Pathways to Prosperity 2025 National Conference: Poster Presentations l Conférence nationale 2025 de Voies vers la prospérité : Présentations par affiches
1. Achēv EPIC-HC Team, Project Partners: Blue Branch, Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council (ERIEC), & The Social Research and Demonstration Corporation (SRDC)
Employment Pathways in Canada – Health Careers
Employment Pathways in Canada – Health Careers is an online training and employment guidance program that supports the accreditation and employment of internationally educated healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians). Program highlights include: assistance with navigating the foreign credential recognition process; employment-related workshops focused on the healthcare industry; support with developing personalized learning and career action plans, training/license, and mobility plans; career exploration opportunities in collaboration with healthcare partners; individual and group-based mentorship and coaching; individualized wrap-around support services; employment opportunities and post-job support; and financial support to relocate to rural areas of Ontario and Alberta.
2. Bilan Abdulkadir & Kimberly A. Noels – University of Alberta
The Stressors and Coping Strategies of Black Canadians: The Development of a Culturally-Specific Coping Tool
Most Black Canadians are immigrants themselves or the children of immigrants; thus, they experience stressors that other groups do not, and likely also employ unique coping strategies. This study developed a tool for Black Canadians to assess their coping strategies when dealing with stressors across three domains: general, immigration, and discrimination. After verifying the factorial validity of the different coping strategies, we examined mediated and moderated relations between stressors, coping, and well-being. By understanding the diverse stressors faced and coping strategies used by Black Canadians, we can potentially alleviate the adverse effects of distress.
4. Colleen Belle – Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
Generating Prosperity by Creating Welcoming Communities
This poster highlights the Welcoming Communities program’s role in strengthening inclusion and belonging for newcomers in Nova Scotia. It explores how intercultural competence and collaborative partnerships create pathways for prosperity by supporting both individuals and systems in the settlement process. Key areas include building intercultural understanding through training initiatives, fostering equity and anti-racism practices across recreation and public service sectors, and preparing healthcare leaders to welcome internationally educated nurses. The program also emphasizes co-creation with communities, showcasing collaborative approaches such as the “Celebrating our Black Heritage: Uniting People of African Descent” workshop. By integrating capacity-building with practical tools for organizations and government partners, the Welcoming Communities program demonstrates how communities can bridge differences, foster resilience, and create environments where all newcomers feel valued and supported, leading to greater prosperity across Nova Scotia.
5. Johanna Bergen – CWB Group
The Welder Competency Assessment and Skills Training (WCAST) Program
The Welder Competency Assessment and Skills Training (WCAST) program was designed by the CWB Group to address critical labour shortages in Canada’s welding and materials joining industry. Piloted in Ontario from fall 2024 to spring 2025 with support from the Government of Ontario’s Skills Development Fund, the program provided participants, including newcomers, youth, and individuals with disabilities, with personalized online learning and hands-on training that led to certification opportunities. Building on this success, WCAST relaunched nationally in July 2025 with funding from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Running until May 2026, the program will train participants across Canada using this innovative blended approach.
6. Ayesha Bhikha & Tanvi Sukhija – Achēv
Skills for Success in Food Services and Accommodation: Driving Inclusive
Growth Through Targeted Upskilling
Achēv’s Skills for Success in Food Services and Accommodation program equips jobseekers with essential and transferable skills—particularly social and emotional competencies—critical to thriving in Ontario’s hospitality sector. Developed with sector and community partners, the initiative has exceeded performance indicators and received an extended mandate. This poster explores lessons from innovative training pilots, assessment tools, and employer engagement strategies that address persistent workforce challenges. The project provides insights into building inclusive, sustainable talent pipelines to support labour market needs and economic growth.
7. Margherita Cameranesi – St. Mary’s University & Seeba Wahabi – St. Mary’s University and Winnipeg School Division
“We Don’t Talk About It”: Barriers to Mental Health Conversations with Refugee Youth in Participatory Action Research
Drawing on mental health research involving focus groups, walking interviews, and photovoice sessions with refugee youth in Central Canada, this presentation reflects on the methodological and relational challenges of initiating mental health dialogues with young people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, emphasizing implications for researchers and service providers.
8. Alida Campbell, Shivani Adhana, & Robyn Webb – Halifax Partnership
National Connector Program: A Decade of Meaningful Connection
The National Connector Program began in 2013 and operates in 44 Canadian communities. The program has helped over 10,000 newcomers and recent international and domestic graduates connect with over 6,000 business and industry leaders. These connections lead to conversations through which participants gain insights into local industries, career opportunities, and community resources to help establish themselves. Each meeting generates three referrals, expanding participants’ professional networks, opening doors to opportunities, and sometimes leading to employment. Since its inception, the program has contributed to securing at least 4,000 meaningful jobs nationwide. This poster will showcase the program and its impact across Canada.
