bringing people and communities together

2015/2016

Annual Report1 PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada Board of Directors 2015/2016 49 Water Street Shawn Murphy, President Ali Assadi Shawn Murphy Craig Mackie Charlottetown, PE C1A 1A3 Joe Zhang, Vice President Jim Hornby Phone: (902) 628-6009 Kaitlyn Angus, Secretary Jolene Chan President of the Board Executive Director Fax: (902) 894-4928 Julius Patkai, Treasurer Laura Lee Howard Email: [email protected] Mitch Cobb The PEI Association for Newcom- We have lived through a most Website: www.peianc.com Selvi Roy Tina Saksida ers to Canada just fi nished what I extraordinary year. PEIANC wel- would call an extremely busy, suc- comed over 1500 new clients to cessful, and exciting year. Looking PEI this fi scal year, helped more back, we have to ask ourselves, immigrants get jobs, and saw a “How did we get through it all?” fantastic increase in the number During the fi scal year, 2015-16, of volunteers who help with our our number of clients increased work. It was a year of awesome and the entire Association was eff ort and achievement by all of involved in the Syrian Refugee the staff at PEIANC. The growth in Welcome Program. This was a tremendous eff ort by all our overall immigration in PEI, coupled with the Syrian refugee staff and many, many volunteers. arrivals, and the population of PEI’s increased interest in all things refugee and immigrant, made this the Association’s PEI is becoming a more diverse society and this is of busiest year ever. defi nite benefi t to our economy, our social education, and our culture. The Association’s staff and volunteers are From that day in September 2015 when the tragic picture involved in supporting our changing world, and PEIANC is of little Alan Kurdi on the beach woke Canadians up to indeed an exciting place. the most disastrous refugee situation since the Second World War, followed in November by the new federal PEIANC continues to enjoy good relations with our major government announcing their intention to bring 25,000 funding stakeholders; the Government of Canada, and the Syrian refugees to Canada, the PEI Association for Government of Prince Edward Island, and I want to thank Newcomers to Canada moved into action. Government, them for their support. In terms of our Board, I extend community groups, individuals, and media looked to thanks to Mitch Cobb for his many years of service, and I PEIANC for information and leadership, and we delivered. Table of Contents welcome Tina Saksida, Rachel Murphy, and Arnold Croken to the table. I thank all Board Members for their continued Within weeks, PEI received 181 Syrian refugees. Together President’s Message 3 The Welcome Project 12 dedication to this organization. with community and sponsorship groups, we provided a welcoming and safe place. It was an outstanding achieve- Executive Director’s Message 3 Cross-Cultural Inclusion 14 After fi ve years as a member, and three as President of ment and we feel proud to have played such an important the Association, I left the Board in September of this year. Integrated Settlement 4 Newcomer Children and Youth 16 part in this historic initiative. Employment Services 6 A Welcoming Island 18 I loved the role but every organization must renew and reinvigorate itself, and I very much want that process to We look forward to continuing to support the large num- Provincial Immigration Partnership 9 Community Outreach 20 continue under the new Board leadership of Julius Patkai. bers of immigrants arriving over the coming years—peo- ple who are critical to the future of our Province. We look Community Engagement 10 Funders and Finance 22 I will remain a committed volunteer and an advocate for forward to building on our partnerships and to continuing the Association. Thanks to everyone for this tremendous to bring people and communities together to help make experience, which I will forever cherish. PEI a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive place.

This report covers the period from April 1st, 2015 to March 31st, 2016 2 3 OUR VISION OUR MISSION Intake and Referral Services Before accessing settlement services from PEIANC, newcomers must register. Intake Workers complete a needs as- We see PEI as a welcoming, respectful, and The PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada brings

