march 31, 2016 - april 1, 2017 community achievement...
TRANSCRIPT
1 | P a g e
March 31, 2016 - April 1, 2017
Prepared by: Huda Hussein
London & Middlesex Local Immigration
Partnership
Community Achievement Report
2 | P a g e
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. The London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership - Who We Are .......................... 3
II. Our Community’s Strategic Priorities ................................................................................. 4
Welcoming community ................................................................................................. 4
Communication and access to information ................................................................. 5
Supports and services for immigrants .......................................................................... 5
Coordination and collaboration .................................................................................... 6
Reduction of systemic barriers ..................................................................................... 6
III. Our Ongoing Commitment ................................................................................................. 7
IV. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................... 8
V. Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 8
Appendix A: LMLIP Council Members ..................................................................................... 9
Appendix B: Other Participants ............................................................................................. 10
Appendix C: Participating Organizations & Associations ...................................................... 13
3 | P a g e
I. The London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership: (LMLIP) Who We Are
Funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Established in September 2009
Guided by a Central Council and six issue specific Sub-councils which were formed in
February 2010
Supported through the work of 140 volunteers who are actively involved with the LMLIP
Central Council, six Sub-councils and the working groups with 2,926.5 hours of contribution
in addition to 432.5 hours by individuals who participated in our events this year.
LMLIP is supported by the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, the Association of Municipalities
of Ontario (AMO), service providers, associations and interested citizens.
Our vision is a client centred approach that includes and works with immigrants to enhance their
successful integration into Canadian society.
In May 2016, the third LMLIP Strategic Plan 2016-2019, was completed and shared with our funder and the community. This report highlights the implementation of the first annual work plans to advance a number of strategies from the third strategic plan.
4 | P a g e
II. Our Community’s Strategic Priorities
For the next three years, the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership will be guided by the
following overarching strategic priorities:
The following section highlights some of the projects and initiatives coordinated and facilitated by
LMLIP Central Council and the six issue-specific Sub-councils in the community:
Welcoming community
Organized LMLIP Day of Learning: Building a Welcoming Community for Immigrants to London &
Middlesex and identified stakeholders who could become involved in creating a more
welcoming community for immigrants in London and Middlesex. The session also helped LMLIP
to develop an action plan for creating a more welcoming community.
Met with system partners, namely, City of London, Police Services, Fire Department, London
Public Library, Thames Valley District School Board, London District Catholic School Board,
Conseil scolaire catholique Providence, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, and Children’s Aid Society.
Updates were provided to them on the community’s response to the influx of Syrian refugees,
shared best practices in terms of breaking barriers of integration for immigrants and provided
information on the needs and opportunities for immigrants.
Welcoming community
Communication and access to information
Coordination and
collaboration
Supports and
services for immigrants
Reduction of
systemic barriers
5 | P a g e
In partnership with the Opening Doors Project, Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto, London Public Library, and My Sister’s Place, coordinated the delivery of two Opening Doors Sessions on Anti-Racism 101 and Bridging the Gap: Generation & Immigration to enhance support for service providers and immigrants.
Coordinated a session on the 2016 Census to strengthen community engagement at all levels, in partnership with the City of London
Partnered with Pathways to Prosperity, Western University to organize the Annual Journeys of Migration, which was attended by close to 150 individuals. Presenters at the session included a new comer family from Syria and the group of five who sponsored the family
Participated in the Faith and Settlement Partnerships Study: Setting Immigrants and Canada up for Success, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). The project is led by the Centre for Community Based Research and included the local immigration partnerships from Waterloo, Peel, and Toronto Newcomer Office as well as faith groups and two universities.
Communication and access to information
Presented the LMLIP 2016-2019 Strategic Plan to the Community & Protective Services Committee, the City of London; Middlesex County Council, the Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Oppression Advisory Committee (formerly known as the London Diversity Race and Relations Advisory Committee - LDRAAC), Congress of Black Women in Canada, and Francophone services in London.
Provided information to faith groups across the City on opportunities for engagement and job positions to share with their parishioners.
Organized meetings with five faith groups. Briefed them on the role of LMLIP in supporting them, with information, as they help their sponsored families to settle.
Supports and services for immigrants
Facilitated the translation of the housing video, which provides information to first time renters, into Arabic, French and Spanish along with the sub-titles. The YMCA Western Ontario provided funding.
