UPDATE
August 2014
Local Immigration Partnership
The Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) was created with the goal of assisting immigrants with
successful settlement into communities while improving access and coordination of services to
Newcomers. As one of the first communities to receive funding, Niagara was successful in
development and implementation of various initiatives, putting steps into place in ensuring continued
growth and sustainability of the project.
What Does LIP Do?
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Conduct research and data analysis on the needs of newcomers’ including identifying community
assets and gaps
Organize awareness-raising activities to build capacity to collectively respond
Consult with community stakeholders and organizing and leading partnership council and working
groups while liaising with partnership members
Reaching out to community stakeholders, including employers
Create or use communication tools to promote LIP goals and objectives
Hold public forums to raise awareness of LIP’s work, mobilizing local actors
Recent Immigrants by Selected Place of Birth:
Niagara 2011
Afganistan
India
Jamaica
South Korea
Haiti
United Kingdom
China
Columbia
Philippines
United States
125
175
190
220
225
230
260
465
550
Source: Statistics Canada (2011). National Household Survey, 2011. Retrieved from Statistics Canada website:
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca
755
Get Involved
UPDATE
If you or your organizations would like more information, become a part of a working
group or have a success story to share, please contact .
August 2014
In ensuring success, key predominant players representative of various pillars within the community
were invited to participate as council members with the goal of developing strategies that would
address LIP objectives. These activities emphasized strategic planning, community involvement,
advisement, advocacy and leadership and succession planning. Council members are:
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Bob Seguin, Director of Economic Development, Niagara Region
Cindy White, Inspector, Niagara Regional Police
Clifford Gordon Sexton, Superintendent (Retired), Niagara Regional Police
Corinna Carson, Project Administrator, Niagara Immigrant Connections Initiative
David Alexander, Executive Director, Niagara Workforce Planning Board
Emilienne Mondo, Agente de projet, Réseau de soutien à l’immigration francophone
Fiona Allan, Director of Workforce and Business Development, Niagara College
Janet St. Amand, Chief Executive Officer, YMCA
Jeff Burch, Executive Director, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre
John Kaethler, Director of International Services and Programs Abroad (Retired), Brock University
Katherine Chislett, Commissioner of Community Services, Niagara Region
Lisa Benger, Human Resources Business Partner, Walker Industries
Lora Beckwith, Manager, Niagara Regional Housing
Marcel Castonguay, Executive Director, Centre de Santé Communitaire
Moses Moini, Refugee Program Coordinator, Mennonite Central Committee
Rosanna Thoms, Executive Director, Information Niagara
Steve Murphy, Policy and Sustainability Coordinator, Niagara Region
Walter Sendzik, Chief Executive Officer, Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce
Council Members participated in various working groups working collaboratively alongside
community partners which enabled for successful implementation of recommendations as set out in
the LIP Work Plan. This allowed for broader cross sector representation and engagement.
Objectives of the working group continue to focus on key elements necessary for an inclusive
community emphasizing health and safety, education and development, economic growth and
prosperity and community and inclusivity. Various activities currently in development include:
 Activities and awareness that help to support healthy living for immigrants and newcomers.
 Determining supports for newcomers in promoting public awareness of immigrant issues
through various community events.
 Increase knowledge sharing with stakeholders and agencies to engage immigrants and
newcomers within the community.
 Increasing opportunities to work with local economic development officers, as well as
business and post-secondary communities to increase awareness of LIP goals and
objectives.
UPDATE
August 2014
2014 – 2015 Target Outcomes
2015 outcomes are as a result of much work and preparation and include the following upcoming
activities and goals:
 Overseeing research on the needs of newcomers within the community through the
development of a community report outlining the health care needs of newcomers. Also part of
this research is identification of community assets and gaps as it pertains to service for
newcomer youth.
 Improving coordination of services at the community level to meet the needs of newcomers
and communities.
 Engaging the business community and increase public awareness of newcomers and their
contribution to economic growth by participating in local economic development networks to
inform decisions and priorities as well as distributing information about LIP at business events
such as the Small Business Trade show.
 Raise awareness of LIP goals and objectives by organizing a Niagara LIP Public Forum based
upon community need.
 Provide opportunity for community presentations to build capacity to collectively address the
needs of newcomers by coordinating and delivering information at the Migrant Worker Health
Fair. Supporting Post-Secondary institutions with retention strategies for International students.
 Lastly, to engage stakeholders in improving access to legal information and services for
newcomers by identifying and securing funds for a newcomer tenant school as well as
generating and distributing community wide information on legal services for newcomers.
Did you Know?
One out of 5 people in Canada’s population is foreign-born. According to the 2011 National Household Survey,
this represents 20.6% of the total population, compared with 19.8% in 2006.
One out of 5 individuals in Canada (19.1%) in Canada’s total population identified themselves as a member of
a visible minority group in comparison to 16.2% in 2006.
UPDATE
August 2014
Many Newcomers and immigrants have been able to benefit from a variety of services and programs
that continue to work collaboratively in ensuring Newcomer’s successful transition to Niagara. Below
is one of many such stories.
Success Story
My name is Martha and I arrived in Canada 2 years ago with my husband and son as permanent
residents from Bogota, Colombia. I am a Registered Nurse and my husband is an Economist. We
had friends that told us Niagara was a great place to live with more opportunities and that it was a
peaceful and beautiful place, with a low cost of living. I found the website for the Niagara Immigration
Portal which let me know the cost of housing, and settlement services within the area. The major
deciding factor to move to Niagara was the cost of housing. I also felt that the quality of life was better
here. I see Niagara as a very safe environment to bring up a child. Upon arriving, we found the
Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre. Staff gave us information on how to apply for social assistance
and how to find extracurricular activities for my son. The Niagara Portal led us to services about
classes in English.
Niagara College offered classes to Newcomers and it was because of this that I enrolled in the
Occupation Specific Language Training program in Health Sciences finishing the course in
December 2013.I have had success in gaining employment and several offers within the medical
field. I have also enrolled at McMaster University to take courses in clinical research associate
certification and will be finished July 2014. I am also taking English classes at St. Johns and currently
have a mentor through the Folk Arts Centre. I have applied to the Regulatory Board for nurses and
will have to take 3 exams to get my College of Nurses of Ontario credentials. My family and I plan on
staying in Niagara and making Niagara our home. I have achieved many accomplishments in a short
period of time. My husband is currently taking English classes through the Folk Arts Centre and
wishes to continue to work in the banking industry. My son loves living here. We love many aspects
within Canada such as; the Canadian Culture and the changing seasons. I believe that everybody is
able to reach their goals with hard work and perseverance. I have found the most success here in
Niagara.
Get Involved
If you or your organizations would like more information, become a part of a working group or have a
success story to share, please contact lisa.garlent@niagararegion.ca or call 905-641-9960 ext. 6159.