Your First Days in Hamilton Application: A Digital Tool to Help Newcomers Find Relevant Local Services

“Challenge:
How can immigrant and refugee newcomers to Hamilton find information about relevant services, resources, and programs in a timely manner?”

Hamilton view from the mountain

Student Names:
Bohan Gou, Julian A Fernandez M, Sebastian Rojas, Abdullah Mousavi

Staff Member:
Sarah Wayland, Senior Project Manager, Immigration Partnership, Healthy and Safe Communities Department

Community Partner:
Lily Martin-Lumsden, Senior Regional Manager, YMCA

Community Partner:
Lily Martin-Lumsden, Senior Regional Manager, YMCA

Instructor:
Joe Varrasso, Esteve Hassan

Course and Department:
Software Engineering Project (Comp CO867), CSAIT

Mock up of the your first days in Hamilton app

Newcomers to Hamilton require access to services to help them ease their transition. Many new immigrants and refugees experience difficulties finding and accessing the many services available to them. While there is a wealth of information available, it can be difficult to access in an easily organized and central way, particularly for those who are new to the city.

Students of the Software Engineering program at Mohawk College - Bohan, Julian, Sebastian, and Abdullah created an application to help newcomers find these resources, by creating a graphical user interface, and a newly designed home page for their application.

Next they will consult with the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council to further develop their design and content and explore further collaboration. 

Wellness and Engagement in City Housing: Aging Successfully Though Enhanced Wellness Programming

“Challenge:
What barriers do people experience in accessing the wellness programs, and how can CityHousing support resident engagement?”

Students:
Robert Etherington, Zoe Grant, Coomal Rashid, Gagandeep Saini

Staff:
Kelly Coxson, Community Development Coordinator, CityHousing Hamilton

Instructor:
Kate Whalen

Course and Department:
Sustainability 4S06: Leadership in Sustainability, Academic Sustainability Programs

Exercise class poster created by the Wellness and Engagement in CityHousing Hamilton group

The results from the in-person resident surveys, highlighting the most significant barriers to accessing the wellness programs

Students Robert, Zoe, Coomal, and Gagandeep conducted and coded 34 resident interviews, in order to discover potential barriers to engagement. They developed promotional material that was translated into two different languages and as their development culminated over a 3 week trial, they found a 10% increase in participation with their new promotional material. Afterwards, the students compiled a Recommendations Report for Kelly Coxson (the Community Project Champion), and the CHH Board to summarize their findings, as well as highlighting their next steps. 

Next the students will highlight 3 key recommendations on the report to the CHH and set up an online system for promotional material editing and templates and instructions, which will ensure the continuity of this project. 

Welcome to Hamilton: Mapping the Narratives of Immigrant and International Student Communities

“Challenge:
Where do the immigrant and international student populations reside and congregate, and how do these communities access information?”

Where is Hamilton?

Student Names:
Saima Ahmad, Justin Axent-Saipovski, Rachel Cheung, Michael Dennis, Yousif Eliya, Aditya Harchand, Rebecca Hicks, Sabrina Musto

Staff Member:
Tammy Hwang (Business Development Officer, Global Hamilton)

Instructor:
Margaret Secord, Cole Gately

Course and Department:
Health Sciences 3DD6, Engaging the City

Immigrants positively affect and diversify our communities by adding skills to the local labour force, while also increasing the size and productivity of the local economy. Immigrants are not only vital for the development of the community due to their work and educational backgrounds, but also for their innovation and ability to enrich cultural life. The City of Hamilton created Global Hamilton to 1) raise awareness of Hamilton as an immigration destination, 2) promote entrepreneurship and 3) help engage newcomers and immigrant communities to connect with the city. That being said, connecting with and engaging newcomers to Hamilton can be an ongoing challenge.

Saima, Justin, Rachel, Michael, Yousif, Aditya, Rebecca, and Sabrina identified areas where immigrant and international student populations have chosen to reside and congregate within Hamilton. They then developed strategies of engagement and located resources that are available to newcomers within the Hamilton area. Finally the students looked at cities demographically similar to Hamilton and how they have attempted challenges such as newcomer population retention.

Next the students of the Health Sciences Engaging the City class will create marketing and communication plans to reach international students and newcomers about events, projects, and initiatives happening in Hamilton. They are planning to collaborate with upper year McMaster University students to build a primary research project, where researchers will coordinate and execute focus groups and face to face interviews with immigrant communities.