Report on Interaction between Immigration Partnership Winnipeg (IPW) and Ethno-Cultural communities (ECCs) Sept. 9, 2017 Univ. of Winnipeg

Document Prepared by Dylan Chyz-Lund, University of Winnipeg  Presented by: Manika Pradhan, President, Nepali Cultural Society of Manitoba Elizabeth Daiz, Secretary, Columbian Association of Manitoba Document Prepared by Dylan Chyz-Lund, University of Winnipeg

Ethno-Cultural Communities (ECCs) Population landscape changing Manitoba ~ 15000/250000 immigrants ~ 168 ECCs in Manitoba How are we, the ECCs, connected to IPW? Bridge between ECCs and SPOs

Question # 1 “Identify five pressing needs which you think will enhance your role in assisting newcomers in your community and rank these needs in the order of priority.”

ANSWERS (1) Funding (ideally sustained and consistent) For ECC programs and activities, for physical space on a stable basis, for all clients Centralized resources and information Improved access to government information, a database so that ECCs and government can better share information, a contact person tasked with outreach

ANSWERS (1)contd. Access to key services Including English language training, relevant training for volunteers, transportation, counseling, and employment services Physical space Stable access to community event space and office space Collaborative Opportunities Workshops with other ECCs and a stronger relationship with IPW and MANSO ANSWERS (1)contd.

Question # 2 “ How would you describe the relationship between ECCs and federally-funded settlement service providers, and what steps can we take to make this relationship more effective and collaborative?”

ANSWERS (2) The work carried out by ECCs should be formalized ECCs conduct informal/voluntary work without much outside support, and formalization/compensation would aid ECCs work Relationship between ECCs and SPOs is currently underdeveloped and sometimes ambiguous SPOs do not reach out to ECCs enough, or have consistent enough communication ANSWERS (2)

ANSWERS (2)contd. Relationship between ECCs and SPOs needs to be enhanced More direct communication, more reaching out to ECCs, increased presence of SPOs in communities Need for a centralized database/knowledge sharing infrastructure Would facilitate a better understanding of available resources, and how to access them Not enough federally funded services for newcomers without refugee status ECCs sometimes refer newcomers to a service, but the newcomer is often not eligible, such as with international students

ANSWERS (2)contd. THANK YOU Not enough federally funded services for newcomers without refugee status ECCs sometimes refer newcomers to a service, but the newcomer is often not eligible, such as with international students THANK YOU