sessment for each family member, determine eligibility for services and programs, and refer clients to appropriate inte inclusive community that supports newcomers people and communities together by providing resources within PEIANC and the wider community. as full members of society and values their settlement services and fostering contributions. inclusion and integration. Intake for the period from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016 – Total: 1,520 clients g rated settlement Number of registered clients by Number of registered clients by Refugees welcomed to PEI country of origin immigration category refugees assisted by 201 RAP and Settlement staff Other four immigration categories (0.8%) information sessions delivered by 8 Skilled Workers (1%) Canadian Life Skills Family Class (1.4%) Canadian Citizens (3.4%) Bhutan countries of origin 23.8% Other 71 countries 5.9% Visitor Visa Holders Burundi rated settlement Iraq 8.2% Work Permit Holders g Nepal Israel (1.4%) Somalia Italy (1.6%) India (1.8%) 9.7% Study Permit Holders Sudan United States (1.9%) Syria Egypt (2%) inte The Al Rashdan family, Amjad (and his wife, Ghouson, 2.6% Vietnam 3.8% Philippines not present in photo) and their children Basel, right, 15.6% Refugees and Refugee Dependants Shatha, middle, and Idress on the left, were the fi rst 13.8% Syria Syrian Government Assisted Refugee family to arrive Over this reporting period, on PEI on December 28, 2015. there were 1,520 new clients All RAP clients receive information from PEIANC staff from 81 countries who about topics such as: Canadian culture, budgeting and registered with PEIANC. banking, Waste Watch, parenting norms in Canada, nutrition, fi re safety, what to do in an emergency, pub- 54% Provincial Nominees 47.3% People’s Republic of China lic and other transportation, Canadian law, education system, prenatal care, apartment living, and more. This information, delivered within the fi rst 6-8 weeks of settlement, helps new refugees to understand their Early in 2016 the Confederation Centre of the Arts sponsored a group of Language Referrals Newcomer Settlement Services (NSS) Syrian girls and their mothers to see Anne of Green Gables for the fi rst new home, and to feel comfortable on Prince Edward Learning English continues to be a high priority for Newcomer Settlement Services workers provide as- time. Island. newcomers needing to do so. This fi scal year PEIANC sistance with orientation, translation, interpretation, Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) made a total of 550 referrals for language training to access to services such as immunization programs This program is designed to meet initial settlement needs for Government Assisted Refugees (GARs). the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada and other medical services, and will make referrals to, It is delivered in the 6-8 weeks after their arrival in Prince Edward Island. Services include: temporary (LINC) training institutes: 166 to Study Abroad Can- and act as liaison with, community services and gov- accommodations, an initial assessment, and the delivery of orientation and needed information in order to ada, 358 to Holland College, and 26 to the on-line ernment programs. NSS clients include temporary begin the resettlement process, as well as linkage to other existing programs and services. program, LINC Home Study. foreign workers and international students on PEI. 4 5 6 employment services everything changed,”everything saidSanjeewa. “I told myself that From theplaneride, thediff before, littleEnglish. very soitwasamazing. Iknew diff When theyfi come,” hesaid. customs. thatmadeuswantto are thefacts “Those he lookedupCanadian politics, people, culture and Before theymadethefi andcameto Canada.”everything “Don’t let’s worry go,” Sanjeewasays. we“So gave up been hired inher dream jobasateacher. Shesaid, to goto Canada Nadeerahad the go-ahead rightafter got Sanjeewa andNadeera,wholived inSriLanka, sponsored us.” more thantwenty-fi auntlives“My here, shehasbeenlivinghere for family to PEI. old son,Enula,inOctober, 2012,andwere driven by arrivedMahagamage inHalifaxwiththeir14-month- andhiswifeSanjeewa Rajapaksha Nadeera Sanjeewa Rajapaksha A YoungFamily’sSuccessonPEI portunities aswell. portunities andmentorship op- clientswithnetworking nect aswell as groupsupport workshops, andcan con- Counsellorsof theEASservice. off training andalternate career options, are allpart view preparation, and identifyingpost-secondary Assisting newcomers withjobsearch andinter- ents prepare theirbestresume andcover letters. ployment andeducationalbackgrounds, helpscli- path inCanada. Assessing previous andem- skills, indeveloping theircareercomers withsupport PEIANC’s Employment Counsellors provide new- Employment (EAS) Assistance Services erent everything was.erent everything my“I hadnever left country rst arrived inCanada theyrealized how ve years. Shewastheonewho nal decision,Sanjeewasays erent food to theclimate, er one-to-one one-to-one er happy to behere inPrince Edward.” “She doessomuchfor me, for ourfamily. We are so everything,” after small. Sheislooking says Sanjeewa, “Nadeera isathomefor now, whilethechildren are withthechildren.the city and cannow goto thebeachandto parksoutsideof she loves to sing! They have alsorecently boughtacar, baby girl, Gayali, whosenamemeans “singing girl”, and Three years later theyhave anewfamily member—a LTD, fi alocalconstruction hewashiredcontract full-timeatAtlantic Enterprise and payroll administrator course. After athree-month at Eastern College for one year, theaccounting taking HewentPEI scholarshipthrough to school SkillsPEI. ment Counsellor’s assistance, Sanjeewagota Training months inshippingandreceiving, withhisEmploy- off atRight After working me fi cation options, helpedwithourresumes, andhelped Our Employment Counsellor uswithedu- connected dren’s vaccinations, thingsto do, andsettlinghere. ily registered. helpedussomuch;withourchil- “They Two weeks theyarrived, after Sanjeewaandhisfam- magical.” Butthesnow isvery from ahotcountry! really prepare you for Canadian winter whenyou come cold waslikehow itfeels inafridge, butnothingcan nd employment.” rm. theBattPottery for nine A HumanResourcesCareerPath to learn andcontribute asmuchIcan.” happyworking. withthejob, Iamvery andIameager ofprofessional developmentnars aspart andnet- dent already. semi- Iam alsoattending someexternal confi Ellen Faye says, “Work-wise, Icansay thatIammore town. Offi Resources Services Faye wassuccessful andwasoff outamockinterview.Counsellor Ellen andcarrying feedback onherpresentation from herEmployment process.for theinterview Sheprepared by getting Ellen Faye butworked hard wasnervous to getready was invited for aninterview. Charlottetown wasposted, andEllenFaye appliedand leave,es maternity backfi each postingthatsheappliedfor. AHumanResourc- sisted her indeveloping customized cover letters for tailor itfor HRpositionsinCanada. HerCounsellor as- Employment Counsellor to update herresume and ence, Ellen Faye continued to work diligentlywithher While shewashappy gainingCanadian work experi- on PEIinthatfi was inHumanResources, andshehopedto fi engineer, ofEllenFaye’s themajority work experience Canada afew years earlier. Althoughsheisalicensed her parents, brother, andsister whohadimmigrated to Ellen Faye isoriginally from thePhilippines. Shejoined go-getter!” one atahotel andoneataseniors’ home. She’s areal herarrival,after shewasalready two jobs— working well-spoken, open-minded andfriendly. Very soon ment Counsellor atPEIANCsays, “Ellen Faye isvery Ellen Faye arrived Ganga onPEIin2016.HerEmploy- Ellen Faye dent in making decisionsandammore indepen- dent inmaking eld. ofCharlotte- cer withtheCity of ll position,withtheCity ered thejobas Human nd work Marianne Waite (Payroll Offi Services (HR Administrative Assistant), Ellen Faye Offi Ganga(HRServices Members oftheHRteam ofCharlottetown: at theCity (L-R) NormaBurns since 1995. and businessesbuildmore diverse workplaces PEIANC hasbeenassistingIslandorganizations Employment Assistance Services total through numberofimmigrants served employers /organizations with connected newcomers whoattended employment newcomers education or whostarted newcomers volunteering whostarted workshops /information sessions newcomers jobs whostarted ~ JenniferJeff rey, EAS Coordinator, PEIANC training programs the EASprogram cer) 725 544 377 74 153 309

