Settlement services paves the way

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/03/2016 (3614 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Imagine moving to a new country to give yourself and your family a better life.

Everything you see is new, including language, food, culture and customs. Your children have to adapt to a new school, you need to adapt to a new job and housing. Then there is the weather — if you came from somewhere warm, it can be quite a shock.

However, the one thing newcomers seek the most is support and understanding.

Westman Immigrant Services provides support, resources and services to help newcomers to Brandon settle into their new community.

Within the settlement section of the organization we offer a wide variety of programs and services: settlement facilitation, employment facilitation, family programs, youth programs and volunteers services.

Our settlement area consists of six settlement facilitators, many of whom are newcomers themselves at one point, who between them can deliver services and one-on-one appointments with clients in 10 different languages.

Settlement facilitators meet with new families as well as our regular clients to help set up settlement plans and also to help them execute and support those plans.

Settlement plans could include information on how to access government services and benefits, registration for school, assistance with housing by referring to other agencies, assistance with sponsorship and Canadian citizenship, for example.

Services are provided in first language when possible, which ensures that clients understand the information presented to them. Settlement facilitators also organize workshops and orientations such as Welcome to Brandon, which help ensure newcomers have a smooth transition to their new community.

Our family program gives much needed guidance and tools to newcomer families as they try to adjust to life in Canada. Programs dealing with parenting and child development are made available to clients as a means to help them understand parenting in Canadian society.

To assist with accessing services and programs, including EAL classes, we provide child care through our Care for Newcomer Children Program. The family program also works in co-operation with our youth program to provide activities for school-age children during the summer and school break times.

Our youth programs are provided for youth aged five to 18. These include an active after-school program in six schools that assist with mentoring, homework support, healthy activities and socialization.

Older youth participate in youth leadership committee, where they volunteer in the community and learn the value of giving back. Youth programming also includes a variety of wellness options for youth, including sports activities and healthy eating.

Our employment facilitator helps clients who need assistance furthering their careers. It can include a job search, resume and cover letter preparation, information on credential recognition or assisting with preparing for a job interview. We assist clients who need extra help and guidance navigating through the Canadian job market and how to work in a Canadian workplace.

Volunteers are essential to the success of any organization. We are very fortunate to have almost 100 volunteers working in all areas of our organization, from assisting in child care, in the classroom, as a settlement partner, and with the youth and family programs, for example.

Westman Immigrant Services affords many opportunities for people to volunteer and contribute to enriching the lives of those who are new to our community.

One of the most notable aspects about our volunteers are many of them are newcomers themselves. These volunteers have either decided to give back to the program that gave to them when they were new, or in some cases volunteering gives newcomers a chance to learn English, or to be involved in areas that help develop much needed skills to take to future job opportunities.

It takes great courage to come to a new country. Many of our ancestors did it with barely a penny to their names. They struggled and survived. But in the end Canada offered them and their future generations the opportunity to thrive.

The same challenges are apparent today and the newcomers we see come to our community today are supported and encouraged to thrive. We can thank the struggles and success of the past for paving and giving opportunities for the future.

» Wendy Petersen is the settlement service manager with Westman Immigrant Services.