WESTMAN AREA RECEIVES $1.7 MILLION TO HELP IMMIGRANTS SUCCEED

March 31, 2010
Funding Nearly Triples Since 2007 for Language and Settlement Services: Howard

Newly arrived Manitobans to Brandon and the Westman region will benefit from $260,000 in additional funding for settlement services and adult language training, Labour and Immigration Minister Jennifer Howard announced today.
“We recognize that Westman communities have seen tremendous growth in immigration and this increase in funding ensures that new Manitobans will continue to have access to the many settlement services available,” said Howard.
The new funding will bring the total support from Manitoba Labour and Immigration and Citizenship and Immigration Canada to nearly $1.7 million for the Westman region, a 19 per cent increase over last year. Since 2007, funding for settlement and language training programming in the Westman region has nearly tripled.
Settlement, integration and language-training services being funded include:
· day and evening adult language training in Brandon, English for bank tellers and trades, language labs, tutoring and evening classes in Dauphin, Russell, Binscarth, and Roblin, offered by Assiniboine Community College;
· adult language training in the workplace and job-specific language training provided by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in partnership with Manitoba Labour and Immigration and Maple Leaf Foods; and
· co-ordinated and integrated programming offered by Westman Immigrant Services including settlement assistance and orientation on living in Manitoba, adult language training classes, regional language assessment and referral to adult language training classes, volunteer and literacy support programs, referrals to employment supports and training for interpreters.

“We are committed to helping immigrants and refugees settle, work and succeed in Manitoba,” said Howard. “The settlement services and language training programs being funded provide new Manitobans with the tools they need to thrive in the social and economic life of Manitoba.”

Immigration to Brandon has increased from 81 arrivals in 2003 to approximately 1,150 arrivals in 2009, primarily due to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, said Howard. Since 2003, Brandon has received over 3,000 newcomers. In 2009, over 26 per cent of all immigrants settled in Manitoba communities outside of Winnipeg.

- 30 -