Refreshed website will help refugees

WATERLOO REGION — Immigration Waterloo Region has launched a new website that’s intended to be the first stop for information for immigrants, refugees and the people supporting them.

“Hopefully with the redesign and the new features, it’s going to make it a lot easier for people to get to know the community,” said Tara Bedard, executive director of Immigration Partnership.

The new, streamlined site www.immigrationwaterlooregion.ca makes it easy for immigrants and refugees to find everything they need in the community with direct links to local services and programs.

“This website is really intended to be a resource for newcomers,” Bedard said.

“It is like a road map of the community.”

There’s also information for those supporting newcomers, including refugee sponsorship groups, along with employers looking to hire.

“We keep hearing that employers need more information on how to do that,” Bedard said.

While newcomers are looking for work and many employers are looking to hire them or fill positions, those opportunities can be missed.

“There’s a big disconnect,” she said.

Along with the employer information page, new features on the site funded by the province include a news reel and weekly digest, and an embedded translator.

The translator will be especially helpful for people who come to this region with little or no English.

There’s also a community calendar where events can be submitted and people can subscribe to for updates.

“It’s seamlessly moving information around,” Bedard said.