Coordinated the delivery of two sessions for new immigrants seeking opportunities in starting their businesses, in collaboration with Adult Education, Thames Valley District School Board, the Small Business Centre, Scotia Bank, Royal Bank, London Public Library, the City of London, The Business Help Centre Middlesex County, and Accounting Services and Collins Barrow. The sessions were attended by 84 immigrants. Established business owners from the immigrant community shared their stories of success
6 | P a g e
Coordinated the delivery of two sessions for residents on some aspects of the justice system in
partnership with a grassroot community group. A total of 100 residents attended.
Coordinated the delivery of forty sessions on services and programs to adult language learners
at the Language Instruction sites for newcomers to Canada.
Coordination and collaboration
In partnership with the Community Engaged Learning (CEL) Program, Western University,
completed an annotated bibliography on research done on developing leadership among
immigrants. The bibliography provides valuable research work to further engage immigrants.
New partnership established with the Réseau-femmes du sud-ouest de l’Ontario to explore
opportunities of collaboration. The Réseau-femmes now serves on the LMLIP Settlement Sub-
council.
Coordinated an information session for private sponsors who are coming to the end of their
sponsorship agreements and new sponsors in collaboration with, the London Cross Cultural
Learner Centre. Ninety individuals, including private sponsors from St. Thomas, attended.
In collaboration with the YMCA Western Ontario and South London Neighourhood Resource
Centre, organized A Day of Learning and A Day of Wellness for staff employed by agencies
funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The two-day sessions were
funded by IRCC and Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).
Facilitated a new partnership between South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre, Youth
Program and students from Huron University College. This partnership will allow an informal
mentorship program between university students and immigrant youth who are in their final
year of high school.
Réseau de soutien à l’immigration francophone du Centre-Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario (RIF) provides
monthly updates at the Central Council meetings.
LMLIP is represented on the Francophone Local Immigration Committee of London
Reduction of systemic barriers
Participated in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Parliamentary Secretary’s Roundtable and provided input with regard to immigration and challenges that immigrants face.
Participated at the meeting hosted by IRCC for agencies and organizations funded by IRCC and provided input to the identified actions to further assist reducing barriers to integration.
Participated at the Community Engagement Meeting for Newcomers and multicultural groups held by Museum London and provided input on how immigrants and newcomers may use space and access programs at the Museum.
7 | P a g e
LMLIP provided input to the planning process for the London Immigration Strategy.
Delivered a poster presentation of the position paper, “Speaking Freely: A Case for Professional Health Interpretation in London, Ontario” to highlight the value of professional interpretation in a medical setting, at the Annual Pathways to Prosperity Conference.
8 | P a g e
III: Our Ongoing Commitment
In this reporting year, the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership completed its third
strategic plan. For the next three years, under the guidance of the following overarching priorities,
the Central Council and the six issue-specific Sub-councils, in collaboration with the community, will
continue to:
engage school-based parent groups to include immigrants;
educate the host community and stakeholders about immigrants’ contributions and issues
related to their integration;
raise immigrants’ awareness about resources and accessibility;
celebrate and recognize employers and immigrants who have successfully engaged in
offering and securing meaningful employment; and,
educate immigrants about opportunities of entrepreneurship.
Welcoming community: The
London and Middlesex community appreciates diversity and actively supports
immigrants. All residents have a positive attitude
toward and, awareness and
understanding of the need to engage in the
full participation of immigrants into
Canadian society.
Communication and access to information:
Communication between and among Central Council, Sub-councils, all levels of
government, the community, service
providers and immigrants is easily accessible, timely, clear and relevant.
Coordination and collaboration:
Maximized outcomes for immigrants are
achieved by improved coordination and
collaboration among all service providers.
Supports and services for immigrants:
Immigrants have increased access to
supports and services to ensure they can
fully and successfully participate in the
community.
Reduction of systemic barriers: All levels of government, funders and institutions are engaged in order to reduce the existing
systemic barriers that impede immigrants’
ability to successfully participate in the
community.
9 | P a g e
IV: Conclusion
LMLIP Council and the six issue-specific Sub-councils will draft their second year annual
implementation plans and coordinate the execution of their action plans in collaboration with the
community. Recommendations from the LMLIP’s Day of Learning will be reviewed and Council will
explore opportunities with existing initiatives and other resources in the city, to implement and or
support actions that align with the LMLIP Strategic Plan 2016-2019.
