English PEI Settlement Strategy Summary

Prince Edward Island

Settlement Strategy Summary

We envision a welcoming One Island Community whose service and support to new Islanders continues to contribute to a culturally diverse and prosperous province.

November 2010

5432 Any Street West, Townsville, State 54321 Tel 555.543.5432 Fax 555.543.5431 WWW.YOURWEBSITEHERE.COM

Norman Sahely (right) from Lebanon. An Islander since 1972.

Also pictured Shadi (son) and Ethan Sahely (grandson).

Strategy Overview A Rich History Prince Ed ward Island h a s h is t o r ic a lly b e e n a p r o vin c e o f im m igrant s. Early set t lers fr o m F r a n c e , I r e la n d a n d Sc o t la n d jo in e d t he province’s origin a l in h a b it a n t s , t h e M i’km a q , t o c r e a t e s ys t ems of habit at ion a n d c o m m e r c e . T h e s e s e t t le r s w e r e la t e r joined by immigrant s fr o m L e b a n o n , H o lla n d , Ch in a a n d m a n y ot her count ries.

In t he p ast d ecade, t h o u s a n d s mo r e n e wc o me r s h a ve c h o s e n t o mak e Prince Ed ward I s la n d t h e ir h o me . Go ve r n m e n t h a s w o r ke d on many front s t o e s t a b lis h a n d e xp a n d t h e s e r vic e s t h a t n e w Islanders need.

Prince Ed ward Islan d is c u r r e n t ly e xp e r ie n c in g a n in c r e a s e d wav e of newcomers a s t h e p r o vin c e ’s a n n u a l immig r a n t in flo ws have st rat egically an d s t e a d ily in c r e a s e d in r e c e n t ye a r s t o m e e t t he challenges of an a g e in g p o p u la t io n . Re c e n t n e wc o me r s h a ve come t o t he Island th r o u g h va r io u s a ve n u e s a n d fo r va r io u s r e a sons. Some have be e n a c t ive ly r e c r u it e d b e c a u s e o f t h e ir s kills , t raining, ed ucat ion a n d t h e ir a b ilit y t o c o n t r ib u t e t o t h e e c o n o m ic growt h of t he Island. So me a r e e xp a t r ia t e s , o r fo r me r I s la n d e r s , who have chosen t o r e t u r n a n d r e c o n n e c t wit h fa mily a n d c o mmunit y. Some are re fu g e e s , s e e kin g p o lit ic a l a n d s o c ia l s t a b ilit y.

Ot hers are d rawn by t h e c h a n c e t o e xp e r ie n c e t h e u n iq u e n e s s of Marit ime cult ure, t h e d is t in c t ive n e s s o f I s la n d livin g a n d t h e common hope for n e w e xp e r ie n c e s a n d a life fille d wit h o p p o rt unit ies.

Ov er t he p ast eighte e n mo n t h s , w it h t h e in p u t o f t h e I s la n d ’s n ew co me r c om mu ni ti es , w e ha ve d e ve lo pe d a m od e rn d ay S ettlement S trateg y t h a t in t e g r a t e s e xis t in g s u p p o r t s a n d a d d s new measures t o en c o u r a g e s o c ia l a n d e c o n o m ic in c lu s io n o f new Islanders in our On e I s la n d C o mmu n it y.

The Process Over th e last year, t h e P opu la t ion S e c re t a ria t h a s c om m is s io n ed research and sou gh t in pu t f rom ov e r 4 0 n on - gov e r n m e n t org an i zations an d interes t e d pa rt ie s re pre s e n t in g n e wc om e rs , s er v i ce providers and comm u n it ie s . A ddit ion a lly, opin ion s a n d e x pe rien ces regarding settlement we re s olic it e d f rom a ll le v e ls of gov e r n m en t .

Ayelet Stewart from Israel. An Islander since 2000.

Marilenne Ureña from Dominican Republic, and her daughter Mia Shanel Rodriguez.

An Islander since 2006.

Settlement Fundamentals • Pro vi de ser vices over a cont in uum; f rom a newcomer ’s arriva l until s uccessful set t lement ;

• Cle a r ly c o m m u n ic a t e t h e b e n e fi ts o f in c r e a s e d r e t e n t io n a n d d ive rs it y t o I s la n d r e s id e n t s ;

• A ddres s ident ified b arriers t o su c ces s f ul i nt egrat ion t hrough imple mentati o n of effect iv e init iat iv es;

• I n t e g r a t e w it h c u r r e n t p r o vin c i a l p o lic ie s a n d p r o g r a ms ;

• E ng ag e all st ak ehold ers; • Be s calable and ab le t o adap t t o chang es in p op ulat ion;

• P r o v i d e r u r a l c o m m u n i t i e s a n d newcomers living within those c o m m u n it ie s , w it h a c c e s s t o p r o g r a ms a n d s u p p o r t .

