I was happy to see integration to Algonquin territory and indigenous culture related programming in 2014 WOW. Please continue to involve local Aboriginal organisations and…2nd Annual Ottawa Immigration Forum
On June 27th, the 2nd Annual Ottawa Immigration Forum convenes at the Delta Ottawa City Centre. The Forum, whose theme is The Building Blocks of a Welcoming Community, anchors a week of celebratory activities that include public lectures and workshops, music, film screenings, a soccer tournament, and team athletic challenges. This year’s Forum – an integral part of Welcoming Ottawa Week – is co-sponsored by OLIP (Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership) and the Réseau de soutien à l’immigration francophone de l’Est de l’Ontario (area Francophone network), signalling the importance of diversity to both Anglophone and Francophone communities.
Forum Program
The Building Blocks of a Welcoming Community
Masters of Ceremony (MC) Sarah Onyango
Deputy Mayor and City Councillor Steve Desroches
Dick Stewart, OLIP Council Chair
Salimatou Diallo, OLIP Council Vice-Chair
Gerry Clement
Former Assistant Deputy Minister of Manitoba Labour and Immigration
Q&A | Interaction with Forum Participants
Attraction & Retention of International Students: Trends & Policy
Dr. Chedly Belkhodja
Professor of Political Science, Moncton University
Panelists:
1) Gary Slater – University of Ottawa; 2) John Nelson – Carleton University;
3) Gilles Tousignant – La Cite Collegiale; 4) Christine Peachey – Algonquin College; 5) Mohammed Alshaebi – Carleton University Student Association
Q&A | Interaction with Forum Participants
Marie Élise Lebon
Coordinator, Le Réseau de soutien de l’immigration Francophone de l’Est ON
Hindia Mohamoud
Director, Ottawa Local Immigration Partnership
Speaker Profiles
Deputy Mayor of Ottawa, City Councillor Gloucester South Nepean
Councillor Steve Desroches was first elected in 2006 to represent the newly created ward of Gloucester-South Nepean (Ward 22) which includes neighbourhoods in Leitrim, Findlay Creek, Riverside South and Barrhaven. In 2010, he was re-elected with a strong mandate to continue the progress made for the residents of the thriving South Ottawa communities. He is currently Deputy Mayor of the City of Ottawa…Read More
Former Assistant Deputy Minister of Manitoba Labour and Immigration
Keynote Speaker
Gerry Clement is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg with a BA in Administrative studies. In 2007, Gerry retired from the Manitoba Department of Labour and Immigration after serving thirty-two years in the federal and provincial public service. As Assistant Deputy Minister, from 1997 to 2007, Gerry led the Immigration Division of his Department through one of the most vibrant and exciting chapters of its provincial immigration and settlement history…Read More
Professor of Political Science at Moncton University, Co-Investigator in the Pathways to Prosperity Partnership
Panel Moderator
Chedly Belkhodja is a Full Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Moncton. Until recently he was the Director of the Atlantic Metropolis Centre. Currently, he is a Co-Investigator in the pan-Canadian Pathways to Prosperity Partnership and chairs the Project’s Standing Committee on Francophone Immigration…Read More
See full list of speaker profiles
Background & Reference Material
What is a Welcoming Community: An Overview (2013) Meyer Burstein, Pathways to Prosperity Partnership
This snapshot review gives a definition of a welcoming community and provides fifteen essential characteristics that are largely acknowledged to be the constituting blocks of a welcoming community. The overview is a brief adaptation from the “Characteristics of a Welcoming Community” (2010) study by the Welcoming Communities Initiative.
Characteristics of a Welcoming Community (2010) Welcoming Communities Initiative
This study provides a review of the current consensus by newcomers, policy makers and academics on the key characteristics of a welcoming community. It draws its findings from an extensive survey of the relevant scholarly literature, government (federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal) and community reports, and case study examples from the public and private sectors. The report acknowledges that there are gaps in supporting evidence of these characteristics, and suggests a strategy for further evaluation of their relevance and impact.
International Students in Ottawa: Facts and Observations (2013) Meyer Burstein, Pathways to Prosperity Partnership
This statistical factsheet provides recent data on international students in Ottawa, drawing longitudinal comparisons with other comparable municipalities in Canada. It also makes observations on the expected trends and opportunities for international student attraction and retention in Ottawa based on Ottawa’s comparative advantages and the current policy and international context.
Best Practices for Integration of International Students in Atlantic Canada: Findings and Recommendations (2013) Sinziana Chira, Chedly Belkhodja
This report examines best practices and gaps in international student settlement and integration linked to existing policies, programs and practices, and the specific issues related to labour market integration. The report focuses on the Atlantic Canadian context, and provides comparisons between urban and rural communities in relation to their capacity of international student retention.
Francophone Immigration in Ottawa: Trends, Issues and Current Action (2013) RSIFEO and OLIP
This one-page report provides a brief overview of the current levels and trends of francophone immigration in Ottawa, and an analysis of some of the factors that may explain the observed trends. The report also highlights the key barriers to francophone immigrants’ integration in Ottawa, and outlines the approach that the Réseau de soutien à l’immigration francophone de l’Est de l’Ontario has taken to address them.