ImmigrantChildren.ca Archive

Category: Ontario

ON

  • Toronto film event: Family Motel

    Toronto’s Royal Cinema will be running the acclaimed NFB docu-film Family Motel from June 22-24. Many outstanding reviews, including this excerpt from the Montreal Gazette:

    “A hard-working Somalian immigrant and her teenage girls fall victim to high rents and payments to other family members back home and slip through the Ottawa social safety net into homelessness. This gripping NFB-Instinct Films co-production resurrects the powerful fiction/documentary tradition of alternative drama and introduces the amazing non-actor family of Nargis Jibril and daughters Asha and Sagal.“

    John Griffin, Montreal Gazette

  • CERIS announces new domain leader for Family, Children & Youth

    More news from CERIS. 4 new domain leaders have been announced, including Dr. Francis Hare as the new Domain Leader for Family, Children and Youth.
    Dr. Hare founded and taught in the Child and Youth program at Ryerson University in Toronto. He has also taught in Ryerson’s Masters in Early Childhood Studies and the Masters in Immigration and Settlement Studies. His research interests include unaccompanied minors, child refugees and the issue of trafficking.
    Congratulations, Dr. Hare.

  • Social support networks: A study on recent Chinese immigrant mothers and children

    CERIS (The Joint Centre of Excellent for Research in Immigration Studies and Ontario Metropolis centre) has released a new research working paper (No. 66). Development of Social Support Networks by Recent Chinese Immigrant Women with Young Children Living in London, Ontario is a research study conducted by Wei Wei Da. The study was guided by two research questions:

    Where do recent Chinese immigrant women with young children go for information on child-rearing?
    Where and to whom do they turn to when they want help in raising young children in a new socio-cultural context?

  • Ontario consultation on full day learning for 4 and 5 year olds

    The Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) is inviting feedback from the public on its intention to develop and implement what is being called “full day learning for 4 and 5 year olds“. The early learning advisor, Dr. Charles Pascal, provides an introduction to the initiative and provides a list of assumptions he is working under, and a discussion guide, which includes opportunity for input. 
    We are pleased that Dr. Pascal acknowledges and highlights issues related to immigrant children and families. From his list of assumptions, this statement:

    Respect for diversity, equity and inclusion are critical for honoring children’s rights, optimal development, learning, and contributing to a more inclusive society. Ontario is a province of many cultures, religions, and languages and early childhood programs need to reflect those differences. Environments that promote attitudes and beliefs that celebrate equity, diversity and democracy and are inclusive of children with special needs enable character development and provide children with a strong sense of self in relation to others. Quality early learning environments incorporate the diversity of their participants to enrich programming for all. As well, while universally available, effective early learning programming should adapt to a wide variety of individual differences and needs of children and families.

  • Our schools, our communities: Equity, inclusion and social justice

    The next Ontario Inclusion Learning Network (OILN) Learning Exchange Series will be on the topic of Our Schools, Our Communities: A Vital Conversation on Equity, Inclusion, Social Justice and the Possibilities for Change. Panelists:

    Carolyn Acker, Pathways to Education
    Michelle Cho, Urban Alliance for Race Relations
    Lloyd McKell, Toronto District School Board

    This free event will be held Friday, June 6, 9am-12:30pm at the Harbourfront Community Centre. RSVP by May 30. For more information, contact Jadie McDonnell at 416-408-4841 ext 3.

