CERIS MONTHLY BULLETIN

April 2005

Issue No. 70

The Bulletin comes out each month to keep you informed about upcoming events in and around CERIS and the Metropolis Project, including seminars, conferences, public consultations, new research resources, and meetings of the Management Board, its working committees and Partnership Advisory Council.

The deadline for information to be included in the next Monthly Bulletin is April 29, 2005.

v CERIS Meetings

v News from CERIS, CERIS Researchers, and Partners

v CERIS Seminars

v Public Events, Conferences & Announcements

v Call for Papers and Proposals

v CERIS Working Paper Series

v New Documents in the CERIS Resource Centre

v CERIS Virtual Library

v Internet Resources

**** CERIS MEETINGS ****

CERIS MANAGEMENT BOARD MEETINGS

Friday, June 17, 2005 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

At the main CERIS (Toronto) office, 246 Bloor St. West, 7^th Floor, Room 702

**** NEWS FROM CERIS, CERIS RESEARCHERS, AND PARTNERS ****

Graduate Student Research Award 2005

Deadline for Applications: Friday April 29, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.

CERIS invites applications from graduate students at both the Masters and Doctoral levels of study, for a Graduate Student Research Award to support research related to immigration and settlement. Awards up to $500.00 will be made to support significant research projects on immigration and settlement issues that involve a Greater Toronto Area and/or other Ontario community focus. Applications from all fields and disciplines of study are welcome. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of May. Awards will be granted from June 15 2005 to June 15 2006.

Applications should be sent to:

Dr. Usha George, Director, CERIS, 246 Bloor Street West (7th Floor), Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V4.

For more information, visit:

http://ceris.metropolis.net/research-policy/Grad%20students/Grad%20Stud%20award%202005.rtf

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POLICY MATTERS NO. 17

Housing Affordability: Immigrant and Refugee Experiences

By Robert A. Murdie

For immigrants and refugees, finding a suitable place to live in a supportive community is an important step towards successful integration. But for newcomers achieving suitable housing is determined by the nature of the local housing market. A key housing issue is affordability, particularly in the rental market. Although little is known about immigrants and housing affordability in Canada, this research reviews the evidence that does exist about the rental experiences of immigrants and refugees at the national level and the local level, primarily in Toronto. Results show that the lack of adequate financial resources, high housing costs, a shortage of rental vacancies, and discriminatory practices in the housing market make finding appropriate housing more difficult for many newcomers. The research concludes that most newcomer groups studied will have serious housing affordability problems, which will affect the integration process.

The paper is available in PDF format on the “What’s New” section of our website, or click

http://ceris.metropolis.net/PolicyMatter/2005/PolicyMatters17.pdf

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NEW EMAIL ADDRESS FOR RESOURCE CENTRE

The CERIS Resource Centre has a new email address: ceris.resourcecentre@utoronto.ca Please send your enquiries to this address or call (416)946-8825. The Resource Centre is open to the public on Mondays and Fridays from 9:30 to 4:30, and on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 12:30.

**** CERIS SEMINARS ****

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DELIVERY OF ISAP SERVICES TO MANDARIN SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS FROM MAINLAND CHINA

Date: Friday, April 22, 2005 12:00 – 2:00

Last year, CERIS completed a study funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (Settlement Directorate, Ontario Region) on the effective delivery of ISAP services to the Mandarin speaking community in the GTA. This seminar will focus on the recommendations for service delivery, and CIC’s response to them.

Presenters:

Dr. Usha George - Principal Investigator; CERIS Director; and Associate Dean, Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto

Dr. Eric Fong - Co-PI; and Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Toronto

Dr. Wei Wei Da - Co-PI; and CERIS Resource Centre Coordinator

Mike Battrick - Programme Consultant, Settlement Directorate, Ontario Region, CIC

Location: Room 548, 246 Bloor St. West, Toronto (St. George Subway Station, Bedford Road Exit)

RSVP: wilhelmina.peter@utoronto.ca

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TORONTO'S ETHNIC ENCLAVES: SITES OF SEGREGATION OR COMMUNITIES OF CHOICE?

