SASKATOON IMMIGRATION ACTION PLAN

Introduction .............................................Page 01

Policing / Justice .........................................................................................................................................Page

Education ...................................................................................................................................................Page 07

Health ........................................................................................................................................................Page 11

Economic Development / Employment.......................................................................................................Page 15

Housing ......................................................................................................................................................Page20

Settlement .................................................................................................................................................Page 23

Key Steps ...................................................................................................................................................Page 28

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The Welcome Home Immigration Action Plan is an initiative sparked at three levels of government—federal, provincial and municipal. Its purpose is to proactively welcome and integrate immigrants who have made Canada their home.

Immigration has grown exponentially in both Saskatoon and Saskatchewan. To that end, the City of Saskatoon has hosted forums inviting organizations and interest groups from various sectors to discuss ways to attract, retain and integrate newcomers. Six community sectors have a particular impact on newcomers to this city: Policing/Justice, Education, Health, Economic Development/Employment, Housing and Settlement.

Six Sector Forums were hosted between September 25 and November 26, 2008, giving interested parties an opportunity to share ideas and develop solutions for making Saskatoon a welcoming place for immigrants.

Background information for the Forum discussions came from recommendations within the Immigration Action Plan Gap Analysis (http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/leisure/race_relations/gap_analysis_report.pdf) and Checklist for the Immigration Action Plan (http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/leisure/race_relations/checklist.pdf). Highlights include:

1,600 immigrants per year came to Saskatchewan prior to 2005.

10,000 immigrants were expected to arrive in Saskatchewan in 2008-09.

7,500 (of 10,000) were to arrive under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).

2,500 (of 10,000) were to arrive under the Federal process, such as family sponsorship and refugee programs.

An estimated 40-42% of Saskatchewan’s immigrants come to Saskatoon.

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This report summarizes the discussions held at each of the six Sector Forums, identifies existing opportunities that may be enhanced within each sector, and lists action items put forward by participants from each sector.

The term "immigrants" in this document refers to both immigrants (those who choose to settle in a new environment) and refugees (those who are forced to flee their countries). The information presented here is not comprehensive but a snapshot of a moment in time—Fall 2008 in the Saskatoon community—that captures the ideas and discussions of those who participated in the six Sector Forums. Since that time, some of the recommendations have already been initiated.

The Six Sectors

The six sectors of Policing/Justice, Education, Health, Economic Development/Employment, Housing, and Settlement each have a strong impact on city newcomers.

At the six Sector Forums, interested representatives were invited to share resources and develop strategies that would make Saskatoon a more welcoming place for new immigrants. What follows are the ideas, by sector, presented during these forums. Each section contains a brief introduction, current initiatives underway, existing opportunities that may be enhanced, and action items to move commitments forward.

The goal of the Welcome Home Immigration Action Plan is to inspire and mobilize ways to integrate immigrant newcomers and their families and help them feel at home as they settle into a new community and culture. By coordinating efforts to make newcomers feel welcome, everyone wins—the systems that operate to serve the community, the residents who are introduced to new cultures and perspectives, and the newcomers themselves.

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Policing and justice issues are more likely to arise within newcomer populations when settlement or integration fails. While more programs are needed to help integrate newcomers, this city recognizes a need for community partners to adapt the ways they communicate with and offer resources to immigrants.

Current Initiatives

Saskatoon Police Service:

Cultural Resource Unit

Saskatoon Police Advisory Committee on Diversity (SPACOD)(http://www.police.saskatoon.sk.ca/index.php?loc=diversity/index.php)

Community Opportunities

A Positive Experience: The Saskatoon Police Service is dedicated to giving newcomers a positive experience.

Diversity: Attract newcomers to serve on an increasingly culturally diverse police force.

Education & Awareness: Offer teaching, training and information about laws, rights and emergency procedures, using public media such as TV, radio, and public service announcements; offer information in various languages.