9. Erika Ehrenberg – Carleton University
Game Changers: An Analysis of the Inclusion of Newcomer Participation and Integration Through Sport in National Sport Policies
Recognizing the positive role that sport often plays in resettlement experiences, this study investigates how Canada can further leverage sport as a tool for newcomer integration from a policy perspective. Examining national sport policies in Germany, France, Australia, and Canada, it asks: How do national sport policies address newcomer integration through sport participation? Using comparative policy analysis and migration theory, it identifies key policy mechanisms, including Germany’s Sport+X model, athlete‑ambassadorship in France, and Australia’s school‑based sport funding that successfully facilitate integration. Findings highlight Canada’s current policy gap, where integration-focused sport programs exist at the grassroots level without clear policy direction or access to sustained funding. A proposed framework for incorporating the innovative approaches to integration through sport happening abroad is presented, calling for cross-departmental collaboration at the federal level in Canada.
10. Amelia Hamilton – Western University, Nadia Jafari – Western University, Samia Alnahdi – South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre, Mohamed Al-Adeimi – South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre, & Jason Brown – Western University
Experiences of Rohingya Refugees
This poster summarizes a study on settlement in London, Ontario, by Western University and the South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre, based on qualitative research with Rohingya refugees. It identifies challenges, protective factors, and recommendations for improving settlement services. The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar, faced persecution culminating in mass displacement into overcrowded camps. Trauma, language barriers, and limited education pose unique settlement challenges. Findings show government policies offer support, but gaps remain, especially in language, employment, healthcare, and social integration. Factors such as government support, community connections, and access to culturally responsive services help mitigate these challenges.
11. Karun K. Karki – University of British Columbia
Human and Social Capital as Determinants of Employment Integration Among Skilled Immigrants in Canada
This study investigates the deskilling experiences of skilled immigrants in British Columbia. Despite being selected for their expertise, many immigrants, particularly racialized immigrants, face systemic and institutional barriers in the Canadian labour market, resulting in deskilling with negative implications for individuals, families, and the broader economy. Drawing on quantitative survey data (n = 111) from immigrants settled in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, multiple linear regression analyses assessed the effects of demographic, educational, and social factors, including gender, marital status, age, education obtained outside Canada, duration of residence, educational upgrading in Canada, bonding and bridging social capital, gender discrimination, and non-recognition of foreign credentials. Results demonstrated that educational upgrading in Canada and higher levels of bridging social capital were significantly associated with lower levels of deskilling. Conversely, non-recognition of foreign credentials and holding a master’s degree obtained outside Canada were significantly associated with higher levels of deskilling. These findings reveal the critical role of social capital, educational upgrading, and credential recognition in shaping immigrant labour market outcomes. The study concludes with policy recommendations to foster more equitable integration of skilled, racialized immigrants into British Columbia’s labour force.
12. Harjit Kaur – Vancouver and Lower Mainland Multicultural Family Support Services Society
Understanding the Collective Culture: Best Practices and Trauma-Informed Tools for Supporting Immigrant & Newcomer Survivors
The poster will share best practices for supportive trauma-informed tools to work with immigrant populations centered around the collective culture. It includes information about the innovative Enhancing Wellness-M4Y research project and its preliminary results and app development. The tools will support mental wellness and crime prevention efforts. The poster will provide infographics based on the online survey results, preliminary focus group data analysis, literature review and the Best Practices manual for working with survivors from a culturally and linguistically trauma-informed framework.
13. Melissa King, Lanci Poce, & Illia Pyrchak – Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
Connecting Newcomers to Community Through Sport and Recreation
This poster will showcase how sport and recreation can be powerful tools for fostering social connections, building confidence, and supporting the integration of newcomers into their new communities. Drawing on our experience with programs such as New to Hockey and Community Connections through Sport, we will highlight how these initiatives provide a safe, welcoming environment where participants of all ages can develop new skills, form friendships, and experience a sense of belonging. The poster will outline key program components, including culturally responsive coaching, equipment access, volunteer mentorship, and partnerships with local sport organizations. We will share examples of successful practices, such as offering multi-age sessions to accommodate families, collaborating with community partners to remove financial barriers, and incorporating recreation activities that reflect diverse cultural backgrounds. Through photos, participant stories, and outcome data, the poster will demonstrate the positive impact of sport and recreation on physical health, mental well-being, and community engagement. It will also provide practical ideas for designing inclusive, accessible programs that bring people together and help newcomers feel at home — both on and off the field.
14. Carolyn Langdon, Tanvi Sukhija, & Shobana Thangavadivel – Achēv
Building Inclusive Talent Pipelines in the Electric Vehicle Sector
Achēv’s EVolveSkills initiative supports Canada’s evolving EV workforce by upskilling current workers and preparing new entrants for industry integration. The program emphasizes equitable recruitment, employer engagement, and sector collaboration, with a focus on creating access for newcomers, women, youth, and racialized communities. This poster highlights early outcomes, innovative outreach approaches, and collaborative strategies to address barriers and strengthen workforce readiness. By showcasing lessons learned and scalable practices, the initiative contributes to building inclusive, future-ready talent pipelines that align with industry transformation.
