TIES Paves the Way for a More Inclusive Canada with Centre for Immigrant Research

Calgary, Alberta – April 24, 2024

TIES (The Immigrant Education Society) is breaking new ground in newcomer support with the launch of its Centre for Immigrant Research. This is an expansion of their Research and Program Development department (RPD), dedicated to understanding the unique challenges of newcomers and developing programs that address their needs and empower them to thrive.

The Centre is a culmination of years of dedication and vision from TIES President & CEO, Dr. Sally Zhao, and the late Vice-President for Research, Dr. Cesar Suva. Their vision was to establish programming to support immigrants based on evidence and also respond to our clients' needs in real-time.

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“Since 2018, our work has crystallized into three streams; community-based research, program development and evaluation”, notes Katerina Palova. “We’ve completed over 20 projects and published almost 30 publications since then”, says Katerina Palova, Manager, Research & Program Development.

Over the past 5 years, the department has ballooned from 2 staff members to close to 20 employees and contractors. The department prides itself on involving immigrants in the process of their research. “By actively involving immigrants, we can work with them closely to understand their needs and challenges in their new country”, notes Palova. “Research is conducted with immigrants, for immigrants to bridge the gap between research and action, translating their insights into programs that can help them integrate smoothly into their new country”.

The first partnership, in 2018, exemplified this through an examination of the emotional wellness of newcomers across the Prairies. This project, in partnership with the University of Calgary, evolved into the TIES Healthy Minds program, which today provides certified counselling, mental health information and workshops that address social, cultural, linguistic and economic barriers for newcomers.  

The success of the Healthy Minds program demonstrates the power of TIES's research-driven approach. Building on this foundation, the Centre for Immigrant Research has forged more partnerships, tackling a wide range of challenges faced by newcomers, including:

• VIA - An investigation to better understand 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomer youth’s social lives, cultural practices, and the complexity of their experiences regarding gender-based violence and intersecting identities.
• LENS - The impact of Employment Social Enterprises on newcomer and BIPOC populations in overcoming socioeconomic barriers.
• GROWing with Newcomers - Using gardening as a medium to strengthen community ties and enhance the settlement experience of newcomers in Calgary.

Centre for Immigrant Research – Background

Additional TIES Research & Programs

TIES Reports & Peer Reviewed Papers

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