Sign up for the battlefordsNOW newsletter

Immigration Resource Centre shares successes, challenges faced by newcomers

Aug 22, 2018 | 4:59 PM

North Battlefords is becoming something of a hub for newcomers in the province, based on the latest report from the Battlefords Immigration Resource Centre. 

BIRC Executive Director Annette McGovern and board member Benedict Feist gave a presentation at North Battleford council’s meeting Monday, discussing increased immigration to the area, as well as some of the challenges facing newcomers as they settle here.

“We were looking to just draw attention to the immigration statistics here in the Battlefords,” Feist said. “We were also speaking to the city about strategic planning for immigration here in North Battleford.” 

As a start, the BIRC has asked to have the North Battleford public bus service include a regular bus stop in front of the BIRC, since many newcomers rely on public transportation when they first arrive, and use the BIRC’s services.

“We talked about the difficulties newcomers to the community sometimes face with transportation,” Feist said. 

He said newcomers often struggle with a number of challenges, such as finding affordable housing for their families, and understanding the process to access health care.

They also need to find work when they settle, so that can be another hurdle to overcome. Learning the English language is an added challenge for many. Newcomers also have to arrange for their children’s placement in the school system when they arrive. 

Feist said newcomers also have to learn about policing and the justice system here in the event that may impact them. 

He added new immigrants are making a positive contribution to the growth of North Battleford. A total of about 1,370 immigrants relocated to North Battleford since 2001, based on Statistics Canada’s information. This represents about 10 per cent of the city’s population.

“We certainly see a large Filipino communiity here that’s growing,” Feist said.

He added there is also a new mosque that has opened in North Battleford to serve newcomers who are of the Muslim faith.

The BIRC provides support to newcomers, helping them access services in the community. The BIRC also often assists newcomers with the paper work required in a certain task, whether they seeking rental housing, or obtaining a mortgage, for example.   

The BIRC will also advocate for them if they need help to do something in the community, such as by finding them a translator.

“Just talking about those (issues) is a good thing for municipal governments to do,” Feist said.

He added he hopes the City of North Battleford will keep the needs of newcomers in mind when making decisions on planning and other initiatives. 

“It’s important to understand how immigration is impacting our community, and to understand we are becoming a more diverse and multi-cultural city than we might have been 10 or 15 years ago,” Feist added. 

 

Angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW