Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Integrated Immigrant Services Association (KLHIISA) is collaborating with the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough to offer a series of six free, practical workshops designed to support immigrants and newcomers in Kawartha Lakes.
With three workshops in the spring and another three in the fall, the series will cover topics including immigrant orientation and resources available to newcomers, navigating the healthcare system, understanding legal rights and responsibilities and how the justice system works, employment standards and the labour market, the housing and rental market, and children services and family welfare.
Each of the workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ampere Kawartha Lakes Makerspace in Lindsay, with a virtual option for people not available to attend in person. The first workshop in the series, on immigrant orientation and newcomer resources, takes place on Thursday, March 26.
The series is being funded through Together for Justice, a community-driven initiative announced in January with $180,000 in funding for six local non-profit organizations in Kawartha Lakes to support residents who need help navigating the justice system.
Led by the Kawartha Community Foundation (formerly Community Foundation of Kawartha Lakes), the initiative is funded by Community Foundations of Canada along with The Law Foundation of Ontario.
While some of the organizations are using the Together for Justice funding to support existing programs, KLHIISA decided to launch a new program that directly responds to the local need to address legal and other barriers that exist for newcomers adjusting to everyday life in a new community.
“When we look at healthcare, it could be quite complex,” says KLHIISA’s director of operations Geraldine Silva. “For example, I’m from Nigeria and when it comes to things like prescription medication, we can just go to a chemist (pharmacist) and buy anything. So, a new immigrant from Nigeria might not understand that you have to go through a process (to get a prescription).”
Silva adds that newcomers are also often unaware of their legal rights in Canada when it comes to the rental market.
“We have community members who couldn’t stay in Kawartha Lakes because landlords were requesting one year rent in advance or two years in advance. We have that happening all the time, but that’s not legal, so they need to know their rights.”
Silva says the challenges newcomers face are amplified in rural communities in Kawartha Lakes that have limited local services and transportation available. As an example, she points to limited transportation options for newcomers to get to the GTA for citizenship tests or ceremonies.
“An immigration swearing-in (ceremony) is not something that you can put off and hopefully do next year,” she says.
The workshops, which participants can register for individually or as a whole series, are designed so newcomers — including immigrants, refugee and asylum seekrs, international students, and migrant workers — and those who serve newcomers can learn directly from experts in each sector.
Guest speakers include Dr. David Firang of Trent University, Christine Crough from the Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Ontario Health Team, Lisa Loader from the Community Legal Aid Clinic Simcoe Haliburton Kawartha Lakes, and immigration lawyer Ebanehita Joan Edeko.
There will be a virtual option for each workshop for participants who are unable to attend in person, and each workshop will be recorded.
“Kawartha Lakes is a very vast rural region, so we might have someone who is in Fenelon Falls or someone who is in Kinmount who doesn’t have transportation and might have challenges participating in this,” says Silva. “We’re trying to break down all barriers with an opportunity to get accurate information and to get the facts from professionals.”
The interactive workshops will include open discussions, question-and-answer periods, and opportunities for participants to share experiences and explore real-life scenarios that help them better understand their rights and supports. Beyond gaining practical knowledge and professional contacts that can be used in the future, Silva says participants can develop a stronger sense of community through the workshops.
“Isolation is a very big issue in our community,” Silva points out. “There are a lot of immigration categories in Canada, so people may be isolated in their immigration category and think ‘This is my problem alone.’ The beautiful thing about this program is that it’s open to everyone regardless of their immigration status.”
Silva says KLHIISA hopes that participants will leave the workshops feeling empowered and knowing their rights and the local supports that are available to them.
“Where I come from in Africa, we say knowledge is power,” she says. “We hope they will be confident, and they will feel connected and have a sense of belonging.”
Below is a list of all workshops in the series.
- Thursday, March 26: Immigration Orientation & Newcomer Resources – The first session will focus on understanding immigration pathways, settlement supports, and key services available to newcomers.
- Thursday, April 30: Navigating the Health Care System – Participants will learn how to access services in health care systems and gain a helpful guide on allied health care services and wellness resources.
- Tuesday, May 26: Criminal Justice, Legal Rights & Responsibilities – Participants will be guided on understanding legal rights and responsibilities and how the justice system works.
- Thursday, September 24: Employment Standards & Labour Market Insights – Participants will be guided on knowing their workplace rights and employment standards and reflect on navigating the labour market.
- Thursday, October 29: Housing & Rental Market – Participants will be given an overview of housing options, the rental process, and tenants’ rights under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act.
- Thursday, November 26: Children Services & Family Welfare – Participation will gain information on child care, education supports, family services, and child protection systems.
Each workshop is free to attend, but advance registration is required at rebrand.ly/TFJReg. For more information, contact KWHIISA at info@klhiisa.org or 705-212-2345.