LMLIP will continue to consult with the community and establish new partnerships to facilitate the
integration of immigrants in London and Middlesex.
In this reporting year, our webpage received 3,170 visits, with 2,510 unique visits. The 10 top
countries who visited our webpage are, Canada, United States, India, the United Kingdom, Saudi
Arabia, Brazil, Thailand, Bosnia Herzegovina, Belgium and Pakistan.
LMLIP will continue to reach out to both settlement and non-settlement sectors to engage them in
the process of welcoming immigrants and developing a greater understanding of their issues and
ways to address them.
V: Acknowledgements
We sincerely acknowledge our funder, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for their
continued financial support.
LMLIP success is attributed to the support and contributions of the following:
The City of London for their leadership and continued support; The members of the LMLIP Central Council and its working groups; Sub-councils and their
working groups; and participants who attended, coordinated and promoted LMLIP events (Appendix A and B); and,
The generous in-kind contributions of organizations and associations (Appendix C).
10 | P a g e
Appendix A: LMLIP Council Members
Ayan Aden
Sonali Advani
Faranak Aeeni
Dr. Mohamed Al-Adeimi
Dr. Saad Aldin
Dr. Asmaa Al-Joudy
Theresa Allott
Pauline Andrew
Rose Aquino
Josh Archer
Robin Armistead
Sahar Atalla
Nazia Bano
Kelly Barnes
Jean-Marc Boisvenue
Katy Boychuk
Jean-Pierre Cantin
Sheila Carson
Robert Collins
Ashanti Cooray
Gerardo Crasto
Tam Dam
Christelle Desforges
Wilma de Rond
Arthur D’Souza
Maria D’Souza
Xiaoxiao Du
Abbey Duggal
Melanie Elms
Noha Elsheikh
Mayssa El Sayegh
Ana Enriquez-Johnson
Dr. Victoria Esses
Sheila Foster
Svetlana Galynskaya
Susannah Gergich
Mahin Ghasemiyani
Rita Giroux-Patience
Kim Godin
Heather Harder
Craig Harper
Anna Hendrikx
Francis J. Hinnah
Doreen Hodgkinson
Jennifer Hollis
Cindy Howard
Suzanne Huot
Rifat Hussain
Taghrid Hussain
Huda Hussein
Jo-Ann Hutchison
Cecilia Inguanse
Rick Jefferson
Hanaa Khair
Kate Kennedy
Heather Kipp
Maureen Kirwin
Dharshi Lacey
Gabrielle Laurin
Yvonne Lindsay
Christina Lord
Emily Low
Ramona Lucan
Dr. Gaston Mabaya
Karen Macari
Hanein Madlol
Michele Manocchi
Valerian Marochko
Patricia Mazariegos
Janet McAllister
Cathy McLandress
Nancy McQuillan
Yenny Medina
Sara Middleton
Barbara Milanovic
Kathy Milczarek
Dr. Beth Mitchell
Ayshin Mousavi
Speciose Mukakamanzi
Phillipa Myers
Lissette Ochoa
Helen Patterson
Karen Pennesi
Bill Pigram
Simon Pont
Janet Pinder
Naeem Qureshi
Amani Radhaa
Roxanne Riddell
Jacquie Rumiel
Carlos Saakan
Dr. Dev Sainani
Sara Salem
Jayne Scarterfield
Bharati Sethi
Nassisse Solomon
Sharon St. Amour
Jill Tansley
Denise Taylor-Edwards
Dr. Shelly Taylor
Nimmi Thind
Clint Thomson
Jan Tomlinson
Maria Vasquez
Corinne Walsh
Janice Walter
Elisabeth White
Amy Wilkinson
Lana Winchester-Tucker
Joe Winser
Martin Withenshaw
Ahmed Yahya Ali
Melinda Zack
11 | P a g e
Appendix B: Other Participants
Ahmed Abazed
Malek Abazed
Muriel Abbott
Susan Abdula
Rana Abdulghaffar
Rana Abouzeeni
John Anagnostou
Kashif Ahmed
Dania Ajami
Murad Akhmedov
Hanadi Akkad
Ashna Ali
Rajaa Al-Abed
Ali Al Ajeb
Mohammad Al Akrad
Mohammad Kheir AlHamad
Ahmed Alhout
Nedal Aijaaouni
Suzanne Aljabsani
Bachar Alolabi
Saleh Althamena
Bashar Altaweel