cer), and

s service ment y emplo 7 conversations about PEI’s labour market, to hear a THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE Goals established to guide improvements in new- Over the past 10 years we have been very client success story, to discover opportunities for PROVINCIAL IMMIGRATION comer integration and stakeholder collaboration: training with post-secondary institutions, and to have provincial immi pleased with the assistance PEIANC extends to PARTNERSHIP (PIP) • Broad collaboration for increased attraction, s us to help us meet our HR challenges. PEIANC’s one-to-one time with employers and sector council integration, and retention of newcomers representatives. team of counsellors pre-select and refer With the support of Immigration, Refugees and • Share knowledge across PEI potential employees who match our employ- The day focussed on careers in Aerospace, Citizenship Canada, the PIP project has coordinated • Facilitate conferences, meetings, and other ment requirements. Most recently, with their Information Technology, Health, BioScience, Trades/ discussions across PEI on the topics of newcomer partnership and advisory opportunities help, we have hired Farhad Behi in our New Prod- Technology and Finance/Accounting, and the attraction, integration, and retention; developed pri- • Advocate for the needs of communities and uct Development Department, and Sri Harsha feedback from clients and employers was extremely orities through consensus; and initiated collaboration workplaces (related to newcomers) Saraswatula in our Repair and Overhaul Depart- positive. and partnerships under shared priorities that bind • Identify common priorities amongst stakehold- ment. With the current shortage of skilled labor municipal, provincial, business, and service providers ers and build capacity through partnerships on the Island, PEIANC identifi es newcomers who together. PEIANC has had an opportunity to fi ll gaps Client feedback on Alternate Careers Day have the transferrable skills and experience to and solidify partnerships with key decision makers in • Expand workplace focus for improved integra- ~ To meet the people that I tried to reach, but ment service fi ll vacancies like these. We look forward to em- support of newcomers. Between October 2015 and tion and retention of newcomer employees g

y couldn’t achieve until now. ploying more newcomers and to working with March 2016, a stakeholder group totalling 958 has ration partnership PEIANC into the future. ~ Know more about the job market in PEI. I met been established across the Island. ~ Dianne Griffi n, HR Manager, 3 Points Aviation lots of people from diff erent working areas. Participant Comments from Key events organized and delivered by PIP: Partners in Immigration Conference ~ Great opportunity to meet the employers • Partners in Immigration Conference and discuss what skills they need from job It is such a valuable experience to interact with

emplo (January 15, 2016) seekers. individuals like those that you work with every • PIP Focus Group and Planning Session day. You did an excellent job at organizing the Employer feedback (March 10. 2016) conference. I learned a lot from attending. ~ I loved that we had the opportunity to speak ~ Participant, Connecting Island Communities Conference with people directly and have some I realized how diffi cult adjusting to a new com- interaction with those who’ve expressed Provincial Immigration Partnership munity and culture would be. interest in their desired fi elds. ~ Focus Group, Participant Evaluations, West Prince ~ Great idea, great social event and typically Oct - Dec Jan Feb March It was good for me from the Summerside 2015 2016 2016 2016 how business on PEI works, with face-to-face Chamber’s perspective to see all the newcom- and a handshake. provincial network number of people 730 780 840 958 ers that have chosen to move to PEI. I need to Farhad Behi works at 3 Points Aviation go back to the Chamber (and the City) and see consultations held 36 74 34 15 what we can do. ALTERNATE CAREERS DAY events organized 6 3 4 4 ~ Mark O’Keefe, Summerside Chamber of Commerce

