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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, Simon Fraser University’s (SFU) Bridge Program, which helps newcomer youth in Canada adapt to their new surroundings and set meaningful goals for their future, took on both common and unique challenges. Rachel Nelson, an associate director at the Office of Community Engagement (OEC) at SFU, who helps lead…
Immigrants have been an integral part of Canada’s mosaic cultural landscape for a very long time, and recently, innovative researchers have been asking some thoughtful new questions about the immigrant experience in the last few decades. How have changes and challenges in the new environment impacted their psychological wellbeing? How can policies help immigrants to…
Cultural disorientation can inflict strain on personal relationships, says Pooja Tuli, a certified intercultural competence facilitator and a mental health first-aider. “Couples often see that they are slowly moving away from their traditional cultural roles and adapting to the Canadian lifestyle,” says Tuli, who also has an academic background including psychology and sociology. She is…
In these uncertain times, it can seem overwhelming trying to keep track of the constant changes in rules and regulations set out by the province. However, for some, this task becomes increasingly difficult when language and systemic barriers are also at play. MOSAIC, one of the largest settlement and employment agencies in the country, has…
New research shows social circles of visible minority youth grow less diverse over time. Sean Lauer of the UBC Department of Sociology and Miu Chung Yan of the UBC School of Social Work published their findings on the social circles of minority youth in the Ethnic and Racial Studies journal. The study analyzed data from…
An upcoming two-part exhibition with a focus on its surrounding community, A Seat at the Table takes both a historical and a contemporary look at the stories of Chinese Canadians in BC. The exhibition, a collaboration between the Museum of Vancouver and the University of British Columbia, aims for a more dynamic way of engaging…
When Vancouver’s Mayor Gregor Robertson and the city council headed off to Chinatown on April 22, 2018 to deliver a formal apology to the Chinese Canadian community for Vancouver’s history of exclusionary laws and legalized racism, it left a legacy. The apology itself was symbolic as Vancouver’s leaders left their seat of power at city…
Surrey-based non-profit organization DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society empowers newcomers and other diverse communities to build the life they want in Canada. Through efforts like the recent Bundle Up Campaign which provided warm clothes, food staples and more for local refugee families, it champions diversity and inclusion for all, with a clear message: everyone belongs here.…
Although Canadians are increasingly connected via media and social experience, people frequently find themselves separated by both language and political ideals. Enter Diversity Votes, a website and media initiative that aims to educate the general public about the demographic, economic and social characteristics affecting electoral strategies, increase the accountability of regional and national media sources…
Through her work Sandra Schinnerl observed that, despite policy changes that should have eased the transition, international students were often having difficulties finding opportunities to become permanent residents. “Given my experience as a practitioner in the international education field, I wish to share my knowledge of theories of immigration and policy formation in a way…
Despite having a Bachelor’s degree in business administration (BA) from India, Priti Shah’s early experiences in the job market inspired her to rethink her path. She recently started a consulting company, Drishti Consulting, to further aid new citizens. In the past, she worked with numerous organizations, winning awards for her involvement. Working in Canada In…
UBC Public Scholars Award recipient Bronwyn Bragg worked with immigrant and refugee communities as a community-based researcher in Calgary before returning to school to complete her PhD in human geography. Her current research findings may shed light on how immigration policy can affect the successful resettlement of Syrian refugees in the Lower Mainland. Through her…
Sina Yetbarek and her family arrived in Canada just over four years ago from Uganda. “World Refugee Day is a day to raise awareness of the aspects and challenges of what a refugee goes through before becoming a refugee, during, and when they arrive to the new country by starting a new life all over…