Osam Ali-Ozkan
Anne Alton
Heather Andrade
Sarah Andrews
Anne Marie Apau
Jennifer Artan
Eric Arellano
Ibrahim Ashour
Mohamad Assaf
Zahra Assaf
Fadwa Ayayda
Michelle Barkley
Jutta Zeller-Beier
Lesley Bell
Juan Bello
Melanie Bertens
Mary Catherine Bishop
Charity Born
John Bouma
Tim Bourgard
Lisa Boyko
Mohammed Bouchi
Sukhi Brar
Ruth Bullas
Nicole Buteau
Tes Buzamlak
Alanna Cameron
Marie-Pier Cantin
Marc Carruthers
Leah Cartan
Jen Carter
Councillor Maureen
Cassidy
Kirsti Cheese
Kienan Chong
Zeina Choucair
Jennifer Chung
Kelly Cipriani
Mackenzie Clements
Marilyn Cook
Tully Cogswell
Lynn Collins
David Cottrill
Ryan Craven
Riley Culhane
Rose Damen
Lisseth D'Andrea
Saousan Daouk
Sandra Datars Bere
Robin Destun
Aina DeViet
Mirlande Dickinson
Janice Dolliver
Carolyn Doyle
Tracy Drenth
Lynette D’Souza
Mohamed Dukhan
Jamie Duncan
Mary Jo Dunlop
Nassma E
Hosain Ebad
Laure Eldik
Sabrine Elejel
Noureddine El Askar
Dina El Henaway
Lina El-Kassem
Mary Lee Felder
Maria Forte
Sabrina Fracassi
Claire Francoeur
Jacqueline Fraser
Leslie Garrett
Laurence Ghobrial
Dhira Ghosh
Hanan Gindi
Jennifer Glenn
Ben Goes
Michael Goodmurphy
Timothy Gopaul
Tracey Gordon
Myrian Goyes
Aaron Guo
Sue Haber
12 | P a g e
Moustafa Haddara
Mudrika Hamou
Yousef Hatoum
Lisa Harness
Nada Hashem
Nadim Abo Hassan
Kerry Hendricks
Lamia Herzallah
Jacquie Hicks
Natalie Hleba
Wincy Ho
Jacqueline Hoekstra
Madilyn Hughes
Melissa Hughes
Bisan Hussein
Sherin Hussien
Linda Imrie
Lamia Itani
Sandy Jansen
Sanni Jaotombo
Tristan Johnson
Anne Jorna
Ahamadi Khaladi
Sabeel Khan
Saleha Khan
Martina Kaiser
Ariel Kayabaga
Margaret Kendall
Joan Kicks
Cynthia Konnerth
Pierce Knezic
Alexandra Kotyk
Guifang Lan
Kapil Lakhotia
Paul Levac
Jodi Lewis
Snjezana Linkes
Kethika Logon
Munira Lokhandwala
Arla Longhurst
Gary Longhurst
Pablo Lozano
Devinder Luthra
Darlene Mackenzie
Brett Mckenzie
Amal Mahmoud
Jack Malkin
Xavier Manga
Janice Marchant
Marcel Marcellin
Didier Marotte
Derek Martin
Jo-Elle Mazur
Cornelie Mbaya
Kathryn McCulloch
Stewart McIntyre
Sarah McKay
Brett Mckenzie
Brian McLaughlin
Glen McLeod
Mary Ann McLeod
Selvin Mejia
Rachel Merrill
Dean Michelson
Linda Micallef
Mary Ann Molloy
Antoinette Monardo
Laszlo Morar
Essad Muhammet
John Murch
Caitlin Murphy
Nicole Musicco
Peninah Mutinda
Zahra Naqvi
Gabriel Ndayishimiye
Emily Nguyen
Imad Noureddin
Jennifer O’Brien
Melanie O'Brien
Lesley Oliver
Gabrielle Sanio-Oneill
Tessa Parkes
Dana Patton
Joy Petersen
Victoria Pilon
Hoby Tahosy
Radaniarison
Suzanne Rajeh
Erick Ramirez
Neevita Rathee
Marlene Be
Razafindravola
Mark Richardson
Elisabete Rodrigues
Questyn Rodriguez
Ana Rojas
Vince Romeo
Deborah Rosehart
Charlene Saade
Amir Saeidi
Lana Salih
Erin Salter
Alberto Sanchez
Lori Baldwin Sands
Michele Sands
Don Scanlon
Gabrielle Schotter
Matthew Seguin
Artem Serkov
Chen Shi
Diana Sierra
George Sinclair
Phil Singeris
Bryn Smith
Kelly Smith
Tim Smuck
Trask Swanson-Spoor
Brooke Southcote
Rob Stainton
Jennifer Strong
13 | P a g e
Arien Tahir
Amanda Tezucano
Arlene Thompson
Sally Thomson
B. Tibasima
Olga Tischenko
Christine Troughton
Michelle Truppe
Suzanne Vandervoort
Alex van der Wal
Giselle Varrilas
MP Karen Vecchio
Cindy Viner
Jennifer Vong
Alyson Walker
Andrew Walsh
Osama Watad
Terry Webb
April White
Nathan Wilcox
Margaret Wilkinson
Gary Williams
Steve Williams
Ailene Wittstein
Emily Wood
Judy Wright
