1. Managing Refugee Influxes
Fariborz Birjandian
CEO
Alberta Integration Summit

2. Managing refugee influx means localizing a national refugee resettlement initiative, which is usually highly politically charged.

3. Eliminate the fear, build on hopes and dreams.
Fundamentals about refugee resettlement
Relationship between refugees and host community
Identification of refugees’ fears and hopes
Eliminate the fear, build on hopes and dreams.

4. Managing refugee influx is about:
Bringing the entire community together to create a welcoming environment
Combining refugee resettlement expertise and best practices with broader community and public services
Meeting refugees’ initial resettlement needs with community enthusiasm and resources
Addressing refugees’ initial resettlement needs while setting the foundation for successful long term integration
Comprehensive planning with built-in quality assurance and ongoing risk assessment

5. We must draw upon our past experience and learning throughout the planning process
Recent refugee influxes with Vietnamese, South American, Former Yugoslavian, Kosovo, Iraqi, Syrian and Yazidi refugees

6. Government Assisted Refugees Resettlement Process
Community connection and building social capital are the foundation of our approach in resettlement of refugees
AIRPORT RECEPTION
Arrival and Welcoming
Assistance with Immigration Procedure
Distribution of winter clothing
Transportation to temporary accommodation
Assistance to the gate(s) of connecting flights
TEMPORARY ACCOMODATION
Margaret Chisholm Resettlement Centre (MCRC)
Tour of facility
Stay up to 19 days
3 Meals per day, 7 Days a week.
Incidental Allowance
Beddings, linens and household items distribution
RESETTLEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM SERVICES
Meeting Resettlement Assistance Program Counsellor
Initial Needs Assessment
Obtaining mandatory documentation
Citizen &Immigration Canada Orientation: Income Support Cheque / Intern Federal Health
Establish bank account
Orientation and Information: Life in Canada
Supportive Counseling
Language Assessment + School Registration: Adults/Children
Access to health services
Permanent Accommodation Search
Transition into the neighborhood
6 Week Follow-up Evaluation
10 Months Follow-up + End of Assistance
REFERRALS: INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL
Enhanced Life Skills Support
Refugee Child Enhanced Integration Project
Employment and Training Programs
Language Instruction for Newcomers
Calgary School Boards
(Public + Catholic)
Survivors of Torture Program
Mainstream Agencies
Community Connections Network
INTEGRATED SERVICES PROGRAM RESETTLEMENT
Needs Assessment
Supportive Counseling and Referrals (in-person and utilizing the FIRST AID call line)
Translation and Interpretation Services
Information and Orientation Sessions (one-on-one and group sessions on resettlement topics)
Employment Readiness (Enhancing Refugee Economic Outcomes Workshop and Job Search Support)
Community Connections (engaging community volunteers in the resettlement of refugees)

7. Fariborz Birjandian, Project Lead Anoush Newman Project Coordinator &
City-Wide Structure of
Syrian Refugees in Calgary:
Steering Committees
EMPLOYMENT
Chris Thomas
Eden Weredu
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Nicola Dahlin
Anthony Noujaim
Mustafa Al Hassan
SPONSORSHIP & GROUP OF 5
Rod Olson
Antoinette Godbout
INITIAL SETTLEMENT
Margaret Styczynska
Leena Mahmmody
Biljana Tratnik
Susan Brooke
Allison Schulz
HEALTH
Laurie Blahitka
Nicole Gleeson
Carolyn Wright
Magda Hussein
Jonathan Clow
Julie Kerr
HOUSING
James Ray
Dadkhuda Pahlawan
CIVIC SUPPORT
Scott Deederly
Melanie Hulsker
John Biles
Provincial Government
EDUCATION
Christine Davies
Christine Oliver
Anne Marie Hagel
Sharon Seward
Jackie Flowers
Erwan Goasdoue

8. Final thoughts
Staff involved need to have in-depth knowledge about refugees’ backgrounds, cultural linguistics, and their refugee experience
Keep community informed and involved
Manage media; create and communicate key messages
Engage partners who contribute in initial resettlement services and keep other stakeholders involved
Deal with local politics and minimize the impact on your planning
Ongoing communication with community and other stakeholders

9. Thank You! www.ccisab.ca CCIS Main Office 5th Fl., 1111 – 11 Ave SW
Calgary, AB T2R 0G5 T