Website: Review and enhance the City of Saskatoon web page; add targeted information for newcomers who may have limited language skills.

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Action Items

Identify contact people across the Policing/Justice sector.

Invite other sectors (e.g., Social Services, Health, Housing, etc.) to develop diversity committees similar to the Saskatoon Police Advisory Committee on Diversity (SPACOD).

Develop a resource interpreter protocol to be used across sectors.

Identify ethno-cultural leaders in the community who will deliver education and awareness programs within their own cultural communities.

Offer early intervention involving police and counsellors for families with justice-related issues.

Explore models such as the Restorative Justice model in a global context. (http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pcvi-cpcv/res-rep.html)

Identify and use all existing resources; e.g., Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) has video and print resources to inform newcomers.

Encourage Policing/Justice sector organizations to collaborate on resource information and on moving actions forward.

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This sector focuses on immigrant and refugee children and youth who are trying to adapt and function at school in a new culture, and on skilled but unemployed or underemployed adults who are adjusting to new cultural and work environments.

The need to address and recognize international credentials in qualified adults at the post-secondary level and in collaboration with employers and regulatory bodies is increasingly apparent. In school systems, additional resources are needed to help immigrant and refugee children adjust to new schools and a new culture.

Current Initiatives

City of Saskatoon: Youth Perception of Race Relations Report(http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/leisure/race_relations/youth_race_relations_report.pdf)

International Student Spouses' Program (http://www.siassoc.sk.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=52&Itemid=60)

Saskatoon Multilingual School (SMS)(http://www.siassoc.sk.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10&Itemid=4)

Settlement Support Workers in School (SSWIS)(http://www.sods.sk.ca)

SK Ministry of Education: “Your Child's Education in Saskatchewan: A Handbook for Recent Immigrants”(http://www.education.gov.sk.ca/humanities-int-lang)

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University of Saskatchewan (U of S) (http://www.usask.ca/international.php)

Private, Public and Community Based Organizations offering English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes:

Global Gathering Place (GGP) (http://www.globalgatheringplace.com/services.htm)

International Women of Saskatoon (IWS)(http://www.internationalwomenofsaskatoon.org)

Praxis International

(http://praxisinternational.ca/english_language_study_descriptions.html)

Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS) (http://www.sods.sk.ca/)

Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST)(http://www.siast.sk.ca/programs/basic_education/english_language.shtml)

Ukrainian Canadian Congress Saskatoon (UCC Saskatoon)(http://www.ucc.sk.ca/branches/saskatoonBrESL.htm)

Community Opportunities

Community Involvement: Create programs for families at the community level.

Youth Study Group (SODS) (http://www.sods.sk.ca/page.php?id=8)

READ Saskatoon (http://www.nald.ca/readsask/)

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Education Benchmarks: Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS) and Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) will collaborate on improving language access to programs for immigrants.

Language Training: The Saskatoon Multilingual School (SMS, through SIA) currently operates 29 schools and offers instruction in 25 languages to help integrate and retain newcomers.

Parental Support at the community level: Offer programs through schools—such as language training, parenting, understanding the school system, and other values—to integrate newcomer families into the community.

Teacher Resources: Provide English as an Additional Language (EAL) training, resource manuals, and materials to all instructors, not just designated EAL teachers.

Action Items

Increase and improve communication and collaboration among school boards.

Identify to what extent schools and businesses play a role in newcomer integration by providing support to employees, families, and/or students.

Increase teacher training in all school systems.

Increase awareness about immigration.

Create a communications strategy for the Education sector.

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The ability to deliver health care to newcomers depends on effective communication. Overcoming language and cultural barriers will allow immigrants to access resources and make informed decisions about their health.

Current Initiatives

Culture and Language Access to Health (CLAH): A multidisciplinary collaboration among Saskatoon Health Region, Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS), SK Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and West Side Community Clinic.

Immigrant Health and Social Accountability at the College of Medicine

Saskatoon Community Clinic (http://www.saskatooncommunityclinic.ca/about_us.htm)

Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS): Health care education in partnership with Public & Primary Health.(http://www.sods.sk.ca)

College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatoon(a survey detailing which dentists speak what languages other than English will be available at www.saskdentists.com)

Saskatoon Health Region:

Food for Thought(http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/ps_primary_health_food_for_thought.htm)

Healthy Mother Healthy Baby(http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/ps_primary_health_healthy_mother_healthy_baby.htm)

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KidsFirst Saskatoon (http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/ps_primary_health_kidsfirst.htm)

LiveWell Chronic Disease Management and LiveWell Diabetes Program: Diabetes screening for ethno-cultural groups. (http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/ps_cdm_diabetes_ethno_cultural.htm)

Mobile Primary Health Centre (The “Health Bus”)(http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/facilities_primary_health.htm)

Primary Health Care (http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/ps_primary_health.htm)

South East Health Centre (http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca/your_health/ps_public_health_health_centre_addresses.htm)

Student Wellness Initiative Toward Community Health (SWITCH) (http://www.switch.usask.ca)

Community Opportunities

Communication Strategy: Aim for consistency, coordination and collaboration of all health care services.

Creating Health Teams: Coordinate and collaborate health services (doctors, dentists, pharmacists); create a Virtual Health Team that will focus on immigrant health issues.

Dental Profession: Invite dentists to offer pro-bono services for SODS clients; review relationship with U of S College of Dentistry regarding providing clinical services to immigrants.

Medical Profession: Establish a Family Medicine group that will focus on immigrant and refugee health care.

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Training and Education: Explore funding opportunities for trained translators and interpreters to help immigrant newcomers understand and access health care; increase the number of foreign-trained medical professionals.

Action Items

Set up a Refugee & Immigrant Health Committee (RIHC) to educate doctors, Registered Nurses, pharmacists, etc.

Solicit interest-group members (e.g., RIHC) to consult and share Communicable Diseases protocols.

Contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons to request a survey to identify member professionals with a second language and an interest in providing services to newcomers; provide helpful information about newcomers to medical associations for their newsletters.

Tailor services, training, medical terminology, etc. to newcomers.

Create a Centralized Health Assessment Clinic.

Procure/offer volunteer dental services to immigrants; make information for such services accessible.

This forum was held in partnership with the Culture and Language Access to Health Committee.

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Immigration is a vital factor in addressing employment shortfalls. Information from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour, Immigration Branch, shows that in order to fill an estimated 15,000 vacant jobs by 2012, Saskatchewan will have to train youth (especially Aboriginal), attract people from other provinces, and increase immigration.

Current Initiatives

Assisting Local Leaders with Immigrant Employment Strategies (ALLIES) (http://www.saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca/index.html)

Caldaj Commodities Inc. (http://www.caldaj.ca/index.html)

Can-Sask Career & Employment Service (http://www.aeel.gov.sk.ca/career-employment)

Certified General Accountants (CGA) (http://www.cga-saskatchewan.org/cga/index.aspx?tid=1468&pid=1006)

City of Saskatoon: Employment equity coordination; partners with settlement agencies for mentorships and internships. (http://www.saskatoon.ca)

Concentra Financial: Financial sector products targeted at immigrants.