15. Lorvenson Larose & Morgane Habiyaremye – Point d’Accueil Francophone (PAF)
PAF : simplifier le chemin d’intégration des nouveaux arrivants | PAF: Simplifying the Integration Process for New Arrivals
Cette affiche met en lumière le rôle stratégique du Point d’Accueil Francophone (PAF) qui accompagne les nouveaux arrivants francophones sur le chemin de l’intégration et favorise leur attraction et leur intégration durable en contexte minoritaire. Elle montre comment une approche centrée sur l’écoute, une orientation efficace grâce aux organismes partenaires, et une collaboration intersectorielle soutiennent la rétention. Le PAF offre un accueil chaleureux et un appui personnalisé dès l’arrivée. Il facilite l’accès à l’information, renforce le sentiment d’appartenance et contribue à bâtir une francophonie inclusive et dynamique. Ce programme-pilote né en 2020 en contexte post-COVID a ensuite été confirmé en programme à part entière et en modèle à dupliquer. Notre expérience terrain a été éprouvée et nous permet d’aller de l’avant plus efficacement.This poster highlights the strategic role of the Point d’Accueil Francophone (PAF), which supports French-speaking newcomers throughout their integration journey and promotes their attraction and sustainable integration in a minority context. It shows how an approach focused on listening, effective orientation through partner organizations, and intersectoral collaboration supports retention. The PAF offers a warm welcome and personalized support upon arrival. It facilitates access to information, strengthens a sense of belonging, and contributes to building an inclusive and dynamic Francophonie. This pilot program, launched in 2020 in a post-COVID context, was subsequently confirmed as a full-fledged program and a model to be replicated. Our field experience has been proven and allows us to move forward more effectively.
16. Karen Li & Divya Sinha – YMCA of Greater Toronto
Seamless Referrals Through the Pre-Arrival Client Registration and Referral Portal (CRRP)
The Centralized Pre-Arrival Client Registration and Referral Portal (CRRP) streamlines how newcomers connect with multiple IRCC-funded pre-arrival services through a single registration form. This poster illustrates how the portal simplifies client registration, eligibility determination, and referrals to multiple service provider organizations—ensuring timely access to services. By reducing duplicated efforts and manual processes, the CRRP enables frontline staff to focus more on client engagement rather than administrative intake tasks. Through visual data and client pathways, the poster outlines how CRRP supports a coordinated, client-centered approach while enhancing efficiency and expanding service reach across the partnership network.
17. Shannon Mahony, Rachel Calogero, & Victoria Esses – Western University
Discrimination Towards International Students in the Ontario Rental Market: The Role of Ethnicity and Gender
International students are frequently blamed for Ontario’s rental affordability crisis; however, empirical evidence does not support this claim. While some research suggests that international students experience discrimination in the rental market, causal evidence is lacking. This study used an audit field experiment to examine discrimination in landlords’ responses to rental inquiries. Inquiries (n = 1,272) were sent across Toronto, London, and Windsor from eight fictitious applicants, varying by international student status, ethnicity, and gender. Applicant names were used to indicate ethnicity and gender, and international student status was explicitly stated. Inquiries were coded for whether a landlord responded and a content analysis was performed on responses received. The findings provide causal evidence for identity-based discrimination in Ontario’s rental market and highlight the importance of considering intersectional identities.
18. Cilia Mejia-Lancheros, Ian Zenlea, Elaine Kwee, Dianne Fierheller, Shaheer Hameed, & Priyanka Sheth – Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre (DBNC)
Evolving the Community Health Ambassador Model: From Emergency Response to Integrated Care in Peel Region (2021–2024)
This poster presents the evolution of the Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre’s Community Health Ambassador (CHA) model from an emergency COVID-19 response to a sustainable, integrated health navigation approach. Drawing from the 2021–2024 program evaluation, the study highlights how CHAs bridged settlement and health sectors by addressing social determinants of health and connecting clients to the right care. The program’s partnerships with health providers, municipalities, and community organizations expanded access to primary care, prevention, and mental health services. Findings underscore the importance of sustained funding and continuous evaluation to maintain culturally responsive and equitable community health access.
19. Lilly Neang – Carleton University
Creating Canada’s Cultural Potluck: Immigrant Culinary Entrepreneurs’ Experiences of Integration in the National Capital
In discussions surrounding Canada’s integration of immigrants, the ‘cultural mosaic’ metaphor is often referenced as an emblem of the country’s rich diversity and multiculturalism. This poster reimagines the mosaic as a ‘cultural potluck’ wherein Canada’s vibrant array of immigrant-owned culinary establishments serve as a compelling arena for examining integration. Drawing on semi-structured interviews and surveys with immigrant culinary entrepreneurs in the National Capital Region, this research adopts a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to better understand integration in a manner that highlights the agency, passion, and self-determination that newcomers exercise in their own settlement journeys. The findings from this research demonstrate how culinary entrepreneurship positively impacts integration across economic, social, political, cultural, and psychological dimensions. It dually highlights the invaluable contributions that immigrant-owned businesses make to our country, while also serving as credible evidence to encourage stakeholders to offer programs that better support immigrants’ entrepreneurial spirits.
20. Sally Ogoe & Sara Torres – Laurentian University
From Arrival to Belonging: Cultural Brokers’ Contributions and Challenges Fostering Community Connections, Equity and Access to Resources Across Communities
This poster presentation examines the pivotal role of Cultural Brokers (CBs) in shaping Canada’s shared future by facilitating the settlement, integration, and social inclusion of newcomers. Drawing on segmented labour market, social capital, and GBA Plus theories, it combines findings from qualitative interviews and survey research to illuminate how CBs bridge newcomers with institutions in housing, employment, healthcare, and public services. The research underscores CBs’ contributions and challenges to fostering community connections, equitable access to resources, and positive integration outcomes across cultural communities.
