The Immigration Initiative

The Rural Development Institute is collaborating on multiple research projects with organizations across the Westman region aimed at supporting immigrants, refugees and newcomers. This includes the Brandon Local Immigration Partnership (BLIP), Westman Immigration Services (WIS), Manitoba Association of Newcomer Serving Organization (MANSO), and Migration in Remote and Rural Areas Network (MIRRA).

This multifaceted Initiative outlines multiple research projects focused on accompanying these organizations in the integration of new- and support of current- immigrants, refugees and newcomers.

Please see the Immigration Initiative and the additional links below for more project information!

Meet the RDI Team: 

  • Project Lead: Shirlyn Kunaratnam

Project Partner Highlight:

  • The Brandon Local Immigration Partnership (BLIP) is a non-profit organization that collaborates with Citizenship Immigration Canada (CIC) to enhance the capacity of community-based partners in addressing the needs of residence and newcomers. By promoting coordination, cooperation, and involvement from the community, Brandon Local Immigration Partnership (BLIP) creates avenues for effective long-term settlement, and integration of immigrants and newcomers to Brandon, Manitoba.
  • The Westman Immigration Services (WIS) is a not-for-profit organization focusing on accompanying immigrants, refugees and newcomers in their settlement within rural Manitoba. With offices located across Manitoba, WIS works to provide services and programs that not only support the integration of immigrants, refugees and newcomers into communities, but help them thrive

Project Fact Sheets:

Research Briefs: 

Presentations: 

Blogs: