2022 NIIP Northern Summit

Dr. Lori Wilkinson

Lori Wilkinson, PhD, is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Manitoba. She holds a Canada Research Chair in Migration Futures (2021-2028). Her research agenda focuses on the integration experiences of newcomers to Canada, with particular interest on refugee families. She was recently awarded the Dr and Mrs Ralph Campbell Award for Community Outreach from the University of Manitoba (2019) and the National Metropolis Researcher of Excellence Award (2021).

Session #2 - Diversity Work as Organizational Learning: Practices of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. - an Immigrant Services Organization in Canada

Dr. Hongxia Shan, Associate Professor, University of British Columbia

As migration and superdiversity start defining the demographic features of countries such as Canada, it has become imperative for organizations to engage in diversity work, i.e., work that promotes and facilitates inclusive and equitable engagement with people across social differences. Research has been conducted on ways in which diversity and inclusion could be made an integral aspect of organizational undertakings. This talk adds to this body of research by sharing the diversity work engaged by S.U.C.C.E.S.S., a large community-based immigrant services organization with head office in Vancouver. Analytically, the talk draws on the practice- based perspectives of organizational learning.

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Dr. Hongxia Shan

Dr. Hongxia Shan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Studies of the University of British Columbia, Canada. She specializes in adult learning and education, immigration, integration and transnationalism, and work and learning. A central issue she endeavors to address is how social differences can be engaged simultaneously to promote equity and justice, and to expand professional practices. She is a former president of the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education. She has delivered speeches in both academic and professional conferences on issues of migration, diversity, work and adult learning and education.

Session #3 Help Wanted: Tourism as a job creator in the north

Philip Mondor - President, Tourism HR Canada

Tourism is a gateway to employment, entrepreneurship, and community revitalization. Tourism promotes inclusion and diversity, contributes to cultural and heritage preservation and is key to supporting reconciliation efforts. The session will focus on the types of opportunities, programs, and services to grow tourism jobs and businesses in the north as well as how to help tourism businesses get started on the path to recovery, with both short-term and long-term strategies to attract, retain, and grow a skilled workforce.

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Philip Mondor

For more than 30 years, Philip has worked with labour market stakeholders across Canada and abroad including foreign governments, pan-global organizations, Canadian and non-Canadian businesses, and various education and training bodies. His work spans over 15 industrial sectors and in 11 countries, with most of his career focused on the tourism industry. Philip is an industry representative to the Deputy Minister’s Advisory Council, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Currently, he is an advisory member of the Labour Market Information Council and the Future Skills Centre Research Advisory Board. Philip is the recipient of Ryerson’s Ted Rogers Industry Award.

Session #4 Foreign Qualification Recognition

Angelika Valchar - Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society

Farahnaz Afaq - Recognition Counts - SEED Winnipeg

Credential Evaluation, Where to Start? (Angelika Valchar)

This quick presentation by Angelika Valchar will focus on the practical tips and foundation of what each Career Practitioner in the industry should know and be aware of when supporting internationally trained professionals (ITP’s). It will provide understanding of where to start, required documentation by foreign credential offices/regulatory bodies, working with clients; resources and advocating on clients’ behalf. The presentation is not intended to provide in depth processes of foreign credentialing.

Integrating Skilled Immigrants into the Canadian Workforce (Farahnaz Afaq)

Skilled immigrants face labor market integration challenges because their credentials are not recognized in Canada. Foreign credential recognition is a complex and a time-consuming process that adds extra stress on international trained profession’s settlement experience. However, with intensive and holistic supports the process can become less stressful. Learn about innovative loan programs and grants in Manitoba and BC that can ease the integration process and help potential candidates reach their career goals.

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Angelika Valchar

Over the past two decades, Angelika Valchar has worked in the employment & settlement sector with larger and smaller organizations, supporting newcomers in the process of labour market adaptation and integration. She worked with numerous employment contracts funded by both federal and provincial departments. These would include Employment Assisted Services, WORK BC, Skills Connect, Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants, Job Options BC and Job Ready and many other pilot projects in the employment sector. Over the years she worked closely with many employers to find and appreciate the diverse set of skills many newcomers bring with them. She supported many local employers to understand the cultural differences, worked with many organizations on adaptation/inclusion processes, provided input and advocacy to many newcomers in their foreign credentials processes and new work environments. Angelika is a certified Career Development Practitioner and her background includes Diploma in Disability Management, Non-profit Management from Simon Fraser University and many other PD certifications.