With funding and support from the PEI Offi ce of Im- migration, Settlement and Population (now Offi ce of Recruitment and Settlement) and Citizenship and Im- migration Canada (now Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), the employment team organized PEIANC’s fi rst “Alternate Careers Day” on April 21, 2015. This very successful day provided 52 of PEIANC’s 8 clients with an opportunity to participate in 9 INTEGRATION AND COMMUNITY Ali says, “The Association staff work hard to make a BUILDING diff erence for each newcomer. They provide training workshops, information sessions about Canadian life communit and workplace culture, and social activities. Employ- Parivash Sadeghi, Hasan Siadat, and their son Ali have ment Counsellors help with networking, career plan- been in Canada since 2011. The eldest son, Amir, ning, and identifying education options. PEIANC’s had arrived in 2014 after he fi nished his education in beautiful people are like our family members—kind, Sweden. ement helpful, supportive, and empathetic. Sharing in happy Parivash is aff ectionately called the Saff ron Lady be- g and sad moments in our life helped us to feel Char- cause of the delicious saff ron cookies and cakes that a lottetown is our forever home.” y g she makes. She brings her energy and creativity to

ANC Women’s Group activities, and you can fi nd her en sharing her Persian cuisine at the Charlottetown en Farmer’s Market. Since arriving in Canada, Parivash g y dealt with a major health crisis and it made her all the a more determined to be an active community member. g Parivash says, “First when I landed on PEI everything ement was new. After becoming the Association’s client they introduced me to many programs and opportunities. I feel so grateful to be part of the community, to col- laborate with others, and to contribute to the life here Community Appreciation Awards 2015 Winners

