8 minute read
WELCOME REFUGEES
A HELPING HAND
By Janet Nicol Tips for new refugees as they fi nd their way in Canada
Most immigrants arriving to Canada have made the choice to move here. Refugees, in contrast, are fl eeing war, violence and persecution, and may arrive with few material possessions. Canada is one of 28 countries to resettle 100,000 refugees a year from countries around the world, and has welcomed more than 25,000 refugees from Syria specifi cally, as of the end of February.
Syrians continue to experience an intense humanitarian crisis, with more than half the country’s population being displaced to other regions or escaping to other countries, like Canada.
Once in Canada, government-assisted refugees (GARs) from all countries are helped with their basic needs by settlement workers. Privately sponsored refugees (PSRs) access resources independently, with assistance from their sponsor.
Regardless of their country of origin or method of arrival, the information you will need to learn is the same. Canadian Immigrant’s new “Welcome Refugees” special hopes to offer lots of facts and tips about living in Canada, starting with these four essential fi rst tips for positive settlement in Canada: 1. Ask for help or information when you need it. 2. Start building a network of new friends. 3. Learn the English language. 4. Learn about your new home.
11 essential steps for the fi rst three months
1Visit immigrant-serving organizations, public libraries and local neighbourhood houses to learn about the services they provide to newcomers, from English language training to counselling. 2Begin the application process for important documents, including: • a government health insurance card, so you can receive medical care in Canada; you should apply as soon as possible after arriving in Canada • a social insurance number (SIN), as you cannot work in Canada without a SIN. 3Open a Canadian bank account.
4Explore your city and learn about the transportation options available. You will require a Canadian driver’s licence if you plan to drive in Canada.
5Access translation services and begin learning or improving English. Settlement agencies can direct you to free classes.
6Access information on job postings, how to adapt your resumé for Canadian employers and mentorship programs through immigrant-serving organizations as well. 7Learn about housing options and how to search for a place to rent. Listings for rental apartments, houses and condominiums can be found online, in local newspapers and at real estate agencies.
8Register your children in a neighbourhood public school. Contact the school or school district offi ce.
9Learn about Canadian laws and values, as well as your rights and civic responsibilities as a resident of Canada.
10Find a doctor or health care centre where you can go for your medical needs. Make an appointment for a medical check-up and vaccination update when you receive your government health insurance card. You can also learn about counselling services, if you require help for trauma or other psychological and emotional needs. Refugees requiring counselling can access mental health services at no cost, but must be referred by their doctor. As many as two-thirds of refugees suffer from a mental health issues, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
11Memorize the national emergency telephone number — 9-1-1. If you experience a medical or other type of emergency, call 9-1-1 for help.
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Canadian
contributions
Canadians have contributed to society in many fi elds — from art to medicine to sports. Our celebrated artists, such as Emily Carr and the Group of Seven have painted landscapes of Canada’s frozen Arctic, emerald rain forests and ocean coastlines.
Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2013 for her insightful short stories about ordinary Canadians.
Canadians are among the best hockey players in the world, which comes as no surprise since the ice sport was invented here in the 19th century. It was also Canadians who invented basketball, medical insulin, pablum and snowmobiles. We can be very funny, too, and have lots of talented comedians like Rick Mercer, Martin Short, Jim Carrey and Russell Peters.
Canada is also known as a nation of immigrants, and there are countless stories of immigrants who came to Canada and made it a better place. (Just check out the people nominated for this year’s RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards at canadianimmigrant. ca/rbctop25!)
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Adapting to the climate
If you arrived in Canada between December and February, you came here in the coldest possible months! By now, you’ll have noticed the temperatures are getting warmer, thank goodness. But depending on which part of Canada you now call home, the climate (with temperatures measured in Celsius) can be very different across this vast country. But all regions enjoy four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
SPRING (March 21 to June 20) • warm daytime temperatures but nights remain cool • frequent rain • leaves and fl owers start to bloom fi rst on the west coast and then in other parts of
Canada
SUMMER (June 21 to Sept. 20) • hot days and nights, with temperatures normally above 20 degrees Celsius, and sometimes rising above 30 degrees • the east coast can get extremely hot and humid
AUTUMN (Sept. 21 to Dec. 20) • also called fall, leaves on the trees begin to change colour and “fall” as the temperature drops • the west coast can get very rainy and grey • snow may start to fall in November and December in the east
WINTER (Dec. 21 to March 20) • temperatures usually stay below freezing (zero degrees Celsius), except on the west coast • temperatures in some parts of the country drop to -25 degrees Celsius • the wind chill factor can make it feel even colder • winter conditions can be slippery so use caution!
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A brief history of Canada
When settling into a new country, learning about its history and culture will help make you feel more at home. The story of Canada begins 3,000 years ago with the Aboriginal Peoples, made up of hundreds of cultural groups who lived from coast to coast, speaking a diversity of languages.
In the 1600s, as Europeans began arriving, aboriginal people helped them to survive. As the settler population increased, relations with aboriginal people became more hostile. French and English armies fought over land and resources, ending in an English victory in 1759. The language and religion of the French were accepted under the new British laws, setting the foundation for a bilingual Canada.
By 1800, there were six British colonies — Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland — with economies based on farming, lumber and fi shing.
By the 1850s, huge waves of immigrants escaping poverty, famine and land removal in Great Britain, as well as slavery in the United States, had settled in the colonies. The elected politicians began discussing the idea of uniting the colonies into an independent nation, otherwise known as Confederation.
A country is born
On July 1, 1867, Canada was born, a constitutional monarchy with federal and provincial legislatures. Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, of the Conservative Party, led the fi rst government from the nation’s capital of Ottawa. Macdonald envisioned a country “from sea to sea,” to be joined by building a railway, bringing in Chinese migrants to do the dangerous work. His dream came true in 1885, when the last spike was hammered into a track in British Columbia.
As more provinces and territories joined Canada, the way of life for Aboriginal Peoples was severely impacted. They were pushed onto land reserves and their children were forced to assimilate through residential schooling. (In 2008, the federal government apologized for its residential school policies. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has since made recommendations for making amends for these historic wrongs).
Modern Canada
Wilfred Laurier, a Liberal Party member, was the country’s fi rst French-Canadian Prime Minister and led Canada into the 20th century.
The country expanded as immigrants continued to arrive. Canadians participated from start to fi nish in both the First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939-1945).
The post-war era saw many displaced Europeans immigrate to Canada. We began to pride ourselves as peacekeepers on the world stage. Since the 1970s, as the racial diversity of newcomers expanded, Canadians have been celebrating the country’s multicultural identity. Canada’s reputation as a country of peace and a mosaic of cultures continues on in the 21st century.