Enhanced Language Training/Immigrant Internship Program (ELT/IIP): Partnership between SODS and SIA.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour, Immigration Branch: Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP); Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHP).(http://www.immigration.gov.sk.ca/about)

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International Women of Saskatoon (IWS): Basic Employment Training Program; Project Eagles(http://www.internationalwomenofsaskatoon.org)

RADIUS: Community Centre for Education and Employment Training (http://www.radiuscentre.com/career.html)

Saskatchewan Intercultural Association (SIA): Mentorship Project; MY WAY. (http://www.siassoc.sk.ca/)

Saskatoon Health Region: Partners with Filipino-Canadian Association of Saskatoon (FILCAS), SODS, SIA, etc. (http://www.saskatoonhealthregion.ca)

Saskatchewan Capacity for Internationally trained Professionals (SCIP) (http://www.saskinternationals.ca)

Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS): Saskatchewan Nominee Assistance Program (SNAP)(http://www.sods.sk.ca)

Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority Inc. (SREDA) (http://www.sreda.com)

Saskatoon Industry Education Council: Students Moving Ahead with Real-world Training (SMART) program. (http://www.smartlearning.org)

Saskatchewan Tourism and Education Council

(http://www.canadabusiness.ca/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1081945314088&pagename=CBSC_FE%2Fdisplay&lang=en&c=Services)

Community Opportunities

Resources: Assess and review models for immigration policies and systems; create capacity, expand services and demonstrate the opportunities that immigration brings (expertise, labour, culture, etc.).

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Communication & Collaboration: Foster collaboration between agencies that relate to immigration; develop a list of contacts and service agencies; avoid duplication of services; create a holistic, cooperative approach to immigration.

Entrepreneurship: Create entrepreneurial initiatives and incentives that will build opportunities for economic development and employment.

Mentorship: Offer guidance through mentorship programs that match newcomers with those who work in their field.

Newcomer Centre: Create a one-stop resource centre for information referrals that offers access in various languages. Possible resources include language assessments, a housing registry, an employment registry, and an information link.

Recruitment & Retention: Develop a sustainable system of recruiting and retaining immigrants based on existing successful models.

Sectoral Leadership: Identify “champions” within each sector; make connections within and across sectors.

Volunteers: Recognize volunteers that actively create a welcoming community in Saskatoon.

Website: Provide an information gateway to Saskatoon for newcomers and immigrants that is user friendly and highlights referral services, offers how-to kits to connect businesses and immigrants, and offers success stories from immigrants.

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Action Items

Share information within and across sectors.

Ensure families are holistically integrated into the community.

Create a one-stop Newcomer Centre where individuals and families can access information to help them settle and build a life in Saskatoon.

Enhance the City of Saskatoon Immigration web page (www.saskatoon.ca: click “I” for Immigration).

Create a reception and information infrastructure that reaches immigrant audiences using various types of resource media to reach the widest possible spectrum of newcomers.

Develop/provide orientation resources for newcomers and employers.

Create community connections to help integrate newcomers.

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Affordable and available housing, perhaps two of the greatest challenges for newcomers, are key factors in successful settlement into a new community. In spite of a global economic crisis, the Saskatchewan economy is doing well. However, with recent increases in migration and immigration to Saskatoon, housing is in demand and affordability is an issue.

Current Initiatives

City of Saskatoon (http://www.saskatoon.ca/org/city_planning/affordable_housing/index.asp)

Wanda's International Guest House (wandasinternationalguesthouse@gmail.com)

Community Opportunities

Communication & Collaboration: Consolidate and simplify information for immigrant newcomers; ensure language is clear and accessible.

Leadership: Determine who is responsible for moving housing initiatives forward; take advantage of innovative Saskatchewan builders and developers.

Policy: Improve zoning and building; simplify the process of accessing /applying for housing; offer tax incentives.

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Action Items

Align/streamline regulatory systems (developers, government, builders, realtors, users) to eliminate gridlocks (timelines, affordability, availability).

Work towards societal/governmental recognition about the importance of housing and its integration with Saskatchewan's growth initiative.

Establish a balance of public policy initiatives and private action to address housing issues.

Look at Ready-to-move homes (RTMs), modular homes, and manufactured homes as an alternative to traditional home construction to enhance available affordable housing.

Develop a definition of “affordability,” using targeted objectives (price range, income, other benchmarks), that is separate from assisted living and that differs for each community.

Address the current skilled labour shortage to construct affordable housing by providing additional seats for training in skilled trades.

