Key recommendations

• Try to mitigate bias due to lack of “Canadian experience”, as well as recognize foreign credentials in hiring processes
• Increase information dissemination to increase awareness for newcomer services, as well as increase information to friends and family of newcomers
• Increase hours for service delivery through virtual formats, while looking into how to mitigate the gap this would cause for individuals with difficulty accessing virtual programs
• Increase service distribution to SE Calgary, as newcomers in this quadrant of Calgary do not access newcomer services as frequently

Key populations

Newcomers to Calgary

Key findings

• Most participants’ main source of information immediately after immigration is through family and friends
• Over two thirds of immigrants arriving in Calgary have a university education
• Almost half (46%) of participants did not use settlement services, but only one quarter of participants heard about settlement services through IRCC in Canada, and racialized newcomers had more difficulty accessing these services
• Participants that used settlement services believed they were helpful, though not aimed towards highly skilled workers particularly, and a third of participants believed it was not culturally sensitive
• The pandemic increased barriers for certain individuals, due to lack of multiple computers, or a strong internet connection

Gaps identified

• Further research into information received by agencies, as conflicting information has resulted in some confusion for newcomers
• Look into how differing ethnic and racial background impacts service accessibility

Community organizations

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• City of Calgary

Integration timeline

Location

• Calgary
• Alberta

Open-access – Yes