Newcomers Archives - SRDC

Understanding the Experiences of Equity-Deserving Students and Prospective Students who Face Barriers Accessing Student Financial Assistance

Wallaa Daramlly — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:53:19 +0000

This project examines the experiences of equity-deserving individuals who face barriers to accessing student financial assistance (SFA) in Canada. Despite the availability of federal and provincial supports, some current and prospective postsecondary students do not apply for or receive financial aid, even when they may be eligible. This study seeks to understand why.

Using a mixed-methods research design, the project gathers evidence from two groups: current postsecondary students who are not using student financial assistance and youth aged 18 to 30 who are not currently enrolled in postsecondary education. Surveys provide national-level insight into awareness, perceptions, and barriers, while in-depth interviews explore how financial, administrative, informational, and personal factors shape decision-making.

By centring the lived experiences of equity-deserving populations, the project aims to generate actionable evidence to inform policy improvements to make SFA more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of diverse learners across Canada.

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Employment Support for Refugees with Lower Levels of English in Their First Year in Canada

Wallaa Daramlly — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 17:35:03 +0000

Led by MOSAIC, this project pilots a targeted training and employment support approach for refugees within their first year in Canada who face barriers to accessing existing services, particularly due to lower levels of English proficiency. Delivered through two cohorts serving up to 24 participants, the project combines customized language training with early labour market supports, cohort-based peer learning, and supported referral pathways between settlement and employment services. The approach builds on insights from a 2025 Future Skills Centre project and addresses gaps in current services from the perspective of refugees navigating employment systems in British Columbia.

The project tests whether targeted programming accelerates labour market integration and self-sufficiency for refugees with low English proficiency. Through ongoing evaluation, the project examines which elements of the programming, such as tailored English language training and first language supports, are most effective in helping participants find and sustain employment, and how participant outcomes compare with historical settlement and employment trajectories. Findings will be used to refine the program and inform future replication.

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Sector Consultation on AMSSA’s IRCC-Funded Services

Wallaa Daramlly — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:53:14 +0000

SRDC is contracted by AMSSA to conduct a sector consultation and collect feedback on their IRCC-funded indirect services.

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Strategic Learning Partner for PIAAC Research Initiative

Wallaa Daramlly — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 15:26:17 +0000

FSC has partnered with SRDC to launch a new research initiative to advance the use of the OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) data in addressing critical gaps in Canada’s skills development ecosystem. SRDC‘s role includes the following activities: Support for the FSC’s call for proposals to fund up to 10 research projects that strengthen evidence on the role of skills in driving productivity, prosperity, and well-being, and on the mechanisms through which skills are developed, retained, and lost, using PIAAC data; provision of subject matter and methodological expertise to support delivery of the project; conducting one or more research project(s) that complements the selected funded projects, filling in strategic gaps that are not addressed through the Call for Proposals and/or that relate to SRDC’s specific areas of expertise; and organizing and facilitating a PIAAC Research Seminar in Toronto during fall 2026, to generate dialogue and sharing between researchers.

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LINC Sector Coordination

Wallaa Daramlly — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 15:06:50 +0000

This project engages with LINC Sector Coordination stakeholders such as attendees at LINC Gatherings, members of the Settlement Language Working Group and Advisory Group, participants in LINC teacher training, and MOSAIC staff through interviews and focus groups. The goal is to learn what is working, for whom, and why, and to identify areas for adjustment.

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Consultant for the Dedicated Needs and Assets Assessment and Referral Services (NAARS) Community of Practice

Wallaa Daramlly — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 14:51:36 +0000

SRDC is supporting DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society’s Community of Practice for the development of a dedicated Needs and Assets Assessment and Referral Services (NAARS) model in Surrey, BC. This project strengthens local capacity and brings together frontline organizations, service providers, and stakeholders to share insights, and support effective NAARS implementation. DIVERSEcity leads the initiative locally, engaging partners and coordinating CoP activities, while SRDC provides strategic guidance, research expertise, and facilitation to ensure the developed model is responsive, evidence-informed, and community-driven.