communit on this beautiful Island.” A March 2016 Friday Friendship Hour at A Taste of Persia Restaurant on COMMUNITY APPRECIATION AWARDS The transition to Canadian life has perhaps been the Pownal St. near Water in Charlottetown. Ali Siadat is third from left in the back row. most diffi cult for Hasan Siadat. However he is an avid The sixth annual PEIANC Community Appreciation Awards were announced on October 26th, 2015. These awards, gardener and this has helped him to make connec- nominated and voted on by all of PEIANC staff , are handed out to very deserving candidates. tions and adjust to life in Canada. Participants in Integration Events The Business Appreciation Award went to McInnes Cooper law fi rm. In partnership with the PEIANC’s Employ- Amir Siadat has been busy adjusting to life in Canada Women’s and Men’s Group 785 ment Assistance Services, McInnes Cooper Law fi rm off ers a mentorship program for new immigrants who have since his arrival in 2014. Fluent in Persian, English, and a background in law. One of the most important benefi ts is that McInnes Cooper lawyers acknowledge their col- Seniors’ and Intergenerational 630 Swedish, Amir holds two Masters Degrees—an MSc leagues from other countries. This helps to validate the participating newcomer’s sense of professional ability, and Winter Social Events 198 from Sweden and a MA from Iran. Amir is currently to support their self-confi dence. working at a call centre in Charlottetown, volunteer- World Refugee Day 40 The Organization Appreciation Award went to the UPEI Women’s Hockey Team. Working closely with PEIANC’s ing with the EAL Tutor Program, and is planning to Annual General Meeting 84 Immigrant Student Services, the UPEI Women’s Hockey Team have off ered volunteer coaching for the Newcomer pursue a PhD in Education. Introduction to Groups and Clubs 51 Youth Hockey Program over the past three years. These capable and dedicated young women fi nd time between Christmas Open House Ali is fl uently trilingual and has a Master’s Degree in 750 their own university classes, exams, hockey games, and an intensive training schedule, to share their skills and love Electrical Engineering. Soon after arrival, he volun- Partnered Events 89 of their sport with newcomer students. teered for the EAL tutor program at PEIANC. Because The Individual Appreciation Award went to Shelia MacLean, Physician Recruitment Coordinator at the PEI Ali is a natural leader with a great stage presence, he Total Participants 2,627 Department of Health and Wellness. Since 2007, Sheila MacLean has been at the province’s forefront to recruit, has been an excellent emcee at DiverseCity Festivals welcome, support, and integrate internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) on PEI. Sheila believes that and a reliable volunteer at the Friday Friendship Hour setting up the right community supports for IEHPs and their families encourages more physicians to stay on PEI. social integration events. She has helped physician retention rates increase from 25% retention in 2008, to over 90% retention in 2014. 10 11 Donations to the Welcome Project The Welcome Project Total Donations (including Gift Cards) DONATIONS ABOVE $5,000 PEIANC coordinated The Welcome Project beginning in the fall of 2015. $61,000 This support network of community organizations and various levels of Canadian Council for Refugees Disbursements ScotiaBank government collaborated to assist Syrian refugee families with their im- mediate settlement needs on Prince Edward Island. Both Government Of the 61,000 donated to The Welcome DONATIONS OF $500 - $5,000 Assisted Refugees (GARs) and Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs or Project, 31,500 was disbursed, as follows. BVORs) were supported. 35% Housing Supplement Barry Mayne PEIANC’s Welcome Project operated a very busy Donation Centre, locat- 5% Welcome Project Blue Bay Farms ed at 1 Queen St. in Charlottetown, and accepted a wide variety of do- 5% Interpreting Bradley Handrahan Chartered Accountants nations, from December 2015 into April 2016. The Donation Centre was Brian & Scott Annear Farms 5% Food staff ed by wonderful, hard-working volunteers. In total over 300 Islanders Canadian Tire volunteered to work on the Welcome Project. 50% was kept available for spending in Creighan, Amy the next fi scal year as families continue Many generous youth groups, individual Islanders, businesses, and com- Curley, Rosemary to arrive and require settlement sup- munity groups, rallied to donate household goods or funds to The Wel- Welcome Project Coordinator, Hannah Jones, is joined by volunteers at the Donation Centre. D & E Pork port, and for unforeseen and urgent come Project for refugees arriving on PEI. (L-R front row) Hannah Jones, Myra Thorkelson and Kirstin Sweet Doucette, John (L-R back row) Mary Jones, Heather Holdway, Jim Thorkelson, and Caleb Read needs of refugees, as they arise. Friends of West Royalty Fitness Centre Grant, Peter Isaac Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society Howardvale Holsteins KC Immigration Services There are 65.3 million forcibly Klondike Farms displaced persons worldwide Le Conseil Acadien De Rustico according to the UNHCR’s Global Linkletter Farms Trends report of 2015. Of these, Ma, Lokki 21.3 million are refugees. Almost MacCormack, Paul half of the world’s forcibly MacDonald, Andrew displaced people are children. MacDonald, Dan S. Of the 181 Syrian refugees MacEwen Farms Ltd. welcomed to PEI, over one third Manulife 500 G-A - Connolly Group are between the ages of 1-18. McInnes Cooper Charlotte Schofi eld, a grade fi ve student at Somerset Elementary School, who, on behalf of her Some of the newest residents of PEI, Syrian children enjoy the performances at the Premier’s Memorial United Church school and class, presented a cheque for $300. Welcome Reception. Refugees bring with them their Monaghan Farms Ltd talents and skills, their education, ShoreLane Farms their experience in business, and Stewart, Marven a burning desire to create a bet- Summerfi eld Farms Ltd. ter future for their families. There Townsend, Carol is no doubt that the most recent Watervale Warehouse Cup refugees will be contributing to Whelan, Bill the success of PEI and Canada into the future. cross-cultural inclusion 15 ciency. ciency. The A Passion for Tutoring A Passion for Tutoring Madelyn Driscoll Pro- Tutor Volunteer ConnectionsCommunity EAL wonderful Madelyn Driscoll many has tutors. gram of groups tutors She remarkable. is one who is quite Workers, Foreign Temporary especially newcomers, enables with newcomers work and her successful Residency Permanent work-related for apply them to pathways. System Testing Language International English The of English language profi is a test (IELTS) assess the language ability to of non- designed is test study or work to speakers of English who intend native A English is the language of communication. where for is one of the requirements score IELTS successful TFWs All Resident pathways. Permanent related work and Stream, Worker the PNP Critical applying through must meet the language re- Entry, Express through quirement. an IELTS led in Charlottetown, Madelyn, who lives Amaz- class in O’Leary success. preparation with great out of twenty-twowhom students eighteen ingly, in test and passed their IELTS wrote Madelyn tutored, Madelyn classes with her. 2016 afterMarch just a few class in preparation an IELTS begin going to is now best help clients and Summerside to Charlottetown attain their hopes and dreams. to in those areas ers informal language practice for newcomers (support newcomers language practice for ers informal 319 38 71 116 4,202 inclusion activities Citizenship classes Citizenship

number of people who attended number of clients matched with an matched number of clients with a CIP Volunteer or Holiday Host or Holiday Volunteer with a CIP number of inclusion activities organized

number of clients/families matched with matched number of clients/families number of clients who participated number of clients in CCP Community Connections Program Connections Community and materials provided by Public Libraries). CCP also runs the Holiday Host Program and the PEIANC Women’s Women’s and the PEIANC Host Program also runs the Holiday CCP Libraries). Public by provided and materials and established Islander thousands of newcomers reach CCP by organized Inclusion events Groups. and Men’s participants. Community Connections Program (CCP) Program Connections Community The social activities with connects that local volunteers. and newcomers program inclusion is an outreach, CCP informally to or family Islander established an to newcomers introduces (CIP) Inclusion Community Program English-as-an- The with makingassist them culture. Canadian and understanding community connections, off Program Tutor Volunteer (EAL) Additional-Language English-as-an-Additional-Language volunteer tutor volunteer English-as-an-Additional-Language