21. Liz Okai, Danielle Ungara, Abimbola Fajobi, & Mandisa Sifelani – Peel Children’s Aid Society
At the Crossroads: Protecting Newcomer Youth from Exploitation
At the intersection of child welfare, immigration, and human trafficking, refugee and immigrant youth often encounter complex and hidden vulnerabilities. This poster presentation examines the unique challenges faced by Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC), refugee and immigrant youth, and those living with precarious or unresolved immigration status. Drawing on Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE) services provided, our poster highlights how these children and youth are at higher risk of exploitation and marginalization. It further emphasizes the importance of culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and collaborative approaches across child welfare, immigration, settlement, and community systems. Participants will gain insight into effective strategies that safeguard children, uphold their rights, and promote long-term safety and well-being.
22. Rola El Moubadder, Ruth Lee, & Ruth Wojtiuk – CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses
Eliminating Racism in the Recruiting, Integrating and Sustaining of Internationally Educated Nurses in the Workforce
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workspace are crucial to building a safe and non-judgmental work environment for internationally educated nurses (IENs). IENs are confronted with systemic discriminatory and racist behaviors hindering their successful integration and career advancement. The CARE Centre for IENs supported 35 employers in addressing issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion by incorporating strategies and tools to combat racism through educational webinars and workshops. These efforts involved collaboration with IENs, nursing educators, preceptors, human resource personnel, and management.This initiative was embraced by professional associations, government entities and healthcare institutions to help shape practices and policies designed to safeguard and advance DEI and recognize IENs’ contributions to increasingly diverse healthcare in Canada.
23. Shawn Newman, Shams Bin Quader, Sampada Kukade, & Nidhi Khanna – Skills for Change
Women in Skilled Trades: Building Pathways Through Partnerships and Knowledge Sharing
Skills for Change’s Women in Skilled Trades program is breaking barriers and opening doors for women in traditionally male-dominated sectors. By building national partnerships, we connect women with employers, training providers, and community supports, while tackling systemic challenges that limit participation. Through events, forums, and applied research, we create spaces to discuss barriers, share lived experiences, and identify practical solutions. This poster highlights lessons learned from the program’s implementation, offering insights for communities, policymakers, and industry leaders on how to effectively engage, support, and retain women in the skilled trades, driving equity, innovation, and long-term workforce growth.
24. Amy Robichaud – Mothers Matter Canada, & Japman Bajaj – Vametric
Recognizing Immigrant Skills in Education (RISE) for Women | Validation des compétences des immigrantes en éducation (VOIE) pour les femmes
RISE is a pilot of 3D-assessment matching to UBC’s Early Childhood Education Certificate requirements. The poster summarizes early-stage successes and challenges with the pilot and describes the intended outcomes of the project and their potential impact.VOIE est un projet pilote d’évaluation 3D correspondant aux exigences du Certificat en éducation de la petite enfance de l’UBC. L’affiche résume les réussites et les difficultés rencontrées lors des premières phases du projet pilote et décrit les résultats escomptés et leur impact potentiel.
25. Alicia Rodriquez, Aya Morash, Elizabeth Gebremariam, & Mia Mirosavljevic – Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
Well-Being for All (WBFA): From Settlement to Belonging
The WBFA project, part of ISANS’ Newcomer Wellness Program, empowers newcomers to fully engage in Canada’s social, cultural, and civic life. Using inclusive, client-centered, and trauma-informed practices, the WBFA project ensures that all newcomers—including those from the 2SLGBTQAI+ community—are supported in overcoming systemic barriers. Through culturally safe programs, collaborative partnerships, and tailored wellness support groups, the WBFA project strengthens resilience, fosters community connections, and helps newcomers move beyond basic settlement toward a true sense of belonging and meaningful participation in Canadian society.
26. Wedded Sakhri & Karim Mennas – Centre d’accueil pour nouveaux arrivants francophones (CANAF)
Accélération de la croissance des initiatives d’emploi par la technologie (AGILITY) | Accelerating the Growth of Employment Initiatives Through Technology (AGILITY)
AGILITY est un programme de formation destiné aux nouveaux arrivants francophones au Canada, sans emploi ou en situation d’emploi précaire. Son objectif est d’accroître leur employabilité par le développement de compétences et l’exploration de carrières, tout en créant des passerelles vers l’emploi grâce à des liens avec des organismes francophones, des établissements postsecondaires, des mentors, des employeurs et d’autres programmes d’aide à l’emploi. AGILITY a été lancé dans des circonstances exceptionnelles, à savoir en période post-pandémique. Malgré les nombreux défis et la désinformation entourant la vaccination, nous avons réussi à restructurer le programme et à offrir avec succès trois sessions en l’espace de douze mois.AGILITY is a training program for French-speaking newcomers to Canada who are unemployed or in precarious employment situations. Its goal is to increase their employability through skills development and career exploration, while creating pathways to employment through connections with French-speaking organizations, post-secondary institutions, mentors, employers, and other employment assistance programs. AGILITY was launched in exceptional circumstances, namely in the post-pandemic period. Despite the many challenges and misinformation surrounding vaccination, we were able to restructure the program and successfully deliver three sessions within twelve months.