Farahnaz Afaq

Farahnaz, in June 2022 started working as a Community Outreach Coordinator for Recognition Counts Program at SEED Winnipeg (stands for Supporting Employment & economic Development). Farahnaz’s academic background is in Mathematics, Economics and Middle Eastern and North African Studies. Where her quest for academic advancement has taken her from Afghanistan to Pakistan, the UK, and the USA. As a refugee herself, Farahnaz understands the challenges refugees, immigrants and newcomers go through in order to settle down in their new homes. She is passionate about being part of empowering newcomers and helping them to flourish in their new communities. Farahnaz’s career in finance started in 2018 when she sought asylum in Winnipeg. As a number lover, Farahnaz has helped hundreds of Winnipeg community members and families establish their finances to become independent financially and achieve their short and long-term goals.

Session #5 - Housing challenges and opportunities

Codi Guenther, Executive Director, New Journey Housing

Joy Escalera, Operations Director, Westman Immigration Services

Housing Challenges and Possible Solution for Newcomers to Canada (Codi Guenther)

Finding good quality and affordable housing is a challenge – a HUGE challenge! This is made even harder if you are looking for housing as a newcomer to Canada. The tight rental market means rents have increased and there are many applications for one single unit. Rents have increased while fixed incomes and wages have remained stagnant. New Journey Housing is a housing resource centre for newcomers that is based in Winnipeg, MB. NJH provides services to teach newcomers about rental rules and responsibilities, connects with landlords and advocates for clients as they deal with housing issues. Join this session to learn more about what we offer at NJH and how it might be able to support your clients as they try to access housing.

Assisting Newcomers Find their New Homes in Rural Area (Joy Escalera)

Finding a new home for newcomers is not always easy, especially when ensuring safety, affordability and accessibility. There are some barriers that newcomers face in finding a secure long-term housing that service providers like us assist them with. Being in a rural area has its advantages and disadvantages. SPOs are always faced with challenges in finding appropriate supports making them become more ingenious in their approaches.

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Codi Gunther

Codi Guenther is the Executive Director of New Journey Housing (NJH). Codi started with NJH since its inception in 2009 and has held multiple roles throughout the organization. NJH is a housing resource centre for newcomers to Canada – providing information, trainings and guidance that helps newcomers access housing that fits their needs. NJH is based in Winnipeg, MB but also partners with newcomer serving agencies that are outside the city. Codi also serves on the board of directors with MANSO (MB Association of newcomer serving organizations) and is actively involved in the Right to Housing coalition.

Joy Escalera

Joy Escalera is currently the Operations Director Westman Immigrant Services (WIS). She has been with WIS for 11 years now and oversees the various programs and services WIS offers including housing, settlement, resettlement assistance program; youth, family and senior programs, childcare, case management, interpretation services, employment, volunteer, group orientations, and language programs. She volunteers in the community as a member of the board of Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba, and YWCA of Brandon. She is happily married with three children.

Day 2

Session # 2 Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus)

Natasha Beg, Assistant Director, Settlement and Integration Policy, IRCC

Julie Schoenherr, Senior Policy Advisor, Settlement and Integration Policy, IRCC

Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) helps us to consider the impact of different identities, backgrounds and experiences of individuals who interact with IRCC to develop more effective and inclusive policies and programs. This method helps us ask questions, challenge assumptions, identify and understand actual and potential impacts of IRCC policies, programs, and practices on diverse groups of people.

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Session # 3 - Best practices in Welcome Centres

Anila Umar Lee Yuen, President and CEO - Centre for Newcomers

Steve Reynolds - Regional Connections

CFN Community Hub, a prototype for the Calgary Newcomers Collaborative (Anila Umar Lee Yuen)

This presentation will speak to the cultural transformation amongst settlement agencies in Calgary, where client-centric, collaborative solutions, built on open communication and trust are created together.

Coordinating Services and Developing Local Partnerships – the Regional Connections Experience (Steve Reynolds)

Regional Connections Immigrant Services is a rural Manitoba settlement service provider. Having developed a multi-site model with outreach services, this presentation will highlight: our experience building a one-stop-shop Welcome Centre model in multiple communities; partnering and collaborating at the local level; and our current efforts to extend services to smaller communities and regions.

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