1,427 17,500 3 events participants no funding for school presentations 57 School competency, and diversity in the workplace. in the workplace. and diversity competency, cant increases in newcomers from many coun- many from in newcomers cant increases DiverseCity Multicultural Education Program Program Education Multicultural cers and employees to better serve better to the changing and employees cers Organization Presentations Presentations Festivals 2015 Festivals enlightening and educational. They will assist RCMP will assist They and educational. enlightening offi has seen Island which Edward Prince of demographic signifi years.” few the past tries over cers cers across cer of the RCMP “L” “L” of the RCMP cer cers, carry of others cers, impressions both con- behaviors their attitudes and uence

The goal is to ease cultural transition for newcomers by helping to foster a welcoming and understanding a welcoming foster helping to by newcomers transition for ease cultural goal is to The community. Multicultural Education Program (MEP) Program Education Multicultural deliver They needs. assist the established Island community unique newcomer in understanding MEP workers on anti-discrimination, and presentations cultural workshops

RCMP—SERVING AN RCMP—SERVING AN DIVERSE INCREASINGLY PEI ON DEMOGRAPHIC sciously and unconsciously. the to response the overwhelming Due to positive made di- furtherpresentation, were presentations line offi and front employees all rectly to In the winter of 2016, the Royal Canadian Mounted Canadian In of 2016, the Royal the winter the Multicultural Education (RCMP) invited Police their em- to presentation a deliver (MEP) to Program was held at RCMP Headquarters event The ployees. and “Diversity national on PEI as part of the RCMP’s pre-The being held country-wide. events Inclusion” “unconscious sentation was based on the theme of individuals, of how the topic which addressed bias” including RCMP offi that infl within the RCMP Districts. Joanne the province Offi Commanding Crampton, Division remarked, “The very were presentations Division remarked,

ro c - ss ultural in ultural c c s lu n io 14 THREE CULTURES, TWO GENERATIONS, ONE LOVE – Youth Settlement Services NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FILM Statistics as of March 31, 2016 newcomer children and h

A video focused on intergenerational legacies be- active youth clients 932 g

out tween immigrant girls and their mothers was launched interventions during school year 3,954 y on February 14, 2016. Otherwise known as Valentine’s Day, the National Day of Action was created by Girls Action Foundation who also provide the funds across Canada for projects such

as this one organized by YSS staff . BroZone and Girls Group shared a drumming lesson from a local music Youth Settlement Services Day of Action video, “Three therapist who was promoting drumming as a way to relieve tension and YOUTH LEADERSHIP GROUP stress, and promote focus. Cultures, Two Generations, One Love,” was shot by MAKING A DIFFERENCE Mahdi Selseleh (a former PEIANC youth client) and BROZONE – PEER MENTORSHIP, it focusses on the important relationships between CREATING CONNECTIONS mothers and daughters, especially with regards to Since 2011, Youth Settlement Services at PEIANC has transmission of positive cultural traditions that can be been running a free BroZone boys group each year. It YSS Summer Program off ers learning opportunities between July and easily lost as a result of immigration. The video gar- is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The August for newcomer children from K-6. Here are some of the grade 1-3 nered attention from local media and is one of the top program was developed to address the diverse and group at an outing during the summer of 2015. viewed videos on the PEIANC’s YouTube Channel— complex needs, and varied cultural backgrounds, of

YouTube.com/PEINewcomers. y this clientele. They learn valuable life skills, and group Newcomer Student Numbers on out leaders work to create an environment where young Members of the Youth Leadership Group Prince Edward Island males can feel comfortable enough to address any The PEIANC Youth Leadership Program aims to devel- The number of newcomer students in Island personal issues they may be facing in their lives. h op leadership skills and create social connections for newcomer children and children newcomer schools rose from 367 in 2007 to 1,455 in Brozone 2015 consisted of seventeen youth aged 12- youth in grades 7-12. Youth learn essential life skills, 2016. During the 2015-2016 school year, 435 14 years, and included former refugees and children gain confi dence, and have experiences that prepare newcomer students entered the public school of PNP clients. The group, which had an attendance of them for adulthood. system. Based on provincial government data, as 84%, included participants from China, Iraq, Colum- many as 288 children aged 6 to 18 could arrive This year’s monthly activities alternated between a bia, Burundi, Nigeria, Syria, Hungary, Egypt, Kosovo, during the coming school year. learning/community volunteer opportunity and a so- and Pakistan. Source: Provincial Government Data cial/integration event. With YSS staff guidance, partici- (L-R) Elda Mbangu Kimvuta, Rosette Yayi Bobo, Christel Mbangu The group’s peer-mentor, Mon San Aung, is respected pants attended conferences, volunteered in their com- Kalumbu, featured in the PEIANC Day of Action video. by the younger newcomer boys as a role model, and munity, and developed life skills. Youth also engaged was able to show the boys the importance of cover- in personal growth activities and had fun socializing Youth Settlement Services (YSS) ing the following topics: Portrayal of Men in the Me- with their peers at a movie night and at soccer and YSS staff help newcomer families with school-aged children to register and integrate into the PEI school dia, Safe Sex, Positive Male Role Models, Team Morale baseball clinics. system. They assist with cross-cultural interpreting and connecting immigrant children with sports and Building, and Healthy Relationships. The Youth Leadership Program limits social isolation recreational programs. YSS operates student summer camps and PD Days, and a variety of educational and Overall, Brozone aims to strengthen the resiliency and of newcomer adolescents by off ering them these op- social programming throughout the year for a range of ages. The YSS Family Counsellor off ers mental health decision-making skills of newcomer youth on PEI. portunities to engage with peers and their community support to youth and their families. 16 outside of home and school. 17 Reactions from Twitter and Facebook a ~ Great job including the newcomers in PEI welcomin and making them feel welcome. ~ Love it…keeps getting better. ~ Love the opportunity to learn more & enjoy