Increase the housing allowance for low-income people (based on affordability and availability of housing).

Create the tools/means for immigrants to establish their credit rating.

Educate youth about rental processes and home ownership.

A full report on the November 2008 Housing Forum prepared by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and its organizing partners will be available on the following website: www.saskchamber.com.

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Settlement refers to the pre-arrival, arrival and post-arrival stages of settling in a new community. Successful settlement contributes to successful integration, which is the City's goal for welcoming newcomers into the community. Because no single agency or sector can effectively address all the needs of newcomers, cooperation and collaboration are paramount at all levels, as well as an understanding that many newcomers have suffered remarkable hardships before arriving.

Current Initiatives

Canadian Red Cross: Restoring Family Links. (http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=476&tid=001)

Caldaj Commodities Inc. & Burmeister Productions (http://www.caldaj.ca/index.html; http://www.lifeondemand.ca)

Central Urban Métis Federation Inc.: Partners with Saskatoon Health Region (“Health Bus”) and Community Legal Assistance Services for Saskatoon Inner City Inc. (CLASSIC).(http://www.cumfi.org/OrgBkgrnd.htm; http://www.classiclaw.ca)

Citizenship & Immigration Canada: Provides funding for immigrant & refugee assistance, settlement, adaptation and integration programs. (http://www.cic.gc.ca)

Family Service Saskatoon: Partners with immigrant-serving agencies and youth programs. (http://www.familyservice.sk.ca)

Global Infobrokers: ESL through work and study. (http://www.globalinfobrokers.ca)

Learning Disabilities Association of Saskatchewan (http://www.ldas.org)

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Multi-faith Saskatoon (http://www.islandnet.com/~mfsask/index.php)

Newcomer Information Centre (NIC): Partnership of four immigrant-serving agencies – SODS, GGP, SIA and IWS.(306.343-8303; info.nic@sasktel.net)

Immigrant-serving Agencies and Ethno-cultural Groups (in attendance at Settlement Sector Forum):

Association Communautaire Fransaskoise (ACF) (http://www.immigrationsaskatchewan.org)

Baha'i Community (http://www.saskatoonbahai.org/index.php)

Chinese Cultural Society of Saskatchewan (CCSS) (http://www.ccnc.ca/contactUs/contactUs.html#sk)

Congregation Agudas Israel (CAI) (http://www.saskatoon.uscjhost.net)

German Canadian Club Concordia (GCCC) (http://www.saskatoongermanclub.ca/wb/pages/en/immigrant-settlement-committee.php)

Global Gathering Place (GGP) (http://www.globalgatheringplace.com/services.htm)

Global International Community Help Association Inc. (GICHA) (http://www.ahmadiyya.ca)

India-Canada Cultural Association (ICCA) (http://www.iccasaskatoon.ca)

International Women of Saskatoon (IWS) (http://www.internationalwomenofsaskatoon.org)

Saskatchewan Intercultural Association (SIA) (http://www.siassoc.sk.ca)

Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS) (http://www.sods.sk.ca)

Ukrainian Canadian Congress Saskatoon (UCC Saskatoon) (http://www.ucc.sk.ca/branches/saskatoonBrESL.htm)

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Saskatoon Public Library (SPL) (http://www.saskatoonlibrary.ca)

Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) (http://www.shrc.gov.sk.ca)

The Star Phoenix (http://www.thestarphoenix.com/index.html)

YWCA: Employment Services, Computer classes, Crisis Shelter. (http://www.ywcasaskatoon.com)

University of Saskatchewan (U of S):

International Student Office (ISO) (http://students.usask.ca/international/iso)

Language Centre (http://www.learnenglish.usask.ca/about)

U of S Residence (http://www.usask.ca/residence)

World University Services of Canada (WUSC) – Refugee sponsorship program. (http://www.usask.ca/groups/wusc)

Community Opportunities

Communication & Collaboration: Install a welcome sign at the Saskatoon airport in various languages; connect newcomers with people who speak their language; provide access to information about available support services.

