isans presentation to onens coalition
TRANSCRIPT
Who We Are
• Celebrates 35 years of service to immigrants in 2015
• Primary contact on refugee, settlement & immigration issues for 2,000+ organisations, employers, govts. & individuals/year
• 4,188 clients served last year (2,222 new)
• 450+ trained volunteers
• 120 qualified staff and 45 countries of staff origin
• 90 countries of client origin
• 150+ NS communities served, 5 offices – Halifax, Bridgewater, Truro, Sydney and Kentville
• Pre-arrival access to all N.S. destined immigrants inc. all PNs
• 90% ISANS services available at a distance (language, business, employer engagement, employment, orientation, bridging programs, online courses)
Who is ISANS
What We DoDistance and Online Services
ISANS provides many opportunities for immigrants to develop skills and make connections pre-arrival, online and throughout Nova Scotia.
Get Settled
We help immigrants to settle and gives orientation to living in Nova Scotia.
• Intake, needs assessment and referral
• Orientation services • Settlement support • CrIsis intervention
services • Refugee support • Family support • Counselling• Interpretation and
translation • Health support • Private refugee
sponsorship support
Learn English
We offer a variety of language programs for immigrants to Nova Scotia.
• Literacy • Literacy and Sign Language
for deaf students • Family learning program • English for everyday living • English for work and
business • Communication for
healthcare professionals and engineers
• Evening English classes • English in the Workplace
Find Employment
We help immigrants to be independent and effective in their job search.
• Employment counselling• Job search workshops • Job Search Resource
Centre • Online Skills Match • Practice interviews • Work placements • Professional mentors • Profession-specific
bridging programs • Pathways to licensure • Career Pathway Loan
Fund • Computer training • Job Development
Do Business
We provide services and support to immigrants at all stages of business start-up and development.
• Business counselling at our offices and on-site at businesses
• Business workshops, information and referral
• Networking and showcase events
• Monthly business newsletter
• Online Business Directory
What We DoStay Informed
Our resources are available online at www.Immigrant Settlement & Integration Servicesns.ca
• Facts and statistics • Reports • Articles • Teaching and
learning materials
Get Involved
We offer training and a variety of opportunities for volunteers.
• Community volunteer • Professional mentor • Practice interviewer • Classroom assistant • And more!
Employer Support
We help employers build strong and diverse workplaces.
• Online Skills Match • Pre-screened qualified
candidates • Work placement • On-site recruitment
sessions • Workplace culture
workshops • English in the Workplace
Temporary Foreign Workers
We provide support for Temporary Foreign Workers and their families.
• Counselling• Information and referrals • Translation services • Employment Counsellor
support
Connect with the Community
ISANS connects immigrants with volunteers and the community.
• Community volunteers • Welcoming events • Building Cultural
Competence Workshops • Newcomer Community
Wellness Project • Young Women’s
Leadership Project
Permanent & Temporary Resident Entries to Nova Scotia 2013
1,971 1,9441,210
581 902
1,058
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
Permanent Residents International students Temporary workers
Halifax Other Nova Scotia
Setting the Context: Permanent and Temporary Residents to NS 2013
(intended destination)
Setting the Context:Permanent Residents by Category to Nova Scotia
Category2012 2013
Number % Number %
Family Class 470 21% 595 24%
Economic Immigrants(PNs)
1,625(954)
69%(41%)
1,680 66%
Refugees 195 8% 200 8%
Other Immigrants 55 2% 55 2%
Total 2,340 100% 2,530 100%
Who We Are
• One NS Report recommends increase to 7,000 (now 2,500)
• In NS 25% new labour market entrants are immigrants. All
labour force growth in NS for last 4 years from immigration
• Immigrant population 42% univ. educated – NS 17%
• Immigrants bring innovation, markets, global competitive edge
• 1% increase in # immigrants corresponds to increase in
imports of .2% and exports .1% (Conf. Bd Canada)
• 51% international students would like to stay (NS Dept. Ed.)
• 80% (+)settle in Halifax
Setting the Context:What do we know?
Nova Scotia immigrants:
- contribute a higher % income tax than Canadian born
- earn a higher % income via self employment than Cdn born
- are less likely to receive social assist. than other Cdn immigrants
- are more likely to be in business after 3 years than Cdn born
- have an IMG/IPG exam pass rate way above national average
- earn more than non-immigrants in Hfx but not in To. (Akbari)
- are more likely to be working than those in most other provinces
and 2x as likely in their professions
Immigrants are doing well in Nova ScotiaSetting the Context:
Immigrants are doing well in Nova Scotia
- People bring people - Build on communities/networks in place
- Work with WES to target IE applicants interested in NS
- Publicly support private refugee sponsorship
- Pilot an initiative around secondary migration
- NS competitive advantage - Pre-arrival/Skills Match– Use them
- Employers are key, but most are SMEs – promote ISANS to them
- Make asking for Canadian experience illegal (Already in Ont.)
- Market NS as destination of choice: ‘Immigrants do better here’
- Let ISANS work with international grads/final yr students
- Use ISANS’ stories and data
What can municipalities do?What are some suggestions?
Sergey Sanders created his own company -Sesa Design Inc. in Bedford
Samson Zeremariam helping to sponsor private refugees from Eritrea
Zrinka Seles-Vranjes - giving back to a community that has given her so much