Settlement Strategy Vision A welcoming One Isla n d Co m m u n it y wh o s e s e r vic e a n d s u p p o r t t o n e w comers is cont ribut in g t o a c u lt u r a lly d ive r s e a n d p r o s p e r o u s p r o v i n c e .

Settlement Strategy Principles

Equitable

Using a fair and balanced approach

Inclusive

Working collaboratively with partners

Community Based

Accountable

Supporting and building community throughout the province

Measuring the timely and efficient deployment of resources

Respectful and Ethical Maintaining and promoting a respectful and productive relationship with all residents

Successful implemen t a t io n o f t h e Se t t le m e n t St r a t e g y will r e s u lt i n : • The ret ent ion of as ma n y n e wc o me r s a s p o s s ib le • Successful social a n d e c o n o m ic in t e g r a t io n o f n e w c o m e r s

S t a k e h o l d e r s W o r k i n g To g e t h e r G over n m e nt is acco untable f or t h e d el i very of this strategy but suc ces s can not be achiev ed by g o ver n m en t alone. We must eng a g e a w i de rang e o f stake-ho lders t o en s u re th at we hav e a comprehe n s i ve s u i te o f programs and se r-

vic e s t o f o s t e r s o c ia l a n d e c o n o m ic in t e g r a t io n o f a ll n e wc o me r s.

Eve r y Is la n d re s ide n t h a s a ro le t o pla y a n d t h e po we r t o po s it ive l y influence the integration of our n e w Is la n de r s .

All Islanders Government of Prince Edward Island

Government of Canada

Service Groups

NEWCOMERS

Academic Institutions

PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada

Business Community

Religious Organizations

Municipalities and Communities

Julie Shore and Arla Johnson from the United States. Islanders since 1999.

Strategy Initiatives Many t y p es of ser v ices a r e n e e d ed t o assist newcomers t o m o ve through t he phases of se t t le me n t , ada pt at ion and inclusion. B a s e d o n newcomer input we hav e a s s e mbled a Set t lement St rat eg y b a s e d

o n t h r e e p r io r it y a r e a s ; a r e a s th a t c a n p o s it ive ly in flu e n c e a n e w c om e r s ’ d e s ir e a n d a b ilit y t o s e ttl e i n a n d c o n t r ib u t e t o o u r On e I sl a n d C o mmu n it y.

Pri o r i t y A re a s f o r S u c c e ssfu l Se ttle me n t

LANGUAGE SKILLS

BUSINESS & EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP

QUALITY OF LIFE

F o r furt her informat ion on p r o g r a ms a n d s e r vic e s , p le a s e r e fe r t o t h e Se ttl e m e n t Strat egy websit e at www.go v. p e . c a /ia l/p o p s e c

La ng ua g e S k i l l s • D e v e l o p a c o m p r e h e n s i v e l a n g u a g e t r a i n i n g f r a m e w o r k o f f e ring acce lerat ed , ev ening, wee kend and/or summer scheduling o ptio ns .

Q ua lit y o f L i f e

B u sin e ss & E mployme n t O ppor tu n itie s • J o b p la c e me n t s w it h in t h e p u b l i c s e c t o r, c o l l a b o r a t e w i t h I s l a n d C h a mb e r s o f Co m m e r c e t o o ffe r s p e c ific p r o g r a m m in g fo r n e w c o m e r s , o ffe r a p ilo t p r o g r a m t o a s s i st w it h C a n a d ia n jo b e xp e r ie n c e a n d t r a in in g .

• Wo r k w it h Ch a m b e r s o f Co m m e r c e t o e s t a b lis h a b u s in e s s m e n t o rship program, co-fund the PEI C o n n e c t o r p r o g r a m, s u p p o r t q u a rt e r ly I m m ig r a t io n fo r u m s .

• P u b l i s h a r e v i s e d N e w c o m e r O ri entation Handbook , creat e a trans l ation and int erpret at ion p o licy, ins tallat ion of t wo ad d it ion a l s ettl ement case work ers at t he As s o c ia t io n fo r Ne wc o me r s t o Ca n a d a .

• E xpand i nt erp ret er p rogram offe r e d t h r o u g h t h e P EI As s o c ia t io n fo r Ne wc o me r s to Canad a t o includ e Pharmacy vis it s .

• Wo rk wi t h Rural Act ion Plan for n e wc o me r in c lu s io n , c r e a t e a n d d e live r a n e d u catio n an d awareness campaign h ig h lig h t in g t h e c o n t r ib u t io n o f n e wc o me r s .

Looking Forward Implement ing init iat iv e s fo r n e w c o m e r s h a s in vo lve d a g r e a t in ve s t m e n t b y a number of d edicat e d in d ivid u a ls , in s id e a n d o u t s id e o f g o ve r n m e n t.

Newcomers enrich o u r s o c ie t y a n d c o n t r ib u t e t o o u r o ve r a ll w e ll b e i n g i n many ways. Governme n t h a s a n im p o r t a n t r o le t o p la y in e n s u r in g se ttl e ment need s are b ein g me t in a t ime ly a n d e ffe c t ive m a n n e r, b u t t h r ou gh ou t hist or y it s b een t he h o s p it a lit y o f o u r On e I s la n d C o mmu n it y t h a t k e e p s p eople here.

This Set t lement St ra t e g y is a n in vit a t io n t o a ll I s la n d e r s t o b e c o m e i n v ol v e d in t he set t lement ex p e r ie n c e o f n e w c o m e r s . T h e r e will b e c h a lle n ge s; b u t we all share t he sam e u n ifie d d e s ir e – a s a fe a n d h a p p y p la c e t o liv e , w or k , and raise families, w it h e q u a l a c c e s s t o o p p o r t u n it ie s fo r a ll.

Successful set t leme n t a n d r e t e n t io n a r e a b o u t p e o p le . Gr o win g ou r O n e Island Communit y w ill r e q u ir e le a d e r s h ip fr o m Go ve r n me n t , a c o op e r a ti v e spirit from Islanders a n d n e w c o m e r s a like a n d a s u p p o r t in g n e t w or k of p rograms and init iat i ve s fo r NEW I s la n d e r s t o e n s u r e o u r I s la n d c on ti n u e s t o grow and p rosp er in t h e c o min g d e c a d e s .

Mark and Katie Fulford from England. Islanders since 2007.

Quick Facts • P E I A N C 4,785

Clients

since

2007

-

• LINC St udent s since 2 0 0 7 - o ve r 2,0 0 0 • O v er 7,0 0 0 p eople have a t t e n d e d Div ersit y Present at ions in t h e la s t ye ar (2 0 0 9 /10) • 7 5 0 s t u d e n t s c u r r e n t l y e n r o l l e d i n t he English as an A d d it io n a l Language program in the K-12 ed ucat ion syst em

• T h e E n g l i s h a s a n A d d i t i o n a l L a n g u a g e Tu t o r p r o g r a m a t th e Co n fe d e r a t io n C e n t r e L ibr a r y h a s offered 15 in-class tutor trainin g s e s s io n s , t r a in in g a lm ost 2 5 0 volunteers to be matched with n e w En g lis h le a r n e r s . O v e r 3 1 0 n e wc o me r s h a ve b e e n m a tc h e d with tutors and a further 70 newcomers have participated in conversation circles, for a total of 380 matches.

We se e a w e l c o m i n g One Is l and Co mmuni t y who s e s er vi ce an d s up p o r t t o n e w c o m e rs i s co nt ri b ut i ng t o a cul t ural l y d i verse an d pr o s p e r o u s p r o v i n c e .

Us e f u l L i n k s : A G u ide for Newcomers t o P E I ht t p://www.gov.pe.ca/p h o t o s /o r ig in a l/p o p s e c _ we lc o m _ e . p d f Citizensh ip and I mmigra t ion Ca n a da ht t p://www.cic.gc.ca/en g lis h /in d e x. a s p P rin ce Edward I sland A s s oc ia t ion f or Ne wc om e rs t o Ca n a da ht t p://www.p eianc.com / P rin ce Edward I sland E m ploy e r G u ide t o Hirin g Fore ign Work e rs ht t p://www.gov.pe.ca/p h o t o s /o r ig in a l/I SF W BENG. p d f P rin ce Edward I sland I m m igra t ion I I D I ht t p://www.gov.pe.ca/im mig r a t io n /

Population Secretariat The primary mandate of Prince Edward Island ’s Populat ion S e c r e t a r ia t is t o a c h ie ve populat ion sust ainabilit y a n d e xp lo r e o p p o rtunities

for

population

growth.

This

is

achieved t hrough rec r u it me n t , r e p a t r ia t io n , s e t t le m e n t a n d r e t e n t ion. Much of t his wo r k is d o n e t h r o u g h u n d e r s t a n d in g t h e c u r r e n t labour mark et , p rom o t in g c a r e e r o p p o r t u n it ie s a n d r e c o mme n d ing policy t hat enha n c e s a p e r s o n b o t h p e r s o n a lly a n d p r o fe s sionally t hrough colla b o r a t io n wit h g o ve r n m e n t , in d u s t r y a n d ot her st ak eholders. T h e in it ia t ive s wit h in t h e P r in c e Ed w a r d I s la n d Set t lement St rat egy will e n h a n c e P EI ’s a b ilit y t o p r o vid e n e wc o mers wit h t he most ap p r o p r ia t e a n d r e lia b le t o o ls fo r s u c c e s s fu l set t lement and inclu s io n .

Population Secretariat Atlantic Technology Centre 90 University Ave. Charlottetown, PE C1A 4K9 Telephone: (902) 620-3656 Facsimile: (902) 368-4252 http://www.gov.pe.ca/ial/popsec

“D i v e r s i t y i s t h e o ne t rue t hing we all have in co mmo n .

Celeb rat e it ever y day.”