The Annual State of Immigration and Settlement Year 2: Edmonton City Council Report
Abstract
The following report continues on Community and Public Services Committee’s request for information on trends, issues and concerns from Edmonton’s newcomer, refugee and mmigrant communities; The Annual State of Immigration and Settlement – Year 2 report builds upon the first year report that was presented at the August 25, 2021, Community and Public Services Committee meeting, Citizen Services report CR_7720.
● The report builds upon foundational elements in the Year 1 report such as the
Multidimensional Immigrant Model and Cultural Wealth Model and adds new employment and education themes.
● The report creates a holistic picture of the resilience of ethno-cultural communities, agencies and other stakeholders who support newcomers, refugees and migrants while narrating the challenges many face as they make Edmonton their new home.
● Ideas under consideration to include in the Year 3 report included the private sponsorship system, migrants with precarious status and building upon policy implications and actions from Year 1 and Year 2 reports.
Notes
Future research / gaps identified: Ideas under consideration to include in the Year 3 report included the private sponsorship system, migrants with precarious status and building upon policy implications and actions from Year 1 and Year 2 reports.
Integration timeline: not defined
Location: Edmonton, AB
Community organizations: Edmonton City Council
Key findings:
1) The City of Edmonton frames the state of immigration and settlement through 2 theoretical models: the Multidimensional Immigrant Model, and the Cultural Wealth Model.
2) The Cultural Wealth Model helps employers see the value of experience newcomers offer in terms of employment criteria. Many newcomers arrive with multiple assets, including social capital, linguistic, navigational and aspiration capital, skills and acumen that are highly valuable to employers and the Canadian workforce.
3) 1 in 4 Edmonton school students is a newcomer. In 30 years, that number will be closer to 1 in 2. Both Edmonton Public Schools and Edmonton Catholic School Division have published anti-racism action plans, recognizing the genuine and urgent need to address equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility in schools.
Key populations: newcomers in Edmonton
Key recommendations: n/a
Open access: Yes