Date: Thursday, May 19, 2005 12:00 – 2:00

The seminar will present findings of the on-going research about the social geography of ethnic neighbourhoods in the GTA. The seminar will address three questions:

1) How does a particular ethnic group come to be concentrated in a neighbourhood, transforming it into an enclave?

2) Does this residential concentration lead to social 'segregation' or does it fulfill people's housing needs and promote community building?

3) From the metropolitan perspective, what are the policy implications of the emergence of ethnic enclaves?

The presentation will be based on the analysis of the 2001 and 1996 census data, complemented by field observations and information obtained by interviews with community leaders in selected neighbourhoods.

Presenters:

Dr. Mohammad Qadeer - Professor Emeritus, Queen's University; CERIS Fellow; and Adjunct Professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University

Dr. Sandeep Kumar - Associate Professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning, Ryerson University

Location: Room 548, 246 Bloor St. West, Toronto (St. George Subway Station, Bedford Road Exit)

RSVP: dgrosven2000@yahoo.ca

**** PUBLIC EVENTS, CONFERENCES & ANNOUNCEMENTS****

10TH INTERNATIONAL METROPOLIS CONFERENCE

Date: October 17-21, 2005 in Toronto, Canada

The 10th International Metropolis Conference will feature some of the world's key thinkers who will stimulate debate on questions such as:

How does increasing diversity affect the economic, social, cultural, justice, and political aspects of the world's cities?
What are the benefits and challenges of diversity for our societies?
To what extent are national migration policies consistent with the interests of the cities that become home to migrants?
What are our best available policy and program options? How can they be made transferable from one setting to another?
What are the respective roles of national and local governments in ensuring the best outcomes for all? What ought to be the role of international and intergovernmental organizations in managing migration?
How can we more effectively take advantage of the wealth of research that is being carried out worldwide on these issues?

Registration will start this month.

Early Bird (to July 31, 2005): CAD $900 (taxes not included)

Special rate for students and NGO’s

Metropolis 2005 Conference Secretariat
Tel: 1-416-392-4990
E-mail: metropolis2005@toronto.ca
Project Manager: Robert Davis

Visit the website at: www.toronto.ca/metropolis/index2.htm

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ROUNDTABLE BREAKFAST SERIES

By the Canadian Urban Institute

The Changing Face of the GTA: Practical Solutions Needed to Welcome New Canadians

Date: Thursday, April 14, 2005 at 7.45 a.m. – 9.45 a.m.

Presenters:

Ratna Omidvar - Executive Director, the Maytree Foundation; and Member of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Cities and Communities

Myer Siemiatycki - Program Director of Ryerson' s M.A. Program in Immigration and Settlement Studies (invited)

Mohammad Qadeer- Professor Emeritus, Queen's University

Registration:

Online registration available: CUI Roundtable Breakfast #8

Print the flyer, fill in the registration form and fax back to 416-365-0650

Location: Metro Hall, Room 308/309, 55 John St., Toronto ON

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ROYAL BANK SYMPOSIUM: ECONOMIC INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS

Date: May 25, 2005 9:00 to 4:00

The Royal Bank Symposium is in honour of the Royal Bank Chairs at the University of Toronto – Dr. Usha George, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Social Work and Director of CERIS, and Dr. Michael Baker of the Economics Department.

The symposium will feature a panel discussion and include presentations by Dr. Peter Li, Department of Sociology at the University of Saskatchewan, and Dr. Jeffrey Reitz, Professor of Sociology and R.F. Harney Professor of Ethnic, Immigration and Pluralism Studies at the Centre for International Studies. Dr. Usha George will present on ‘Mentoring and Bridging Programmes for Access to Professions and Trades’.

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HEALTH EQUITY AND DIVERSITY CONFERENCE 2005

Date: June 10 – 12, 2005

Deadline for proposal submission and early bird fees: April 15th, 2005

This conference is a Toronto summit that focuses on health needs and issues in relation to diversity. It unites professionals, organizations, and communities to challenge the exclusion and barriers faced by marginalized communities in accessing the health care system. By holding this conference, international best practices and perspectives leads to a voice and action in these concerns through local and global awareness.

Location: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto, 252 Bloor Street West

Mailing Address: Health Equity & Diversity Conference, Toronto 2005

c/o Chinese Canadian National Council

302 Spadina Ave., Suite 507, Toronto ON M5T 2E7

Fax: 416-977-1630

Email: proposals@healthequityanddiversity.com

Visit the website for details: www.healthequityanddiversity.com

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ACHIEVING SOCIAL JUSTICE IN URBAN COMMUNITIES

4th International Conference on Urban Health

Date: October 26-28, 2005 at the Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto

Hosted by the Centre for Research on Inner City Health and St Michael’s Hospital, this year’s conference has a particular emphasis on social justice in urban communities and promises to have strong community representation. Abstract submission opened in early April for the following topic areas: Conceptualizing and measuring social justice; Environmental justice; Healthcare availability and access; Health status of disadvantaged populations; International perspectives on urban health; Interventions to improve the health of urban communities; Models of participatory community research; and Policies promoting social justice.

Online submission will be available at www.crich.ca

For mail-in details, availability of scholarships or more information, call 416-864-5486

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BREAK THE CYCLE FOR FOREIGN TRAINED PROFESSIONALS

The Learning Enrichment Foundation is looking for new program participants. This program can prepare Computer Science or Engineering graduates who have hands on project management work experience outside of Canada. This program will provide a certification as a Project Manager, giving Foreign-Trained Professionals Canadian experience working with charities and non-profits. For more information or to register call 416-760-5-2567 or email info@leftek.ca

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FORUM MAASTRICHT 2005 CONFERENCE ON MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION IN EUROPE

Date: 26-27 May 2005 at Maastricht University, The Netherlands

Forum Maastricht is a discussion platform for politicians, policy-makers, social partners, researchers and the world of higher education, launched by Maastricht University. Forum Maastricht 2005 will put the European migration and integration policies on the agenda, from a local, national, European and global perspective.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.unimaas.nl/forum-maastricht

Conference secretariat:

Ms. Anja Ronken, Conference and Events Office, Maastricht University

Tel: 31 43 388 59 80 Fax: 31 43 388 59 81 Email: anja.ronken@fd.unimaas.nl

***** CALL FOR PAPERS AND PROPOSALS *****

CMHC REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is seeking to shortlist vendors for a research study by means of a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) to participate in a subsequent Request for Proposal (RFP) process. The proposed research is a small exploratory study of the current profile of rooming house tenants.

This REOI has been posted on MERX, an electronic tendering service. If you wish to view the opportunity or order the REOI documents, please access the MERX website at www.merx.com and reference solicitation file #0981-211.

For more information, contact:
Tamara Taylor, Procurement Advisor, CMHC-SCHL
Phone: (613) 748-2300 x 3677

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CITATION FOR CITIZENSHIP

Deadline for nominations: April 15, 2005

This award by Citizenship and Immigration Canada honours Canadian individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions in assisting newcomers to Canada in successfully integrating into Canadian society. It takes place every second year and up to 20 individuals and organizations across Canada will be chosen to receive the award. The award, consisting of a gold maple leaf pin and a certificate signed by the Minister, will be given during Canada’s Citizenship Week, October 17–23, 2005.

For details on eligibility and the nomination process, please visit:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizen/citation.html

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2005 CIHR OUTREACH INITIATIVE FOR NGO's

A Canadian Institutes of Health Research program led by the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA)

Application Deadline: May 11, 2005

This initiative aims to develop communications-related partnerships with Canadian non-governmental, non-profit, and community-based organizations. An important element of CIHR's communications and marketing strategy is to effectively communicate with various publics. The legislation that created CIHR commits the organization to knowledge translation. The purpose is to inform individuals about health research in Canada - the successes, the innovation, the impact, the future - and create greater understanding of health research and its impact on a healthier population.

For more information, visit http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/8602.html

Proposals can be sent by email to: richard.briere@douglas.mcgill.ca or by mail to:

Richard Brière, PhD, Assistant Director, INMHA
Douglas Hospital, 68-75 blvd. Lasalle, Verdun, Quebec H4H 1R3

********* CERIS WORKING PAPER SERIES *********

THE LATEST IN THE SERIES IS:

Mooers, Colin. 2005. Multiculturalism and Citizenship: Some Theoretical Reflections. CERIS Working Paper Series. #37. 20 pp.

