The Impacts of the Neighbourhood Immigrant Settlement Worker
The Neighbourhood Immigrant Settlement Worker (NISW) is one of the programs established by the Province of Manitoba to help newcomers adjust to life in Canada. The program is funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Manitoba Immigration and Multiculturalism, and NISWs are hosted by community organizations. In this case, The Family Centre of Winnipeg hosts an NISW who provides supports and assistance to newcomers in the Tuxedo, River Heights and Fort Rouge neighbourhoods. Through conversations with staff at The Family Centre and a focus group with clients, this report examines the NISW role in supporting newcomer families and individuals. It finds that, given the challenges of learning Canadian culture and systems, having a guide—someone who knows how to navigate this culture and systems—is central to many newcomers’ successful adaptation and integration.
