An umbrella organization for immigrant-serving agencies in Alberta. AAISA is a centre for research and policy development, and professional development opportunities for settlement professionals, including the only certification program for Settlement Practitioners in Canada.

A “blended” cost-sharing arrangement whereby Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Sponsorship Agreement Holders both contribute to financially support refugees. Refugees under this program have already met eligibility and admissibility criteria, making them travel-ready. However, they must be matched with a sponsor before they can travel to Canada.

A non-profit umbrella organization committed to the rights and protection of refugees in Canada and around the world and to the settlement of refugees and immigrants in Canada.

The use or study of the English language by non-native speakers.

Convention Refugees Abroad whose initial resettlement in Canada is entirely supported by the Government of Canada or Quebec. This support is delivered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) supported non-governmental agencies such as the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society or Catholic Social Services. Support can last up to one year from the date of arrival in Canada, or until the refugee is able to support himself or herself, whichever happens first. This support may include: accommodation, clothing, food, employment, and other resettlement assistance.

The IFHP provides limited, temporary health care coverage for refugee groups (including resettled refugees and refugee claimants), who are not eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance.

Formerly known as Citizen and Immigration Canada (CIC), IRC is the department of the federal federal government that facilitates the arrival of immigrants to Canada, provides protection to refugees, and offers programming to help newcomers settle in Canada.

The IRPA provides the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) with jurisdiction to hear and decide cases on immigration and refugee matters. The IRPA sets out the core principles and concepts that govern Canada’s immigration and refugee protection programs, including provisions relating to refugees, sponsorships and removals, detention reviews and admissibility hearings, and the jurisdiction and powers of tribunals. The IRPA came into force on June 28, 2002.

Launched by the federal government, ISAP supports the settlement and adaptation of newcomers by funding settlement organizations to provide direct services to their clients.

A partnership between IRCC and Alberta Labour to support community-based programs and services that assist newcomers to settle and integrate in Alberta. ISP programs are available to government-assisted refugees and privately-sponsored refugees.

LINC program support language training in English and French to adult newcomers who are permanent residents and refugees.

The mechanism by which the federal government supports the development of community-based partnerships and planning around the needs of newcomers. LIPs engage various stakeholders such as employers, school boards, health centres, professional associations, ethno-cultural organizations, and the community and social sectors in locally-driven strategic planning.

A permanent resident is someone who has been given permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada, but is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents are citizens of other countries.

Through the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program, Canadian citizens and permanent residents help settle PSRs from abroad in Canada. In most cases, PSRs receive financial help from their sponsor, not the government. PSRs are eligible to access the same settlement support services as other permanent residents.

RAP is provided by the Government of Canada to Convention Refugees Abroad and, in some instances, to members of the Country of Asylum Class who have been identified as refugees with special needs and who have been admitted to Canada as government-assisted refugees (GARs). These funds are used to help pay for: meeting the refugee at the airport or port of entry, temporary accommodation, help in finding permanent accommodation, basic household items, and general orientation to life in Canada. This money is also used to give the refugee income support for up to one year or until that person becomes self-sufficient, whichever comes first.

A program designed to support the Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs) of Canada, their Constituent Groups, Groups of Five and Community Sponsors on a national level (excl. Quebec). The objective of the RSTP is to address their information and on-going training needs as well as the initial information needs of sponsored refugees.

Organizations that have signed sponsorship agreements with the Government of Canada to help support refugees from abroad when they resettle in Canada are known as SAHs. A SAH can be a local, regional or national organization. These organizations assume overall responsibility and liability for the management of sponsorships under their agreement.

SPOs are organizations that offer resettlement services to newcomers to Canada. Many service providers work within the Refugee Assistance Program.

An initiative funded by IRCC, settlement workers are placed in elementary and secondary schools to assist with the resettlement needs of immigrants, refugee, and newcomer students.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, also known as the UN Refugee Agency, is the world’s leading organization aiding and protecting people forced to flee their homes due to violence, conflict and persecution. UNHCR provides shelter, food, water, medical care and other life-saving assistance to refugees around the world.