Why This Commitment?

In the Bow Valley, we have a strong network of settlement and language services to help newcomers thrive. These services can help newcomers to Canada:

• navigate immigration processes

• maintain legal status in Canada

• understand life in Canada, including rights & responsibilities

• improve official language fluency

• access community services, resources, and opportunities

• develop and assess workplace skills

• build social networks and connect with the community

It can be difficult for newcomers to Canada to know where to begin to access these resources. Fortunately, the team at Settlement Services in the Bow Valley can provide both direct support and supported referrals to other services for newcomers to Canada.

By helping your team members connect with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley’s free and confidential services when they arrive in the community, start a new job, or apply to become a Permanent Resident of Canada, you’ll be connecting them with critical information at an important time of transition. At the same time, you’ll help open a door to the full range of free community supports available to visa holders and Permanent Residents of Canada. These services will accelerate your team members’ settlement journey and encourage new locals to stay and thrive in our welcoming community.

Evaluation Plan

Implementing this commitment should result in referrals to Settlement Services in the Bow Valley, so we’ll look for evidence that your team members are connecting with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley.

WIC 2023 signatories will be invited to a meeting with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley in October 2023 to discuss progress on this commitment and troubleshoot any implementation challenges. If your organization implementing this commitment, but it has not yet resulted in referrals, Settlement Services will help troubleshoot those challenges with you at that time.

In January 2024, the Settlement Services in the Bow Valley (SSBV) team will ask you to describe how your organization shares the Settlement Services in the Bow Valley introductory video and referral form with new employees or employees who are becoming Permanent Residents of Canada. SSBV will make a determination about whether your organization has met the requirements of this commitment based on:

• Evidence of referrals from your organization

• Attendance at the October 2023 check-in meeting and/or other communication during the WIC 2023 period indicating that a good faith effort to implement this commitment has been made

• The January 2024 discussion about the referral processes your business has established

Resources

Settlement Services Referral Form

Use the online Settlement Services Referral Form to connect employees with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley.

• Information collected in this form will be kept confidential and used only by Settlement Services in the Bow Valley for the purposes of delivering free, confidential, settlement support services.

• Whether sending this form to new hires directly or filling it out on their behalf, please be sure to explain in plain language the benefits of the services offered and how the personal information collected will be used.

• Here’s some language you can use:

1. Asking new employees to complete the form themselves:

   ”As you saw in the video we just watched, our community offers free support services for newcomers to Canada. We encourage you to complete this form to connect with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley. Your contact information will not be shared, and Settlement Services in the Bow Valley will only contact you to tell you about the free services available to you.”

2. Filling out a form on behalf of new employees:
   ”As you saw in the video we just watched, our community offers free and confidential support for newcomers to Canada. We would like to share your name, phone number, and email address with Settlement Services in the Bow Valley. They will only contact you to tell you about the free services available to you. Do I have your permission to give Settlement Services in the Bow Valley your contact information?”

Supporting Organization: Settlement Services in the Bow Valley

For support with this commitment, contact:

Heather Bates
Community Connections Supervisor
Settlement Services in the Bow Valley
heather.bates@banff.ca