Submissions to the Working Paper series, based on research in the fields of immigration and settlement studies, from faculty, graduate students, and members of community organizations are most welcome.

The current editor for the series is Dr. Michael Doucet, Department of Geography, Ryerson University, Email: mdoucet@ryerson.ca Phone: (416) 979-5000 ext. 6174 Fax: (416) 979-5362

Manuscripts, in both digital and hard copy form, should be sent to the editor in WordPerfect format, if possible. An abstract of 100 to 200 words and a list of key words must be provided with each manuscript. If accepted for publication, new Working Papers will be both printed and posted to the CERIS Virtual Library. The copyright for each Working Paper remains with the author(s).

Copies of recently published CERIS Working Papers may be ordered through the CERIS Office at $10.00 each plus postage. Previously published Working Papers can be downloaded from the Virtual Library on our website: <http://ceris.metropolis.net/Virtual%20Library/VLFrame_E.html>

***** NEW DOCUMENTS IN THE CERIS RESOURCE CENTRE *****

For a list of new documents in the CERIS Resource Centre, please go to: http://ceris.metropolis.net/research-policy/NewdocList/newdoc list.htm

*****CERIS VIRTUAL LIBRARY******

Please go to: http://ceris.metropolis.net/Virtual%20Library/VLFrame_E.html

********** INTERNET RESOURCES **********

System in Crisis: Inter-Provincial Report Card on Language and Settlement Services in Canada

The Simon Frasier University (SFU) 2004 Report Card on Canada's Immigrant Settlement Programs compares for the first time ever funding levels for language and settlement services provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) across provinces/territories. The Report Card finds an uneven geography of service provision across provinces and unequal levels of service across the country that raise potential policy implications and important questions.

www.immigrantsandrefugees.ca

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Facts and Figures 2003: Immigration Overview – Permanent and Temporary Residents

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, February 25, 2005.

This report presents the annual intake of permanent and temporary residents to Canada from 1980 to 2003, as well as the annual December 1 stock of temporary residents in Canada during this period. It mainly consists of a series of statistical tables and charts covering the ten-year period from 1994 to 2003. The publication is divided into two separate sections, each depicting selected characteristics for the permanent resident population or the temporary resident population during this ten-year period.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/facts2003/index.html

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Ethnic Neighbourhoods and Male Immigrant Earnings Growth: 1981 through 1996

Statistics Canada, Warman Casey, February 25, 2005.

This paper examines the effect of ethnic neighbourhoods on wage growth as well as other labour market outcomes of immigrant men in Canada using the 1981, 1986, 1991 and 1996 Censuses. Consistent with U.S. findings, ethnic neighbourhoods based on country of birth are found to have a negative impact on the ten-year wage growth of immigrants.

http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0019M2005241

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Measuring Child Benefits: Measuring Child Poverty

Caledon Institute of Social Policy, February 2005.

This report addresses two critical questions in social policy: what is child poverty and how much is an adequate child benefit? To answer these questions, the report provides an analytic basis to distinguish between poverty among families with children and that element of their poverty that is properly understood as ‘child poverty’. The report provides a number of preliminary quantitative estimates of the value of an adequate child benefit according to two alternative methodologies.

http://www.caledoninst.org/Publications/PDF/525ENG%2Epdf

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Child Poverty in Rich Countries 2005

Innocenti Report Card No. 6, UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre, March 1, 2005.

The study urges OECD governments to establish credible monitoring systems and timeframes for the progressive reduction of child poverty. The proportion of children living in poverty since the early 1990s has risen in 17 out of 24 rich countries. Although it is widely assumed that child poverty in rich countries is on a steady downward track, the report finds that in only four countries – Australia, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States – has there been a significant decrease since the early 1990s.

http://www.unicef-icdc.org/cgi-bin/unicef/presscentre/presskit_down.sql?IDEvent=42

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Business Critical: Maximizing the Talents of Visible Minorities-an Employer’s Guide

Conference Board of Canada, March 2005.

This guide has been designed to help Canadian organizations maximize the talents of visible minorities. It serves as a practical tool for human resources managers and line managers with concrete strategies to drive diversity to the core of their organizations, and to fully recognize and leverage the potential of visible minority employees.

www.atwork.settlement.org

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Teaching Academic Dogs and Cats New Tricks: 'Re-Tooling' Senior Academic Researchers for Collaborative Community-based Research

Lawrence F. Felt, Penelope M. Rowe, & Kenneth Curlew, September 2004.