27. Constanza Safatle – Newbornlander, Roberta Power – ProLiteracy New Readers Press, & Leah Mitchell – Prairie Sky English
Newbornlander: A Journey of Language, Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship
Discover how Constanza Safatle—a former lawyer from Chile—arrived in Newfoundland speaking no English, with no transferable credentials, and limited resources, and went on to launch Newbornlander, a social enterprise that creates sustainable baby accessories and empowers immigrant women through its Sewing Hope program. Constanza’s journey from newcomer to entrepreneur highlights the transformative impact of career-aligned language and workforce training. Learn how EnGen, an online English learning platform offered by ProLiteracy and supported by their Mobile Learning Fund, equipped Constanza’s team with the skills and confidence to join the workforce, focus on their own career goals, and help to build a more inclusive, economically vibrant community.
28. Gelrene Sanfuego – Saskatchewan Association of Immigrant Settlement and Integration Agencies (SAISIA)
Bridging Sectors, Expanding Opportunities: Collaborative Pathways for Newcomer Success in Saskatchewan
This poster highlights innovative approaches for multi-sector collaboration among governments, newcomer-serving organizations, community groups, educational institutions, employers, and language service providers in Saskatchewan. Drawing on insights from previous research on newcomer experiences, it explores ways to strengthen connections between services such as LINC and CLIC language programs, employment supports, and community engagement initiatives. The focus is on creating seamless pathways, fostering sustainable employment, and promoting inclusive communities. By showcasing collaborative strategies, this work emphasizes the opportunities to enhance newcomer integration and maximize their contributions to Saskatchewan’s society and economy.
29. Lisa Schincariol McMurtry – Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR), Rich Janzen – Centre for Community Based Research, & Rebecca Gokiert – Evaluation Capacity Network (ECN)
eval4settlement.ca
The Centre for Community Based Research and the Evaluation Capacity Network have launched an online hub (eval4settlement.ca) for organizations that need support to evaluate their direct and indirect settlement services. It aims to be Canada’s preeminent community-based evaluation capacity-building resource, strengthening a culture of evaluation in which outcome-based evidence helps to inform organizational planning and management decision-making. It responds to the identified need for improved evaluation capacity in the settlement sector even as funder expectations for rigorous evaluation are growing. We will highlight how this platform can be used for collaborative evaluation and advocacy nationwide while putting newcomers at the centre of evaluation.
30. Tsinat Semagn, Ingrid Waldron, Allison Williams, Sarah Qureshi, & Olive Wahoush – McMaster University
The Psychosocial Well-Being of Sub-Saharan African Migrant Parents in Ontario: A Scoping Review
Ontario has seen a rising influx of Black African migrants, especially from Nigeria and South Africa, prompting settlement in smaller and mid-sized communities. This scoping review analyzed 15 studies on the psychosocial well-being of migrant parents, revealing themes such as psychosocial well-being as a culturally embedded concept, the politicization of health and illness, intergenerational parenting challenges, trauma and resilience, and communal coping. Findings highlight research gaps outside major cities and emphasize the importance of integrating cultural perspectives into health services. Recommended actions include funding longitudinal research in underserved areas and building multi-sectoral partnerships to support Black African migrant families through culturally responsive care across generations and service sectors.
31. Divya Sinha & Virginia Barquero – YMCA of Greater Toronto
Next Stop Canada: Innovating Pre-Arrival Services Through Client Data
Next Stop Canada (YMCA of Greater Toronto) leverages client data to continuously improve its interactive pre-arrival settlement platform. By analyzing demographics, engagement patterns, and user behaviors across e-learning, webinars, blogs, and in-app messaging, we identify trends that drive platform enhancements and new features. Insights from client journeys guide how we design interactive activities, optimize automated processes, and refine personalized settlement plans created by our Information and Referral Specialists. This data-informed innovation ensures our platform remains responsive, efficient, and client-centered. The poster demonstrates how turning client data into actionable improvements enhances the newcomer experience and strengthens outcomes before arrival in Canada.
32. Mikhaela Sullivan – Réseau en Immigration francophone du Centre Sud-Ouest de l’Ontario / Francophone Immigration Network of Central-Southwestern Ontario
Langues, Systèmes Éducatifs et Reconnaissance des Acquis | Languages, Education Systems, and Recognition of Prior Learning
Ce projet propose un procédé d’accompagnement à la reconnaissance des acquis pour les personnes immigrantes, en intégrant trois dimensions essentielles : la langue d’enseignement, les spécificités des systèmes éducatifs d’origine et leurs équivalences dans le contexte canadien. L’approche met en relation les parcours éducatifs et professionnels des nouveaux arrivants avec les normes canadiennes, tout en fournissant un répertoire complet des organismes nationaux et universitaires impliqués dans la reconnaissance des acquis. L’application pratique se concentre sur les métiers spécialisés, secteur fortement touché par la pénurie de main-d’œuvre et la diversité des parcours de formation à l’international. L’objectif est d’offrir un outil structuré et inclusif qui facilite la compréhension, la validation et la valorisation des compétences acquises à l’étranger, en favorisant une intégration professionnelle rapide et efficace.This project proposes a process to support the recognition of prior learning for immigrants, integrating three essential dimensions: the language of instruction, the specificities of the educational systems of origin, and their equivalencies in the Canadian context. The approach links the educational and professional backgrounds of newcomers to Canadian standards, while providing a comprehensive directory of national and university organizations involved in the recognition of prior learning. The practical application focuses on skilled trades, a sector heavily affected by labour shortages and the diversity of international training paths. The goal is to offer a structured and inclusive tool that facilitates the understanding, validation, and recognition of skills acquired abroad, promoting rapid and effective professional integration.
