For the first Gateway Community of Practice in-person gathering of the year, the Partner Success Team invited Radhika Menon and Megan Gill from The Newcomer Knowledge Hub to discuss immigration and the current settlement process in Canada. Their presentation, titled ‘A Primer on Immigration, Refugee, and Settlement Process’, was the first session delivered at the launch of the Newcomer Knowledge Hubs Lunch ‘n’ Learn initiative, back in 2024.
K-Hub, a collaboration between Immigrant Services Calgary and the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work, aims to enhance newcomer services by sharing data, collaborating on solutions, and supporting sector capacity development. Its goal is to enhance Canada’s settlement system by transforming data into actionable knowledge. This will help policymakers, researchers, and service providers efficiently identify newcomers’ needs, reduce duplication, address system gaps, improve agency practices, and anticipate future program requirements based on trends. collaboration between Immigrant Services Calgary and the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Social Work, aims to enhance newcomer services by sharing data, collaborating on solutions, and supporting sector capacity development. Its goal is to enhance Canada’s settlement system by transforming data into actionable knowledge. This will help policymakers, researchers, and service providers efficiently identify newcomers’ needs, reduce duplication, address system gaps, improve agency practices, and anticipate future program requirements based on trends.
Megan Gill from The Newcomer Knowledge Hub
The event took place at ISC’s main agency representatives from across the social sector. Gateway partners used this opportunity to mingle, share common challenges and successes over freshly brewed coffee and light refreshments.
Radhika and Megan engaged 39 representatives from 29 agencies who work closely with Gateway and offered a deep dive into the history of immigration, it’s colonial origins with the arrival of the first Europeans and forceful displacement of Indigenous peoples. Megan shared intriguing examples of restrictions that were once practiced in Canada to control racial and ethnic immigration, like the Chinese Head Tax and the refusal of German and Jewish refugees from WWII.
For the next part of the session, Radhika shared valuable insights into current day immigration streams and categories, going into detail about the requirements and restrictions under each of these categories. Attendees were highly engaged, sharing real-life examples and solutions to cases they have worked on to support clients. Radhika also walked attendees through the various refugee protection programs offered in Canada, before moving into a discussion about undocumented migrant workers and the challenges faced by newcomers. The attendees, many of whom are or, once were newcomers themselves, empathized deeply with the challenges faced by newcomers and shared their own experiences with the room to raise further awareness.
Radhika Menon from The Newcomer Knowledge Hub
The event concluded on a high note, leaving participants eager for more. Thanks to the efforts of Radhika, Megan, and the K-Hub team, Gateway continues to foster meaningful conversations and connections among its partners.
Stay connected with us for more enriching sessions and insights. To watch the full workshop, visit K-HUB’s YouTube channel. For more on Newcomer Knowledge Hub initiatives, explore their website, and for all things Gateway, don’t forget to visit our website.
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