Transcript Promoting Harmony in a Diverse Community

Promoting
Harmony in a
Diverse
Community
Jean Foster
Windsor Public Library
Iole Iadipaolo
New Canadians’ Centre of Excellence Inc.
Our Community
Windsor ON
Population
Land Area (sq. km.)
216,473
146.1
Population Density
1,473.5
Median Family Income
$62,887
Non-Official Mother Tongue
30%
1 Arabic 2 South Asian 3 Chinese
Immigrants
28%
Unemployment
> 10%
Major Industry
Automotive
Education
HS or less 54%
Promoting Diversity
in Windsor
•
Harmony Ribbon
•
Carrousel of Nations
•
World Refugee Day
•
Multicultural Day
•
Anti-Racism Day
•
CMARD (Canadian
Coalition of Municipalities
Against Racism and
Discrimination)
•
Race and Ethno-Cultural
Committee
How We Have Changed
1996 - 2006
Growing Diversity
200000
150000
100000
50000
0
Population
Immigrants
Visible
Minorities
1996
195125
46250
24800
2001
205865
55325
35550
2006
214255
59855
45060
Windsor ON
Windsor ON
250000
Ethnicity
10000
7500
5000
2500
0
1996
2001
2006
Path to Success
WPL & NCCE Inc
Joint Summer Programs for children
Community Celebrations
SWIS workers in libraries … summer pilot
Making the road
by walking it.
Anonymous
Staff
roles detailed
Library
demographics
Hours
of service demand
Who We Are
NCCE Inc. is a community based, direct-service
agency with exists to assist, support and
promote the full and equitable participation
of immigrants and refugees in all aspects of
social, cultural and economic life in the
Windsor-Essex region.
WPL – Universal Access to the Universe of Ideas
Windsor Public Library exists so that
residents of Windsor and those who own or
rent property in Windsor have information,
recreation and enriched lives.
Working together since 2001
Our Strengths
WPL

Safe, Free, Easy to find

Neighbourhood branches

Community Celebrations / Meeting Place

Collections in 25 languages; free Internet
access

e-Resources for living and learning in
Canada

Leisure Activities – Programs for all ages
Our Strengths
NCCE Inc .

Settlement program successes

Employment services

Language training

Youth programs

Child Care services

Translation services

Community Outreach through multi
Windsor-Essex sites
Library Settlement
Program
LSP offers a unique and innovative Newcomer
Information Service at libraries in 11 communities
throughout Ontario
Windsor ’s history of providing services to
newcomers through NCCE Inc and WPL predated
the 2006 pilot LSP programs in Toronto, Ottawa
and Hamilton. Implementation of the LSP model
in Windsor at 3 public library branches in 2007
was a natural evolution of service delivery for our
diverse community.
Working Together
CIC – Canadian Immigration
& Citizenship
NCCE – New Canadians’
Centre of Excellence, Inc
WPL
WPL – Windsor Public
Library
NCCE
Inc
CIC
in Windsor

Signage and promotional materials professionally
developed by CIC

Permanent workstation space for LSP workers

Additional resources for libraries focused on
newcomer needs

Services in Windsor include Occasional Childcare
for newcomer families while the adults talk with a
settlement worker or attend information sessions
and events.

Specialized customer service training

Data collection
in Windsor
Special Events

‘Twas the Nite before Christmas

World Refugee Day

Coming Soon: Chinese New Year, Persian New Year
Benefits for our
Community
Community Capacity Building
Family Literacy
Citizen Engagement
Economic Development
Community
Capacity
Building
Information & referral
Social and cultural
interaction
Intra-cultural understanding
Community integration
“When positive relationships
are nurtured and sustained,
the relationship creates
benefits for the entire
community”
Reza Shahbazi
ED NCCE Inc
Family Literacy
Programs for children and caregivers
Library cards are
FREE
Mother Goose
Children’s storytimes
Arts and crafts
 Book Buddies – Homework Help
Resources:
Dual Language books –
introduce English; preserve native language
Literacy resources – varied reading levels
Books on CD
English proficiency preparation
Career / accreditation resources
Current events – international newspapers
Citizen
Engagement
Libraries are places …
“where citizens can engage
in quiet reflection and study,
able to pursue their own
intellectual projects and
personal growth free of the
commercial pressures and
ideological positions that
permeate almost every other
aspect of life.”
Three Perspectives on Libraries as Public Space
by Gloria J. Leckie

Government documents –
professional librarian
guidance available

Community speakers

Current events –
newspapers & magazines

Municipal information
releases & documents

Provide feedback through
municipal surveys
Economic
Development
Professional Resources
o
o
NCCE Inc Global
Business Centre

Training

Accreditation
WPL Research Resources

Databases for learning,
business & current
events

Librarians – in person
or online chat
Contact Us
Iole Iadipaolo
SWIS Manager
New Canadians’ Centre of Excellence Inc.
[email protected]
Jean Foster
Acting CEO
Windsor Public Library
[email protected]