Community Involvement: Tailor events at a community level to newcomers.

Education: Enhance translation services; increase EAL training; work with the private sector to promote workplace literacy; establish credential recognition procedures.

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Information Centre: Create a Newcomer Information Centre with accommodating hours and resources tailored to newcomers.

Resources: Develop information packages and tip sheets for businesses and communities, using the Seniors' Resource Guide as a model (http://www.seniorsresourceguide.com). Involve various stakeholders such as banks to sponsor and/or partner in creating resources.

Action Items

Create a citywide reception and resource infrastructure, to be used by newcomers and those who serve them, listing the type and location of all services available to immigrant newcomers.

Create sport, culture and recreation programs that target newcomers, in collaboration with settlement agencies and ethno-cultural associations.

Provide information to connect interested immigrants with faith and multi-faith communities.

Host an annual conference across sectors to encourage collaboration, build bridges, and work toward common goals.

Increase the availability of children's books in heritage languages.

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Immigration is a community issue. The main goal for all levels of government, whether at the federal, provincial or municipal level, is to build awareness about immigrants, refugees and immigration in order to create a welcoming environment for newcomers. Over the span of the six Sector Forums, many common threads that describe both opportunities and challenges emerged.

Common Opportunities

Communication & Collaboration: Provide consistent and coordinated services to newcomers within and across sectors; consolidate, simplify language and clarify information so that resources are more accessible to immigrants.

Cultural Awareness & Cultural Competency: Increase cultural awareness and cultural competencies in the workplace and the community.

EAL, Translators, Interpreters: Build on the network of EAL instructors, translators and interpreters across all sectors.

Leadership: Identify champions within each sector.

Research: Review successful models in other cities and provinces ( e.g., BC, MB, PQ, NS).

Resource/Reception Infrastructure: Develop a resource/information infrastructure so newcomers have easy access to information and services.

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Resources: Develop an information package, available in print and online, for newcomers as they arrive in Saskatoon.

Website development: Enhance accessibility to website information on immigration.

Common Challenges

Communication & Collaboration: Increased communication among agencies and stakeholders within and across sectors is needed to eliminate the duplication of services.

Cultural Awareness & Sensitivity: There is a general need to advocate for and integrate newcomers .

EAL, Translators, Interpreters: Additional translation and interpretation services and language support are needed for newcomers and their families.

Employment & Education: There is a need for professional development opportunities to integrate employers, employees, and newcomers.

Funding: Enhanced collaboration is required between public and private funding for programs, services, and housing incentives for newcomers; additional resources are needed to retain cultural languages and heritage within community groups.

Government Policy: Review policies affecting immigration and newcomers.

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Housing: There is lack of affordable housing for newcomers.

Information Resources: Coordinated and consistent resources need to be developed for immigrant newcomers at all entry points to the city; e.g., signage, print materials, audio-visual aids, accessible and interactive web environments, translation/interpretation services, and other information that will help engage and connect newcomers.

Next Steps

Unlike the Action Items, the Next Steps are aimed at moving forward the Immigration Action Plan and not at animating specific goals. They are as follows:

The Welcome Home Immigration Action Plan will be made available to Forum participants.

A sector-to-sector forum will be organized.

Planning will begin for developing a resource/reception/infrastructure network.

Collaborative Leadership/Networking Models will be explored to ensure the continued momentum of sector initiatives.

The Immigration Action Plan is designed to build upon the momentum within all sectors and make it easier for immigrant newcomers and their families to settle in Saskatoon and feel at home. As we open our arms to many cultures, we enrich our own community. And so, to every newcomer we say, "Welcome home!"

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Community Development Branch immigration@saskatoon.ca Phone: 975-8459 www.saskatoon.ca, click 'I' for Immigration