The paper looks at the changes in practice of academic research, particularly in the social sciences and humanities.

http://www.envision.ca/pdf/cura/DogsCats.pdf

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Assessing the Tsunami's Effects on Migration
Frank Laczko and Elizabeth Collett, International Organization for Migration

http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?id=299

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Perspectives on Disability in 3 Cultural Communities: Downtown Toronto, Canada

Scadding Court Community Centre.

This community-based research project was funded by the Canadian Centre on Disability Studies, and discusses the commonalities and differences in the perception of disability in the Vietnamese, Chinese and Portuguese communities in Toronto.

http://www.scaddingcourt.org/pdflibrary/perspectivesFinalReport_Feb%2705.pdf

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Canadian Social Trends Release

Statistics Canada announces the release of the Spring 2005 issue of "Canadian Social Trends."

The feature article “Becoming Canadian: Intent, process and outcome," explores the characteristics associated with becoming a Canadian citizen among immigrants who have resided in Canada for various periods of time. While data in this study come mainly from the 2001 Census of Population, previous censuses were also used to compare the citizenship take-up rates over time.

http://www.statcan.ca/english/studies/11-008/feature/stspecial.pdf

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RESOURCES FROM SETTLEMENT.ORG

** Human Rights - A Newcomer's Guide to Human Rights and Personal Security **

The basic human rights of Canadians, immigrants and even visitors to Canada are protected by law. http://www.settlement.org/sys/guides_detail.asp?faq_id=4000670

** Investing Guide for Newcomers to Ontario **

This brochure will help newcomers, like you, better understand the investment environment and what it means to invest your money.

http://www.settlement.org/sys/guides_detail.asp?faq_id=4000671

** Who can I call if I am in crisis? **

If you need immediate emotional support, crisis intervention or suicide prevention, call your local Distress Centre.

http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4000295

** What services are available for people with disabilities? **

There are different kinds of disabilities. In addition to income support, there are a large number of programs and services that assist people with disabilities in their everyday lives. http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4000369

** How do youth find summer jobs? **

There are thousands of summer jobs available for youth. You should start looking early, well before school is out and the summer starts.

http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4000414

** What different kinds of ESL programs are available? **

There are other ESL programs that take into account the differences in educational and cultural backgrounds and levels of English.

http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4000332

** How do I apply for Social Assistance? **

Social Assistance (Ontario Works) is run by your local (municipal) government. Social Assistance in Ontario is divided into 2 categories: Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW).

http://www.settlement.org/sys/faqs_detail.asp?faq_id=4000093

** Ontario auto investment opens door for internationally trained engineers ** http://www.settlement.org/sys/news_offsite_frame.asp?anno_id=2005227

**Featured Discussion: What will happen during my landing interview? ** http://www.settlement.org/discuss/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3234

**Featured Discussion: Newcomers buying a house**

Finding your new home in Canada is a very important part of the settlement process. Find out what other newcomers are saying:

http://www.settlement.org/discuss/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2504

**Featured Region: Kenora and Area**

http://www.settlement.org/sys/regions_detail.asp?doc_id=1003072

**Featured Region: Kingston and area**

http://www.settlement.org/sys/regions_detail.asp?doc_id=1003070

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DONATIONS NEEDED

The development of our Resource Centre and Web Site Virtual Library depends on donations of paper and disk copies of relevant research documents from CERIS affiliates and partners. You can help us build up these valuable resources!

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

The Toronto CERIS office: Tel. 416-946-3110 Fax 416-971-3094

The York CERIS office: Tel. 416-736-5223 Fax 416 736-5752 E-mail: ceris@yorku.ca

Visit the CERIS Website: http://ceris.metropolis.net

Visit the York CERIS Website: http://www.yorku.ca/ceris

Visit the National Metropolis Website: http://canada.metropolis.net

If you would like to add an event to the listings in the Bulletin, please forward the complete information to Sue Ann Truong at the CERIS office by fax or e-mail: ceris.office@utoronto.ca

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