GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, NL – The provincial government has announced over $341,000 in funding for initiatives that will support settlement and integration of newcomers to Newfoundland and Labrador.
The funding is being provided through the Newfoundland and Labrador Settlement and Integration Program.
Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Minister Al Hawkins made the announcement in Grand Falls-Windsor today, Dec. 21.
“Settlement and integration programs help newcomers throughout Newfoundland and Labrador to be fully engaged in their communities. These practical services and supports will make it easier for all regions of the province to retain immigrants and encourage social, cultural, and economic development,” Hawkins said in a news release.
One of the initiatives will see the creation of satellite offices of the Association for New Canadians in the Labrador, western and central regions of the province, a pilot project also availing of funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Megan Morris, the organization’s executive director, applauded the funding.
“The programming announced today will help build on the strong foundation of settlement supports and language services offered in Newfoundland and Labrador. With this additional support, we look forward to expanding our service network to assist newcomers as they settle and integrate in regions across the province,” she said.
Some of the funding will also be used to develop English as a Second Language curriculum by Memorial University of Newfoundland.
The provincial government is aiming to increase the annual number of immigrants to the province to 1,700 by 2022.
Initiatives approved through the NL Settlement and Integration Program
· $76,638 for the Association of New Canadians to pilot satellite offices to service the four regions of the province, based in Labrador City, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Corner Brook, and Grand Falls-Windsor. The Association of New Canadians will also be using funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada towards this initiative.
· $46,670 will be provided to the Federation des Francophones de Terre Neuve et Labrador to enhance French-language settlement services for Francophone individuals.
· The Association for New Canadians will also receive $26,000 to coordinate the private sponsorship of refugees throughout the province.
· $150,000 for Memorial University of Newfoundland to develop eight modules for the online delivery of English as a Second Language classes for newcomers before they arrive in the province and continuing afterward.
· Memorial University will also receive $13,395 to increase social engagement between international student families and the wider community.
· A provision of $10,700 for the Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador, to help empower women by practicing and improving their English language skills in conversational circles.
· $10,037 for the City of St. John's Local Immigration Partnership to develop and host an interactive, online map of services available on the Northeast Avalon.
· $5,100 for the Bethesda Pentecostal Church to deliver informal conversational ESL classes for newcomers.
· $3,000 for Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries to provide a multilingual book collection and promotional materials as well as deliver a Storytime conversational circle.