33. Anika Sweet & Sayed Hashim Sadat – Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
Building Community Connections Pre-Arrival – SOPA’s Canada Connects Program for Women, Youth and Refugees
This poster will highlight the stories and successes of pre-arrival newcomers who connected with mentors in their destination cities before landing. The Pre-Arrival Canada Connects program focuses on building meaningful matches with mentors of a similar background, gender and age to be able to share their experiences and help the newcomers feel more prepared and confident. By the time they arrive in Canada, newcomers have already begun establishing networks, providing a social head start for their successful settlement and integration. Early, tailored mentorship significantly improves newcomers’ confidence, connection, and readiness – proving that integration can begin before they even land.
34. Aubrey Westfall – Wheaton College
Capitalizing on Decentralization in Canada’s Migration Sector
Over the last 20 years, Canada has uniquely implemented policies that allow provinces, and private actors within them, to target the admission of certain groups of immigrants and to guide their integration into host communities. Such a decentralized infrastructure of migrant selection and integration provides an opportunity for the development of political fragmentation and distinctive sub-state political cultures of migration. Instead, Canada experiences remarkable transnational convergence in its politics of migration. Even so, decentralization provides a number of opportunities and strategies that those in the migration sector could more fully embrace. This poster reviews the key initiatives within the migration sector that have worked to promote consensus, while also suggesting areas for prioritized development and investment.
35. Jingyi Zhang & Kimberly A. Noels, University of Alberta
Aligned or Apart? Ethnic Identity Congruence and Discrepancy among Chinese Immigrant Couples
This research on family acculturation examined ethnic identity (EI) congruence and discrepancy among Chinese immigrant couples in Canada. Forty couples from multiple cities reported both their Chinese and Canadian identity levels, situational EI across social contexts, and EI developmental trends since arrival. Results revealed both between- and within-couple variation in static and situational EI, with trajectories ranging from strong convergence to notable divergence over time. These findings highlight the relational influences on immigrant identity development, suggesting the need for community programs and interventions that address EI as a dynamic process shaped within intimate partnerships.
Virtual Poster Presentations | Présentations d’affiches virtuelle
1. Nisreen Alameddine – Brock University
Cultural Brokering as Relational Work: Trust, Tension, and Transformation in Newcomer Education
This poster invites educators, researchers, and practitioners to reimagine cultural brokering in newcomer education as a relational practice rooted in trust, emotional labour, and shared meaning-making. In school contexts, educators are often positioned as intermediaries, tasked with “bridging” students’ home cultures with institutional expectations. This poster explores how cultural brokering actually unfolds through everyday relational encounters charged with uncertainty, tension, and possibility. Drawing from my dual perspective as a teacher and academic, this poster centres the complex relational dimensions of brokering, reflecting on how trust is cultivated or eroded in culturally diverse classrooms, the emotional labour and boundary work of brokering across cultural lines, and how educational practices can shape the process of shared meaning-making. Rather than seeking universal strategies, this poster centres relational accountability, uncertainty, and mutual learning. It foregrounds the sometimes unspoken inner work that cultural brokering requires of educators. The purpose is to open up space for critical and compassionate dialogue around how cultural brokering might become a shared, transformative process, rather than an isolated or unacknowledged burden placed on individual educators.
2. Stéphanie Atkin, Aline Lechaume, Simon Coulombe, Johanna Cardona, & Fredrick Vokey – Université Laval
Précarité de statut migratoire et d’emploi. Comprendre les trajectoires de bien-être et de santé psychologique des travailleurs immigrants temporaires au Québec | Co-Designing a Measurement Tool to Examine the Effects of Precarious Migration and Employment Status on the Well-Being of Temporary Immigrant Workers in Quebec
Le nombre de travailleurs immigrants temporaires (TIT) a augmenté au Canada depuis une dizaine d’années. Ces TIT, dont le statut migratoire limite leur accès aux droits (santé, éducation, etc.), sont employés de manière disproportionnée dans des emplois précaires dits « 3D », sales, dangereux et exigeants (dirty, dangerous, demanding) (Rubery, 2018), une situation dénoncée par les Nations Unies qui l’ont comparée à une forme d’esclavage moderne. Notre programme de recherche en cours vise à développer des outils méthodologiques adaptés aux réalités des TIT, puis à mobiliser ces outils pour examiner les trajectoires de bien-être de ces travailleurs au Québec, en adoptant une approche intersectionnelle dans une perspective de parcours de vie. Notre présentation par affiche exposera une des étapes clés de nos travaux visant à développer un outil de mesure par sondage : les rencontres des comités de codesign. Nous détaillerons les objectifs du programme de recherche ayant guidé notre choix de former ces groupes, ainsi que les modalités de recrutement et la composition des comités (personnes immigrantes, experts et employeurs de ces travailleurs). L’affiche présentera également l’objectif de ces rencontres dans le processus de conception de l’outil de mesure, en soulignant comment les expériences et expertises des participants ont contribué à son élaboration. Enfin, nous exposerons la méthodologie utilisée pour analyser les échanges et intégrer des éléments issus des discussions dans la conception de l’outil de mesure. Cette affiche illustrera également le potentiel de cette étude à fournir des données inédites et des pistes pour améliorer les conditions de vie, d’emploi et de travail des TIT tout au long de leur parcours migratoire et socioprofessionnel, renforçant ainsi leur bien-être.