Matthew Wynn
Ghada Yahia
Duaa Yahya
Basel Yazbek
Rebecca Ye
Abdul Younes
Alyssa Young
Sandra Zarate
14 | P a g e
Appendix C: Participating Organizations & Associations
Access Centre for Regulated Employment
ACFO de London Sarnia
Anglican Deanery
Across Languages
African Canadian Federation of London & Area
Addiction Services of Thames Valley
Artemis Group
Brescia University College
Byron United Church
Canadian Mental Health Association
Canada Revenue Agency
Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
Cheshire London
Childreach Centre
Children’s Aid Society of London & Middlesex
Collège Boréal
Collins Barrow
Community Employment Choices
Community Living London
Centre communautaire régional de London
Congress of Black Women of Canada
Conseil scolaire Viamonde
Conseil scolaire catholique Providence
Culture Office, City of London
Culture Works
Ed Corrigan Law
Elgin Middlesex Oxford Workforce Planning & Development Board
Elizabeth Frye Society
Entité de planification des servives de santé en français
Ethno-cultural Council of London
Family Service Thames Valley
Fanshawe College
Forest Community Church
International and Exchange Student Centre, Western University
Investing in Children
Islamic Centre of Southwestern Ontario
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
MP Irene Matthysen’s office
John Howard Society of London & District
Kala Manjari
MP Kate Young’s office
King’s University College
London Cross Cultural Learner Centre
London Deanery
London District Catholic School Board
London Economic Development Corporation
London Employment Help Centre
London Fire Department
London Health Sciences Centre
London Heritage Council
London Intercommunity Health Centre
London Middlesex Immigrant Employment Council
London Multicultural Association
London Muslim Mosque
London Police Service
London Public Library
London Small Business Centre
LUSO Community Services
Merrymount Children’s
Centre
Middlesex County
Middlesex-London Health Unit
Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration
Newcomer Settlement Services, South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre
Neighbourhood Watch
15 | P a g e
Networking for an Inclusive
Community
North Park Church
Ontario Ministry of Citizenship
& Immigration
Or Shalom Congregation
Osama Watad Barrister
Pathways Skill Development
Pathways to Prosperity, Western University
Perth Care for Kids
Pillar Non-Profit Network
Place Concorde
Platinum Leadership Inc.
Research Library Services and Business Connector, City of London
Réseau de soutien à l'immigration francophone Centre-Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario
Réseau-femmes du sud-ouest de l'Ontario
Rogers TV
Royal Bank of Canada
Scotiabank
Siloam United Church
Sixth Line Creative
Somali Association of London
South London Neighbour- hood Resource Centre
St. George’s Church
St. John the Evangelist Church
St. Justin’s Church
St. Michael’s Church
Syrian Canadian Council
Thames Valley Children's Centre
Thames Valley District School Board
The Business Help Centre (CFDC) of Middlesex County
The Healthline and Information London
Tim Hortons
United Way London & Middlesex
Valleyview Mennonite Church
Wesley-Knox United Church
Western University Canada
WIL Employment Connections
Women’s Community House
YMCA of Western Ontario
Youth Opportunities Unlimited