Settlement Services changing with the times

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Published on Thursday, December 17, 2015

By Ken Waddell

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

Neepawa and Area Immigration and Settlement Services Manager, Don Walmsley was the guest speaker at the Dec. 11 Neepawa Rotary Club meeting. Walmsley gave a brief outline of the early days (2006), when an area welcoming committee pre-dated government support for immigration settlement around Neepawa. It was a local community driven initiative, with an emphasis on helping families obtain clothing, bedding and household items to start their life in Canada.

(Ed. note: The first of the recent immigrants worked at  Springhill Farms, even before it became Hylife and were often from African countries, such as Liberia. When Hylife took over the hog plant, waves of immigrants came from Korea, Ukraine and the Philippines, with smaller numbers from East Timor and South American countries).

The emphasis and scope of such services expanded around 2008, with the province of Manitoba utilizing mostly federal dollars to aid newcomers by advising on a wide range of topics and questions. 

Of primary concern was assisting Temporary Foreign Workers to get their applications completed for the Provincial Nominee program.

The federal government later took over the settlement services work directly and now, the office looks after the needs of people who have achieved Permanent Resident status (PR) and their families. The TFW work is done by the employer and in Neepawa’s case, it’s usually Hylife. PRs have the same rights as citizens but can’t vote. “There are 5-700 PRs here now, counting workers and spouses, and another 170 TFWs are applying for the PR level. There has been 89 additional students in our schools.”

As to acceptance in the community, Walmsley said, “I would be wrong if I didn’t say there have been some issues, but Neepawa deserves a pat on the back, as for the most part, the community has been very welcoming.”

Once a person has obtained PR status, they can apply for Canadian citizenship. “That process can take years and they must achieve a CLB4 level of proficiency in English.”

After his presentation, Walmlsey was asked if there will be a continual turnover and he stated that depends on availability of housing and availability of jobs for spouses. They just can’t make it on one salary and some will move to larger centres where their spouses can get work. About 60-70 spouses are looking for work.

Walmsley was also asked about refugees and whether any Syrian refugees will be coming to Neepawa. He indicated it requires that a community be able to offer housing, support and a job.