Pathways to Prosperity 2014 National Conference – Poster Presentations
A poster session featuring recent work by members of Pathways to Prosperity was held on November 24, 2014 as a part of the Pathways to Prosperity 2014 National Conference.
To view a poster, click on its title
1. Guliz Akkaymak, University of Western Ontario
Network Development in the Host Country: Bridging and Bonding Ties Revisited
This study examined the social network development experiences of immigrants from Turkey to Toronto and London, Canada working in both professional and non-professional jobs. I applied Bourdieu’s theoretical
perspectives arguing that understanding social networks requires analyses explaining their relation to economic and structural relations (Bourdieu 1986). I am concerned with both the intra- and inter-group differences and hierarchies and their impact on the access and development of social networks in the host country. Based on the analysis of the data, I argue that understanding immigrants’ network development experiences requires an examination of the intersection of ethnic, classed, and gendered positions.
2. Aamna Ashraf & Seema Taneja, Peel Newcomer Strategy Group
Collective Impact: Creating a Welcoming Community for Newcomers – Together
Peel Newcomer Strategy Group (PNSG), a Local Immigration Partnership (LIP), has taken the role of being a backbone collaborative to solve complex social issues around newcomer integration into Peel Region. With a collective impact lens, PNSG invites diverse stakeholders to the table who all have a role to play in learning, solving, and progressing towards accomplishing shared outcomes. PNSG and its stakeholders have created, through broad community consultations, a common vision with key indicators establishing shared
measurement that ensures our efforts are aligned. The poster presents the landscape in Peel Region in terms of its diversity, shares the collective impact process used, and offers some insight into learnings and next steps for the LIP.
3. Jelena Atanackovic, York University, & Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, University of Ottawa
Despite the important role that immigrant live-in caregivers play in the care of children and elderly in Canada, previous research did not sufficiently explore the role of social networks in their migration decision. The purpose of the research presented here is to address such a gap by exploring the role of informal and formal networks in immigrant caregivers’ decision to migrate. Whatever the initial trigger for migration, social networks have been shown to be crucial in migration decision making for this group of immigrants. The role of gender, race/ethnicity, and age in caregivers’ decision making is also examined.
4. Syeda Nayab Bukhari, Simon Fraser University & Concordia University
Passion or Profession: Lived Experiences of South Asian Journalists Serving Ethnic Media in Canada
This poster will share preliminary findings of PhD thesis research focused on ‘South Asian Immigrants and Ethnic Media in British Columbia: Intersections of Race, Gender, and Class’. Community service and development is identified as one of the major roles that ethnic media play around the world. South Asian ethnic media in Metro-Vancouver have become an independent ethnic media industry serving South Asians who represent 10% of the total metro population. With weekly/monthly newspapers, 24/7 radio stations, and TV productions, ethnic media have developed large audiences who are actively engaged with their respective media and journalists. The poster illuminates lived experiences, motivations, aspirations, and challenges faced by the South Asian journalists serving their communities in Metro-Vancouver, Canada.
5. Stella Dentakos & Maxine Gallander Wintre, York University
International Students: Temporary Migrants or Permanent Migrants “In-Process”?
International students are considered as sojourners: migrants who voluntarily leave their home country on a time-limited basis in order to accomplish a specific academic, personal, or employment-related objective. However, some international students may decide to transition from temporary to permanent migrant. Despite this potential, little is known about what predicts international students’ immigration intentions. Addressing this limitation, the present study explored the role of demographic, academic, adjustment, and acculturation variables on international students’ permanent residency intentions. Results suggest that motivation to acculturate is what primarily distinguishes between students who wish to pursue permanent Canadian
residency and those who do not. Implications are discussed.
6. Caroline Duteau, Sherbrooke University, Laura Anson Peréz, Rencontres Interculturelles des familles de l’Estrie (RIFE), & Michèle Vatz-Laaroussi, Sherbrooke University
Immigrant regionalization organizations have developed practices for preparing and supporting newcomers in regional settings. In view of the fact that the expertise developed by these organizations deserves to be recognized, shared and used, we met with stakeholders of these organizations in order to identify and model “best practices” for preparing and supporting localites that are working to regionalize immigration. We are presenting different models that offer a landscape of the logic of practices used to prepare and support these localities.
7. Secil Erdogan-Ertorer, York University, Melissa Fellin, Wilfrid Laurier University, & Jennifer Long, Wilfrid Laurier University
Best Practices for the Inclusion of Cultural Diversity in the Workplace
This poster presents an overview of best practices of managing cultural diversity in the workplace from the perspective of employers, employees, and human resource managers in Kitchener-Waterloo, London, and Toronto. Best practices are organized according to various levels of application, including personal practices, managerial practices, and organization-wide practices. Data for this poster were collected during a community-based research project between the London Cross Cultural Learner Centre, The Achievement Centre, and the Centre for Research on Migration and Ethnic Relations at The University of Western Ontario. Best practices identified by diversity experts from a roundtable in April 2012 are also presented.
8. Anahit Falihi, University of Saskatchewan & Saskatoon Open Door Society
On Bridging and Bonding: Aboriginal and Newcomer Interaction
Saskatoon has a unique and complex history of relations between Aboriginal and other communities. In relations with the First Nations and Métis, ongoing issues have arisen with the immigration from reserves to cities and the resulting culture shock for both Aboriginals and the local community. There is a history of mistrust, abrogation of rights, and broken promises. Considering this lack of resolution, it was imperative for the government to pave the way for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program before it was launched by clearly communicating its purpose in inviting new populations to the province. Instead, from 2004 until today, no clearly explained purpose, goal, or strategic steps have been announced. This has set the stage for negative assumptions and speculation on the part of both Aboriginals and members of the local community.