  • Call for expressions of interest: Ontario region of Canadian Heritage

    The Ontario Region of Canadian Heritage is calling for expressions of interest that align with the recently released guidelines for funding from the Multicultural Program.
    The Multicultural Program in Ontario will focus on initiatives that promote:
    – Civic participation
    – Cross-cultural understanding
    – Institutional change.
    Projects should align with the following priorities:
    – Support the economic, social and cultural integration of new Canadians and cultural communities
    – Facilitate programs such as mentorship, volunteerism, leadership and civi education among at-risk cultural youth
    – Promote inter-cultural understanding and Canadian values (democracy, freedom, human rights and rule of law) through community initiatives with the objective of addressing issues of cultural social exclusion.
    Funding preferences will be given to projects that involve multiple partners and that:
    – Focus on action and measurable results leading to sustainable and lasting changes
    – Involve the broad community (community-based, neighourhood-based and/or coalitions that are inclusive)
    – Include other sources of funding, including cash and in-kind contributions.
    Interested parties are invited to submit a pqa1 by Fri. May 23/08 to multi-on@pch.gc.ca or to the attention of Rocky Serkowney, Program Officer, Department of Canadian Heritage, Ontario Region, 150 John St., Suite 400, Toronto ON M5V 3T6.
    Need more info? In the GTA, contact Rocky Serkowney at 416.952.2651. Outside of the GTA, contact Mimi Lo at 519.645.5190.

  • Notice: Planning meeting for Ontario Early Childhood Working Group members

    Ontario Early Childhood Working Group Planning Meeting
    Friday May 16th, 2008
    Ryerson University
    School of Early Childhood Education
    Room KHW 371 (Kerr Hall West)
    3pm-6pm
    RSVP to Roma Chumak-Horbatsch.
    (Map of the Ryerson campus here).

  • OCASI's 30th anniversary

    The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) is planning several events to celebrate their 30th anniversary.
    Some of the events include: A gala dinner on June 26th in Toronto, the Amina Malko Award and the OCASI Award of Excellence (nominations close April 25th), and SWB+08 – Settlement Without Borders 2008 – a symposium “revisioning settlement in Ontario”, June 25-26/08.
    More info as it becomes available, or visit the 30th anniversary website.

  • April 17-18 York U conference: Rethinking the mosaic: Immigration, settlement and the lived experience

    At the end of February, this blog posted notice about and a call for proposals for the York University Graduate School Conference, “Rethinking the Mosaic: Immigration, Settlement and the Lived Experience”. The conference program has now been posted. I am happy to report that children and families are addressed in this conference, including:
    The opening plenary includes Mehru Ali, CERIS domain leader in Family, Children and Youth, and Professor at the School of Early Childhood Education, Ryerson University. 
    A day 2 workshop in the Health and Well-Being section includes Fatima Kediye, School of Early Childhood Education, Ryerson University on the topic of “Somali-Canadian mothers of young children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder”. 
    Also on day 2, a series of workshops on the Experiences of Immigrant/Transnational Families, including:

    • Christina Parker, OISE/UT on the topic of “Canadian children, immigrant parents: Young ‘Canadians’ research their cultural identity”.
    • Lan Zhong, University of Windsor on “The role of the father in Chinese immigrant families”. 
    • Yvette Michele Gnanamuttu, McGill University, on “Inter-ethnic adoption: In whose best interests?”. 
    • Marina Morgenshtern, Wilfrid Laurier University, on “Witnessing the socio-political stories of immigrant couples”. 

    The conference takes place this upcoming week – April 17-18/08. See the CERIS website for more information and to download the complete conference program.

  • War, immigration and trauma: Sick Kids Hospital conference

    The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto is hosting a two-day conference May 16-17/08 on the theme of War, Immigration and Trauma. Features speakers are:
    Dr. Cecile Rousseau, Head, Transcultural Child Psychiatry Clinic, Montreal Children’s Hospital, on “Trauma as a Transformation Process” and Olara A. Otunnu, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, on “Protecting our Children from the Scourge of War”.
    Also featured will be 3 expert panels:
    • Child Development: Interactions with Armed Conflict and Migration
    • Therapeutic Interventions: Talking with Children, Talking with Parents
    • Moving to the Next Level: Implications for Policy & Practice.
    For more information, see the conference website or contact Cathy Ditizio, Conference Administrator at: cathy.ditizio@sickkids.ca.