island the many cultures we have in PEI.

g Funded in part by: Presented by PEIANC in partnership with: ~ @PEIANC has hit it out of the park with this year’s DiverseCity. ~ I adore the Multicultural Festival and so g Canada excited to attend again this year! island

DiverseCity has become an anticipated annual event for thousands of Islanders. An estimated total of 18,500 people attended the three DiverseCity Multicultural Street Festivals held in 2015 on June 28 in Charlottetown, July 4 in Summerside, and in Summerside on July 25. welcomin Supported by three host locations, DiverseCity Festival featured cultural communities from a fi fty diff erent countries: 37 food vendors, 144 volunteers, 341 mainstage performers, 77 dem- onstrators, and 84 information booths, artisans, and Island ethnocultural group’s displays! PEIANC partnered with Pier 21 in Halifax, and also with CARE Canada to bring an Emergency Relief tent to display at the event. The festival attracts visitors to PEI who are looking for a unique experience. As measured by the response to our Facebook survey and twitter, an estimated 24% of festival attendees were from off -Island.

18 19 COMMUNITY PARTNERS HIGHLIGHTS FROM CONNECT WITH PEIANC

Access PEI Island Pregnancy Centre WEBSITE STATISTICS FOR THE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA communit Active Communities Inc. Island Storm

h FISCAL YEAR Anderson House Justice Options for Women Atlantic Council for International Cooperation KidSport PEI Avance Learning Centre Lawrence MacAulay MP In 2015-2016 Fiscal Year, PEIANC’s website had an facebook.com/peinewcomers Big Brothers and Big Sisters of PEI MacDougall Steel Erectors Inc. average of around 22,000 unique visitors per month. Boys and Girls Club McInnes Cooper Canadian Mental Health Medical clinics/Family Physicians There were approximately 900 visitors who stayed on By March 2016 our Facebook page Canadian Tire Jumpstart Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI the website for longer than 30 minutes each month. had 364 posts and 1,218 followers, Canadian Women’s Foundation Murphy’s Community Centre 66% of whom were women, 32% Bell Aliant Centre National Bank of Canada

outreac men, and 2% non-defi ned. Carrefour de l’Isle-Saint-Jean Native Council of PEI ONLINE GUIDE FOR y

y Catholic Family Services North East Community Alliance outreac CHANCES Family Resource Centre Parks Canada NEWCOMERS TO CANADA Charlottetown City Police PEI Business Women’s Association Charlottetown Farmer’s Market PEI Career Development Association In our Online Guide, newcomers can access essen- twitter.com/PEIANC Child and Family Services PEI Connectors tial information needed to settle on PEI. The Guide, Chinese Business Development Association of PEI PEI Engineers Association By March 2016 the PEIANC Twitter City of Charlottetown PEI Human Rights Commission and most of the entire website, is available in seven City of Summerside PEI Literacy Alliance account had 498 followers, 188 languages: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, Persian, Confederation Centre of the Arts PEI Public Library Service tweets, 4,197 profi le visits, over Coopérative d’intégration francophone de l’Î.-P.-É. (CIF) PEI Public School Branch Mandarin, and Korean. Community Legal Information Association (CLIA) PEI Soccer Association 70,800 tweet impressions, and 319 h

communit Community of Tignish Provincial Public Library Service mentions. Cornerstone Baptist Church Public Health peianc.com/guide Cornwall Curling Club RCMP of Prince Edward Island Council of People with Disabilities RDÉE Île-du-Prince-Édouard Inc. Credit Union Place Richmond Center youtube.com/PEInewcomers CulturePEI Robert Morrissey MP Diocese of Charlottetown Rural Action Center By March 2016 our YouTube chan- Disability Support Program Schurman Family Scholarship Fund Discover Charlottetown Sean Casey MP nel had 25 videos with 8,795 views. DP Murphy Group of Companies Seniors Active Living Centre EAL/FAL Reception Centre Social Services and Seniors East Prince Seniors Initiative Sperenza Sport First-time campers at our Learn-to-Camp event hosted by Parks Canada Eastern PEI Chamber of Commerce Stratford Community Garden Engineers PEI Stratford Youth Can-do English Language School Board Study Abroad Canada (LINC) Family Place Summerside Storm Family Violence Prevention TIAPEI (Tourism Industry Association) French Language School Board Town of Alberton Friends of Confederation Centre Town of Cornwall Girls Action Foundation Town of Montague Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce Town of O’Leary Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce Town of Stratford Halifax Refugee Clinic Trinity-Clifton United –Ch’town Health Care Human Resource Sector Council Trinity United- Summerside Hockey PEI (in partnership with UPEI) University of Prince Edward Island Holland College Victim Services IEHP Recruitment and Retention Secretariat Voluntary Resource Council Innovation and Technology Association of PEI (ITAP) Wayne Easter MP Island Dance Academy Women’s Network PEI Island Gymnastics Academy YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange Program Island Media Arts Cooperative YMCA Youth Exchanges Program 20 21 Revenue FINANCIAL

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada - Settlement f 2015-2016 2014-2015 OVERVIEW — under e Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada - Settlement 1,378,104 1,583,751

c FISCAL YEAR Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada - RAP (APRIL 1, 2015 - Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada - RAP 226,158 124,196 MARCH 31, 2016) Province of Prince Edward Island 411,965 404,968 Province of PEI Skills PEI 216,679 219,887 s nan Skills PEI fi The PEI Association for New- Health Canada (IEHP) 202,985 195,151 and Other revenue (Schedule) 195,442 179,765 comers to Canada employs Health Canada (IEHP) 33 full-time and 12 part-time Total 2,631,333 2,707,718 positions, as well as 91 con- Other revenue (Schedule) and fi

tractors to provide language- nan s based services (69 interpret- ers, 19 translators for website and other documents, and 3 Wages and wage levies c language assessors). Expenses Program Activities Operating Expenses e under In addition to our primary 2015-2016 2014-2015 f Website, intranet development, and translation service funding, we have ap- Wages and wage levies 1,937,889 1,982,010 Rent plied for and received other Program activities 308,695 342,156 Client expenses funding (7.4% of total rev- Office Operating expenses 59,304 61,392 Travel enue) to suit additional cli- Website, intranet development, and translation 42,456 76,094 Professional development ent needs or special projects Rent 101,435 101,625 Miscellaneous such as seniors’ programs. Advertising Client expenses 54,878 28,106 99% of funds were spent on Professional fees PEI in program activities and Offi ce 5,035 7,054 Amortization supplies, services, costs re- Travel 30,219 31,320 lated to premises rental, and Professional development 10,055 17,345

salaries. Miscellaneous 5,032 4,947 Federal Grants and Donations Tourism Accommodation Levy - Summerside Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Atlantic Lottery Corporation YMCA of Greater Toronto Many of PEIANC’s staff are Advertising 6,173 12,052 (IRCC/CIC) Brown’s Volkswagen newcomers to Canada Professional fees 2,270 2,220 Canadian Heritage CapServCo Limited Partnership Health Canada CIBC Community Investment themselves. The PEIANC also Amortization 49,925 39,967 Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Downtown Charlottetown Inc (HRSDC) Edward NewTech Ltd uses newcomer caterers as Total 2,613,366 2,706,288 Friends of Montague Summer Days much as possible to provide Province of Prince Edward Island Girls Action Foundation Government of Prince Edward Island Great Enlightenment Buddhist Institute Society food for events, and hires Department of Workforce and Advanced Learning Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Skills PEI Commerce newcomers for performance Invesco Municipal Kwik Kopy Printing at DiverseCity Festivals and City of Charlottetown Maritime Electric other events. 2015-2016 2014-2015 City of Summerside MRSB Thanks also to the hundreds of Town of Alberton Provincial Credit Union Ltd. generous members of the public and Excess of revenue over expenses 17,967 1,430 Town of Montague RBC Royal Bank business community, as well as our Town of O’Leary Respon Wealth Management Corp Community of Tignish Special Events Reserve Fund (SERF) many in-kind partners and 22 Summerside Lobster Festival supporters. 23 Special thanks to our clients who were interviewed and photographed for the 2015-16 Annual Report. Your stories are inspirational and show in a tangible way the true benefi ts immigration brings to PEI.

Produced for: The PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada Writer and Editor: Yvette Doucette with assistance from Tori Vail, Nancy Clement, and Suna Houghton Thanks to PEIANC staff who submitted story ideas and collected information—Ellen Mullally, Hannah Jones, Joe Byrne, Lisa Dollar, Mark Carr-Rollitt, Melanie Bailey, Rocio McCallum, Valerie Fitzpatrick, and others.

Photography: Yvette Doucette with additional photos by Alexandra Dekerf, Craig Mackie, Dandan Wang, Jill Olscamp, Julia Cui, Melanie Bailey, Nancy Clement, Stephen Harris, and Tori Vail

Production and Design: Goldnet Smart Technologies m Printer: Halcraft Printing Canada Customs and Revenue Agency Charitable Taxation Number 14061 4512 RR0001 eianc.co p ww. w