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Newcomers with Remote Information and Career Help in British Columbia and Yukon (ENRICH BCY)

Wallaa Daramlly — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 19:26:14 +0000

Led by Douglas College and in partnership with the Yukon Literacy Coalition, this project’s overarching goals are to enhance newcomer settlement and integration in rural and remote regions of British Columbia and the Yukon (BCY). Our approach emphasizes community engagement and local partnerships to co-design online tools and resources that complement rather than duplicate existing in-person services. Specific areas of focus include developing pre-arrival information to enhance migration pathways; facilitating social and economic integration to promote newcomer retention and address local skill and labour needs; supporting truth and reconciliation through the integration of First Nations history, culture, and governance into settlement services; and addressing gaps in existing community and settlement services to improve newcomers’ access to supports. Consultations (in person and remote) with newcomers, employers, First Nations representatives, community leaders, and service providers are used to i) collect information on local contexts, strengths, services, and needs, and ii) co-design and develop ideas for service enhancements to pilot with local communities. Our evaluation focuses on tracking outcomes, identifying areas for improvement, and capturing lessons learned for further enhancement related to program design and delivery.

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Analysis and Evaluation of the Clic en Ligne Program

Wallaa Daramlly — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 18:41:52 +0000

The CLIC en ligne program, funded by IRCC, is designed for newcomers to Canada to support their French language learning. Unlike other CLIC programs, CLIC en ligne is a self-directed program that enables newcomers to improve their French language skills. This program offers flexible learning through an online platform accessible at all times, allowing learners to progress at their own pace according to the CLB levels.

In addition to self-learning, each participant benefits from a weekly one-hour small group class with three people, as well as a monthly one-on-one meeting with an instructor. SRDC is conducting the evaluation of this program with the goal of examining its implementation (e.g., quality of services provided), effectiveness (e.g., achievement of program objectives), and efficiency (e.g., efficiency of processes and procedures) to ensure that the CLIC en ligne program offers a high-quality learning experience that meets learners’ expectations and the objectives set by IRCC.

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Co-Development of a Community Broker Model

Wallaa Daramlly — Sat, 31 May 2025 18:33:20 +0000

Six Local Immigration Partnerships (LIPS) in Burnaby, Surrey, Vancouver, New Westminster, Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows, and Langley, serving the most diverse and fastest growing municipalities in BC are collaborating to develop and implement a Community Broker model to enhance newcomer integration outcomes in their communities, especially among new and emerging racial and ethnic groups. SRDC is supporting the Burnaby LIP and its partnering LIPS to co-develop a community broker model. SRDC is undertaking a literature review, key informant interviews, and focus groups with newcomers, as well as design sessions with LIPs to develop a model adapted to the local context.

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Connecting Canada: Testing Innovative Immigrant Attraction Approaches While Building Attraction Capacity in Smaller Urban and Rural Communities

Wallaa Daramlly — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 13:49:16 +0000

Connecting Canada will test the effectiveness of newcomer attraction capacity building initiatives in smaller urban and rural (SUR) communities. Knowledge and relationships gained from 3 years of SDI-funded research that connected pre-arrival immigrants with SUR employers will be leveraged. SUR community feedback has shown a need for collaborative capacity building mechanisms and shared resources. The project aims to expand communities’ capacity as well as build evidence and knowledge on the effectiveness of varying service interventions. Connecting Canada targets SUR communities across Canada and the immigrants who might be interested in settling in those communities. This project aims to test a variety of capacity-building measures, working intensively with 3 anchor communities, broadly with at least 30+ additional communities and engaging at least 5,000 newcomers. SRDC is the project’s research and evaluation partner. Our role is to develop a newcomer attraction capacity index and to implement it as well as to evaluate the project’s progress towards anticipated results.

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