WIS welcomes new round of funding
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/05/2023 (1054 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Westman Immigrant Services was one of 24 social services groups named in Monday’s funding announcement from the province, in which $4 million was being set aside to help these organizations through the Newcomer Community Integration Support program.
While community outreach manager Hannah Holt doesn’t know, at this point, the exact amount of money WIS will receive out of this $4 million, she told the Sun that any additional support is welcome.
After all, WIS closed out last year having processed more than 2,000 immigrants and newcomers, most of whom originated from countries like India, Nigeria, Ukraine and the Philippines.
Westman Immigrant Services community outreach manager Hannah Holt told the Sun she’s excited about the new round of Newcomer Community Integration Support funding that the province unveiled on Monday. (File)
Westman Immigrant Services community outreach manager Hannah Holt told the Sun she’s excited about the new round of Newcomer Community Integration Support funding that the province unveiled on Monday. (File)
According to Holt, this marks the highest number of newcomers WIS has dealt with in a single year.
This influx of activity is being attributed to destabilizing global events like the ongoing war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, with the latter creating a backlog of cases that are finally being dealt with.
“So it feels like there’s never a dull moment here,” Holt said on Monday.
In terms of what the latest Newcomer Community Integration Support funds will be used for, Holt said it will most likely be put aside to bolster WIS’ direct support services, where members consult with international students, temporary foreign workers and naturalized citizens in person.
“So if they have a question they can just talk with a facilitator right then and there,” Holt said, revealing that some of WIS’ most regular stops include post-secondary schools and Maple Leaf Foods facilities.
“And that could be over a number of different issues. They could be having trouble with housing. On the student side, they could be looking for employment. We can also talk about volunteer opportunities.”
WIS’ goals with this new funding are directly in line with the Newcomer Community Integration Support program, which is designed to help build support networks in Manitoba and better assist newcomers as they integrate into their new lives.
“Attracting and retaining new immigrants has been identified as a key factor in Manitoba’s post-pandemic economic recovery,” Labour and Immigration Minister Jon Reyes said in an accompanying news release.
“This funding supports our government’s vision of a skilled and talented Manitoba, a key component of which is to welcome newcomers and ensure they are able to participate fully in the community and contribute to a growing economy.”
While many of the projects approved for this $4 million in funding are based in Winnipeg, some organizations serve communities outside the provincial capital.
On top of WIS, these organizations include North West Regional Immigrant Services Inc., Portage Learning and Literacy Centre Inc. and the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce (Eastman Immigrant Services).
» The Brandon Sun