The number of temporary immigrant workers (TIWs) has increased in Canada over the past decade. These TIWs, whose immigration status limits their access to rights (health, education, etc.), are disproportionately employed in precarious, so-called “3D” jobs, which are dirty, dangerous, and demanding (Rubery, 2018), a situation denounced by the United Nations, which has compared it to a form of modern slavery. Our ongoing research program aims to develop methodological tools adapted to the realities of TIWs, and then to mobilize these tools to examine the well-being trajectories of these workers in Quebec, adopting an intersectional approach from a life course perspective. Our poster presentation will outline one of the key steps in our work to develop a survey-based measurement tool: the co-design committee meetings. We will detail the objectives of the research program that guided our decision to form these groups, as well as the recruitment procedures and composition of the committees (immigrants, experts, and employers of these workers). The poster will also present the purpose of these meetings in the measurement tool design process, highlighting how the participants’ experiences and expertise contributed to its development. Finally, we will outline the methodology used to analyze the exchanges and integrate elements from the discussions into the measurement tool’s design. This poster will also illustrate the potential of this study to provide new data and avenues for improving the living, employment, and working conditions of TIWs through their migration and socio-professional journey, thereby strengthening their well-being.
3. Jana Borras, Mercedeh Safarian, Nancy Mandell, & Larry Lam – York University
Overcoming Settlement Challenges: Strategies International Students Adopt in Canada
Using a social resilience approach (Preston et al., 2022), this poster draws on 31 interviews with international students from universities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to explore two questions: (1) what settlement and integration challenges do international students face, and (2) what strategies do they activate to overcome social and economic barriers? Research reveals that international students face financial insecurity, unaffordable housing, precarious legal status, and deteriorating mental health. Limited access to co-op placements, minimal career guidance, and insufficient employment resources make it difficult to secure part-time jobs and post-graduation careers. Without formal support systems, international students display resilience by relying on their social connections to overcome academic, financial, and employment issues.
4. Danielle Gaucher – University of Manitoba, Justin P. Friesen – University of Winnipeg, & Koila R. Sawatzky – University of Winnipeg
The Social-Psychological Underpinnings of Attitudes towards International Students
Between 2013 and 2023, international student enrollment in Canada doubled, reaching approximately 21% of all post-secondary students. Yet, rising public concern has spurred recent visa quota reductions. Guided by System Justification Theory, we examined whether framing international student admissions as preserving the education system would boost support, especially when system dependence was heightened. Surprisingly, this framing reduced support among undergraduates, suggesting potential backlash. Students perceiving less competition, however, expressed greater support. Our findings highlight how perceived competition and system-related messaging interact, offering insight into shifting attitudes toward international students and implications for fostering inclusion within Canadian higher education.
5. Tristan Johnson & Zenaida Ravanera – London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership (LMLIP)
Matter of Facts: Evidence-Based Community Understanding to Counter Immigration Misconceptions
The Matter of Facts series represents a comprehensive, community-driven research initiative that transforms how local communities understand and respond to immigration. Developed by the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership’s Fact-Sharing Workgroup, this project addresses the critical gap between public perceptions of immigration and actual demographic realities.
6. Naomi Maldonado-Rodriquez – University of British Columbia, Patience Magagula– Afro-Canadian Positive Network of British Columbia, Erica Bennett – University of British Columbia, Vicky Bungay – University of British Columbia, & Eli Puterman – University of British Columbia
Supporting Access to HIV Care Among Migrant Women Living with HIV
Migrant women living with HIV (WLWH) experience significant barriers and delays to accessing HIV care upon arriving in Canada. Drawing on interviews with migrant WLWH (n=10) and service providers (n=14), as well as select federal and provincial policies, we demonstrate how migration status influences migrant WLWH’s access to healthcare coverage and how this in turn shapes the complexities involved in navigating the Canadian healthcare system and managing a chronic illness such as HIV. Our findings show how delays and interruptions in healthcare coverage, owing to disjunctures between provincial policies regulating healthcare coverage and federal policies regulating immigration, structurally marginalize migrant WLWH, impacting their ability to access timely HIV care. This was particularly salient for WLWH with temporary statuses (e.g., work visas). In response to these constraints, migrant WLWH, HIV-serving organizations, and clinics employ various interpersonal and organizational strategies to support healthcare engagement.
7. Richard L. Morrow – BC Centre for Disease Control and University of British Columbia, Dahn Jeong – BC Centre for Disease Control and University of British Columbia, Jacky Leung – S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Lou Chan – S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Sarah Qureshi – BC Centre for Disease Control, Naveed Z. Janjua – BC Centre for Disease Control and University of British Columbia, & Georgine Cua – BC Centre for Disease Control
BRIDGE Project: Overview and Findings on Meaningful Engagement with Immigrant Communities in Research Projects
Immigrants and newcomers may experience challenges in healthcare access and specific healthcare needs. We co-designed a partnership engagement framework for building academic-community research partnerships involving immigrant communities. We held two community engagement events with immigrants from the Chinese-speaking community in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, which helped us to pilot the partnership engagement framework and learn from community members about their experiences with healthcare access, liver disease, and hepatitis B. The framework provides researchers and community organizations with a resource for partnering on community-based participatory research, especially with immigrants and newcomers.