9. Erik Girard & Ming-Young Tam, Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade, Government of Ontario
Municipal Immigration Information Online: How Ontario Municipalities Connect with Newcomers
Since 2006, the Government of Ontario has worked with municipal partners through the Municipal Immigration Information Online (MIIO) program to increase the online capacity of Ontario municipalities and enhance the resources and information they provide to immigrants. The municipal web portals created through MIIO seek to support immigrants’ decision-making on where to settle in Ontario and make information available about local services and opportunities, both before and after immigrants arrive in Canada. This poster displays information on the MIIO program’s web portals and presents examples of innovative tools and approaches to connecting with newcomers, pioneered by Ontario municipalities.
10. Beth Martin, Ryerson University
Predicting Levels of Social and Emotional Support for Immigrants in Canada
Many studies have argued that an immigrant’s ability to settle and integrate into host communities can improve with access to the support of others. There is little quantitative research, however, on the determinants of
access to different types of support. This quantitative study identified significant predictors of access to support for immigrants in Canada, using data from the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants in Canada (LSIC). Results show that emotional and social support are each a result of complex intersecting factors and that there are important differences between various types of support. Findings have implications for policy and practice.
11. Gail Mummert, El Colegio de Michoacán, Mexique
A project entitled “Workshops for Healthy Living for Separated Families” was carried out (2010-2012) by an interdisciplinary and intergenerational team in a Mexican village where widespread emigration to the United States has occurred. This intervention involved three vulnerable groups in migratory processes: teenagers, wives abandoned by their husbands, and elderly people. Through art workshops, the participants, drawn from different generations of transnational families, found a way to express heart-wrenching emotions and a space was created for the collective analysis of lived experiences of separation and reunification. Consequently, the ties between grandparents, parents living far away, and grandchildren grew closer.
12. Hua Que, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Post-graduation Settlement Choices of International Graduate Students Attending Memorial University of Newfoundland: A Mixed Methods Study
International students are vital to the development of Newfoundland and Labrador. This study aimed to investigate the trend in international students’ post-graduation settlement plans, as well as the factors in their settlement decisions. The findings of the study reveal that, though some international students extolled the advantages of living in this province, few of them decided to settle permanently here. Factors such as the lack of meaningful connections, the lack of supports for their accompanying spouses, the lack of career opportunities in sectors other than oil and gas, and the lack of city services might push them to leave.
13. Kutadgu Firat Sayin, McMaster University
Determinants of Labour Force Status for Immigrants with Disabilities
The Canadian Survey on Disability (2012) shows that there are approximately one million immigrants with disabilities in Canada. Despite the considerable size of this population, there are only a few studies on immigrants with disabilities. The present study aims to examine the determinants of labour force status of this group. Using the Canadian Survey on Disability, the impact of the following variables on labour force status are examined: immigration variables (first/second generation immigrant, duration of residency in Canada, country of birth, etc.); type, severity, and onset of disability; human capital; geographic variables; and accommodation needs and perception of discrimination.
14. Shaughnessy Sturdy, Simon Fraser University
The City of Toronto provides a case study for a municipal government that is increasingly involved in the coordination of immigrant settlement services across the city. This research provides an overview of the role of the City of Toronto in the coordination of settlement services since the signing of the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA) in 2005. COIA set the stage for tri-level government overview of settlement services to occur and for a formalized collaboration between government and community stakeholders. The findings of this research indicate that initiatives such as the Local Immigration Partnerships and Newcomer Leadership Table are allowing for such intergovernmental and cross-sectoral collaboration to occur.
15. Michèle Vatz-Laaroussi, Sherbrooke University, Danièle Bélanger, Laval University, Caroline Jacob, Solidarité Rurale Québec (SRQ), Linamar Campos-Flores, University of Montreal, & Guillermo Candiz, Laval University
The Role and Impact of Regional Actors on Temporary Migrant Workers
Previous research has not defined the relationships between territory, presence of temporary migrant workers, and relations between migrant workers and local populations. Analyzing the interactions that co-exist in rural-agricultural communities will provide a better understanding of the challenges they face, permitting the transfer of better adapted practices for enhancing the living conditions of temporary migrant workers. This exploratory research aims to identify regions in Quebec that welcome temporary migrant workers, and then to characterize these regions in order to better understand the dynamics that could be established between local populations and temporary workers. Eventually, comparative studies might be undertaken with other provinces.
16. Michèle Vatz-Laaroussi, Sherbrooke University, Paulin Mulatris, University of Alberta, Javorka Zivanovic Sarenac, Sherbrooke University, & Shannon Lemay, Sherbrooke University
This project aims to model strategies and practices for welcoming and integrating newcomers implemented by NGOs and associations in two OLMCs: Edmonton for Francophone communities and Sherbrooke for Anglophone communities. We favour a contextualized, comprehensive, and ethnographic approach to analyzing the strategies and practices used by these organizations to: 1) better understand the interest they hold for local communities; 2) comprehend how they promote partnership and collaboration, while taking into account the local fabric and the role of formal and informal organizations; and 3) offer a new perspective on the implementation of measures, policies and programs which are locally relevant and efficient.
17. Rui Zhang, York University, Naguib Gouda, Career Edge, Victoria M. Esses, University of Western Ontario, & Richard N. Lalonde, York University
The Effectiveness of Career Edge Internships
We report a study that aimed to examine the factors that contribute to the success of internships developed by Career Edge, an organization that arranges paid internships for internationally qualified professionals to assist them in bridging to employment in Canada. To this end, 278 Career Edge alumni completed an online survey about their internship experiences and job success. Results focus on the factors identified as contributing to the success of internships, how these factors differentially predicted internship and job success, and the role of intern characteristics in internship experiences and job success.