We are collaborating with project partners to address discrimination among and towards Ukrainians, Muslims, Jews, Indigenous peoples, and others in Saskatchewan. We begin this multi-year project in Saskatoon and Regina with plans to support other parts of SK in the future.

To address this concern, our goal is to build capacity in the immigration and settlement sector through civic religious literacy. We will work specifically with immigration and settlement agencies because they are a primary point of contact for many newcomers that also work with local schools, hospitals, police, employers and other valuable local leaders. By supporting this vital hub in our society, we aim to build capacity among community leadership overall.

This year, the project team is conducting a literature review, interviews, and focus groups in Saskatoon and Regina. This crucial step will help us have a better understanding and engagement with current observations, experiences, and concerns from staff and clients at the Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS) and the Regina Open Door Society (RODS). We also aim to hear from community partners and local community leaders who work with SODS and RODS in the two largest cities in SK. This will inform the design of locally-relevant training in the next phase of our multi-year collaboration.

The Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS) and the Regina Open Door Society (RODS) are the two largest immigration and settlement agencies in Saskatchewan. Their partnership ensures a strong foundation for this initiative in SK, which may inform practices and capacity in other parts of Canada.

Research findings in this first year will be shared directly with a Local Advisory Committee, SODS and RODS management, and other leaders in Saskatoon and Regina. Once ready, they will be shared online here and in other engagements.