8. Syeda Nayab Bukhari & Manvi Aroa – Concordia University
South Asian Parental Insights into Canadian Education (SPICE)
South Asians are Canada’s second-largest visible minority, yet their educational experiences are under-researched and often obscured within pan-Asian categories that privilege East Asian narratives. This mixed-methods, community-engaged study examines how South Asian parents of children aged three to 18 years old navigate schools and interpret experiences of identity, belonging, and inclusion, amid rising xenophobia, Islamophobia, South Asian conflicts, and policies such as Quebec’s Bill 21. Using intersectionality, critical race theory, and culturally relevant pedagogy, this research combines a national survey (n = 150) and interviews (n = 25) across diverse backgrounds. Findings will inform policy recommendations and toolkits for culturally sensitive, equity-informed practices, developed with community partners for educators and parents.
9. Julia Nie – WorkBC Centre Vancouver North East and MOSAIC
Paving Career Pathways: Career Development Strategies for New B.C. Lawyers from Diverse Groups
The legal profession in B.C. mirrors diversity and vibrancy, but many new lawyers face unique challenges and barriers in finding their first job. This poster describes an empirical study that aims to map career pathway barriers of new lawyers from diverse groups in B.C: those newly called to the bar, internationally trained lawyers, and Canadians that pursued legal education abroad and have returned to Canada. This research employs career development and intercultural communication theories and methodological approaches. It draws on key findings and strategies reflecting DEI, the elimination of barriers and the creation of employment connections and inclusion through wage subsidies, mentoring and other interventions.
10. Fawziah Rabiah-Mohammed – Umm Al-Qura University, Abe Oudshoorn – Western University, & Yasmin Hussain – London Intercommunity Health Centre
An Exploration of Integration Journeys, Identity, and Well-Being with Syrian Refugee Youth
Settlement in a new country exposes refugees to challenges in school, workplaces, homes, and communities. For youth, resettlement can be particularly daunting. This study employs photovoice to explore how Syrian refugee youth navigate integration across family, peers, school, work, and community. Guided by narrative analysis, focus groups and interviews were conducted with 30 participants. Four themes frame their lived experiences: integration as a chronological journey, bridging or interweaving cultures, managing exclusions, questioning the premise, all connected by a fifth: resilience in personal strength and external support. Together, these themes highlight integration as a rhythmic process, ultimately fostering resilience amid complex transitions.
11. Shay Sharma – Duologue Systems
What Does Human-Led AI Service Delivery Look Like? Examples for Immigration from the Criminal Justice System
The criminal justice sector faces increasing challenges: fragmented systems, staff burnout, and the need for trauma-informed, humane care. This poster introduces Hapi, an AI-driven digital support companion co-designed with justice stakeholders, incarcerated individuals, and community agencies. Built for correctional environments, Hapi enhances pre-release planning, in-custody mental health support, and smooth transitions into re-entry, while reducing staff burden. Learnings from this are relevant to the immigration and settlement sector as there are similar challenges faced by both sectors.
12. Pavna K. Sodhi – University of Ottawa
Responding to Systemic Oppression: Supporting BIPOC Communities
My book, Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy for BIPOC Communities: Decolonizing Mental Health (Routledge, 2024), offers a systematic oppression pyramid visual that outlines the progressive stages from settler colonialism to hate crimes/racial trauma. This poster will invite participants to learn more about the intersection of systemic oppression, racial trauma, and mental health and how to break this societal cycle by developing racial stamina and becoming a productive ally.
13. Fatima Qureshi – McMaster University and Halton Newcomer Strategy, & Sonja Senthanar – University of Northern British Columbia
Artificial Intelligence in Refugee Employment Services
Refugees in Canada face systemic barriers to securing employment that is aligned with their qualifications, leading to deskilled and underpaid jobs. This pilot study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance employment services in settlement agencies. Interviews with 13 staff across five organizations revealed optimism about AI’s potential (such as tools for mock interviews, resume building, and job-matching) and concerns around data privacy, digital literacy, and algorithmic bias. Findings highlight the need for accessible training, ethical guidelines, and policy shifts that prioritize employment quality. Ethical AI integration can improve newcomer employment outcomes while increasing efficiency and enabling settlement workers to deliver impactful support.
14. Ping Zou – Nipissing University
Psychosocial Factors of Physical Activity Participation Among Midlife Immigrant Women
This systematic review aims to identify influencing factors as well as adaptation approaches for physical activity interventions among midlife immigrant women. Factors at the individual level were a lack of time, current health status, motivation, as well as a lack of proficiency in various life skills. Familial factors included familial support and seasonality. Community factors were social support and neighbourhood environment. To meet the needs of midlife immigrant women, the appropriate adaptation of physical activity interventions included adjustments in language, physical activity intensity, physical activity duration, logistical intervention adjustments, and other potential technology-based adjustments.