Canadian Educational Initiatives to Support Refugee Student Learning From Three Provinces

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Canada prides itself to be the number one country in the world welcoming refugees based on humanitarian basis. In parallel, educational systems are supporting refugee youth integration through continued research and teacher training. This symposium explores how researchers from four different provinces are responding to the refugee crisis. While in Quebec, teachers are striving to support the psychosocial needs of their refugee students, in Manitoba researchers are focusing on vicarious trauma for students and teachers. Acknowledging the importance of parental engagement in school community, in Alberta researchers are exploring ways to optimize the parent-school collaboration. Finally, in British Columbia, some programs such as Bridge have been put in place to support the student integration at school while involving all stakeholders

Sub Unit

• Division K - Teaching and Teacher Education / Division K - Section 04: Multicultural, Inclusive, and Social Justice Frameworks in PK-16+ Settings

Chair

• Jan Stewart, University of Winnipeg

Papers

• Addressing the Risk and Impact of Trauma-Exposure in Manitoba Education Professionals - Kari Cherise McCluskey, University of Winnipeg

• Improving Refugee Student Learning Through Building a More Meaningful Home-School Relationship Among Arab Communities - Rahat Zaidi, University of Calgary; Dania El Chaar, University of Calgary; Christine Oliver, Calgary Board of Education; Hanan Alwarraq, University of Calgary

• The Left Coast Solution: Educators and Stakeholders Collaborate on Integrating Refugees in British Columbia, Canada - Susan Barber, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada