Tansley, City of London (Download Presentation)
Brian Vatne, BC Ministry of Municipal Affairs
On Tuesday August 20 at 1:00 to 2:15 PM ET, the workshop will focus on: Wildfires, Floods, and Hurricanes: Inclusive Emergency Preparedness and Response to Disasters.
Vulnerabilities resulting from social, economic, and cultural factors make immigrants and refugees key groups when it comes to effectively preparing for and responding to disasters. How are newcomers uniquely affected by disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, and floods? What are best practices for engaging newcomers in emergency planning, response, and recovery processes? What are some strategies that communities have implemented to reduce risk and improve the resiliency of newcomers? In this workshop, we explore how communities should and can address vulnerabilities and challenges and respond to disaster to reduce risk and improve resiliency for newcomers, particularly in the context of small or rural communities. This workshop is ideal for settlement service providers, LIPs/RIF, municipalities, government agencies, and humanitarian organizations engaged in emergency planning and response.
Moderators:
Melanie Bailey, Immigrant & Refugee Services Association PEI
Crystal Guzmán, Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA)
Speakers:
Kierstin Lundell-Smith, Red Cross Canada
Doug Olthof, Municipality of Jasper, Alberta
Jessica Kalman, Fort St. John Literacy Society, British Columbia
Antoine Richards, Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management, USA
Doreen Rosvold, KCR Community Resources, British Columbia
Javier Robles, KCR Community Resources, British Columbia
On Tuesday September 17 at 1:00 to 2:15 PM ET, Western University’s Network for Economic and Social Trends (NEST) and Pathways to Prosperity Partnership (P2P) will present the results of a research project examining the barriers, particularly racism and discrimination, experienced by newcomers in accessing settlement services in small and mid-sized communities in Southwestern Ontario.
Racism and Discrimination Experienced by Racialized Newcomers When Accessing Settlement Services in Southwestern Ontario.
In partnership with Local Immigration Partnerships in eight regions of Southwestern Ontario, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 94 newcomers who had accessed settlement services in these regions and with 15 service providers in the regions. The presenters will discuss the results from this study using an intersectional GBA+ approach, and evidence-based recommendations for improving service accessibility and inclusivity. The knowledge gained fills a gap by focusing on the specific experiences of racism and discrimination that newcomers may face in accessing settlement services, and by working in communities outside of the large metropolises in Canada.
Moderator:
Rama Eloulabi, Western University’s Network for Economic and Social Trends (NEST)
Speakers:
Rama Eloulabi, Western University’s Network for Economic and Social Trends (NEST)
Zsofia Agoston, Western University’s Network for Economic and Social Trends (NEST)
Emily Nielsen, Western University’s Network for Economic and Social Trends (NEST)
Please click here to access the full report.
On Tuesday October 15 at 1:00 to 2:15 PM ET, in partnership with the Conference Board of Canada, the workshop will focus on The Dynamics of Employer Participation in Immigrant Economic Inclusion across Cities, Regions, and Sectors.
This workshop explores the evolving role of employers in facilitating and expediting immigrant labour market integration across diverse contexts. The unique dynamics across Canada’s cities, geographic regions and sectors of the economy are intrinsically important to how employers engage with immigration for their labour needs. Participants will gain insights into the needs of businesses and organizations to adapt to labour market challenges, as well as barriers to accessing critical international talent at the local level. Attendees will be encouraged to learn from and share actionable insights to drive effective partnerships and improve employment outcomes for immigrants.
Moderator:
Alice Craft, Research Associate, Immigration, The Conference Board of Canada
Speakers:
Alice Craft, Research Associate, Immigration, The Conference Board of Canada
Heather McMillan, CWDP, Executive Director, Durham Workforce Authority