CWICE Attends Metropolis Canada Conference
From March 13-15, 2025 our Child Welfare Immigration Centre of Excellence (CWICE) team were proud partners and presenters at the 27th Annual Metropolis Canada Conference at The Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto. This year's theme, “Resetting Canada's Immigration Plan and Program for a New Era” brought together policymakers, academics, and community leaders to discuss pressing issues related to immigration, integration, and the evolving landscape of Canada's workforce and social systems.
“Metropolis 2025 reaffirmed the power of bringing practice, research, and policy together. CWICE’s presence in these conversations reflected our strong commitment to advancing equity for children, youth, and families with lived immigration experience. We’re not just participating—we’re helping shape what comes next.” - Prasad Nair, Director of Youth Success and Innovation
During the 3-day conference, CWICE team members presented on three panels:
Along with Nadia Sokhan of Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services, CWICE Managers Liz Okai and Danielle Ungara spoke about Collaborative Child Welfare Practices for Immigrant and Refugee Families. This presentation highlighted the nearly 10-year partnership between the two organizations, including shared values of integrating cross-sector expertise to strengthen family support systems. Presenters spoke about best practices, strategies that prioritize keeping children within their families, addressing cultural nuances, and navigating systemic barriers. The speakers promoted fostering resilience and family unity, as well as creating sustainable solutions together.
During the second panel, CWICE Managers Liz Okai and Danielle Ungara presented alongside Vania Patrick-Drakes of Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies and Demar Hewitt of Black Legal Action Centre. Entitled From Precarity to Security: Advancing Pathways to Citizenship and Equity in Child Welfare for Racialized Immigrant Families, panelists shared grass-roots coalition advocacy efforts. Presenters highlighted how systemic racism and immigration status affects racialized immigrants within Canada’s child welfare system. Speakers delved into policy advocacy, cross-sector collaboration, and best practice approaches in service. The panelists also explored numerous ways to combat racism, promote pathways to permanency and citizenship, and implement equitable child welfare policies and practices.
In a final panel presentation, CWICE Manager Danielle Ungara joined Jessica Kwik and Mariam Mian of Peel Newcomer Strategy Group (UWGT), Prihan Algohary of Peel Multicultural Council and Marco Campana of Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services. This panel spoke about a community-based research project Exploring Digital Equity for Newcomer Services in Peel Region. PNSG shared their work with Code for Canada on digital maturity in the settlement sector within Peel and Halton Regions. Lastly, the panel spoke about digital transformation of the settlement sector across Canada. Panelists share the belief that transformation should go hand in hand with the realities of newcomers’ digital access. They shared the importance of service providers understanding who is falling through the gap in the shift to digital, and ways to support staff as well as train staff in the innovations possible. We promoted the concept that innovations and digital transformation is effective if it is accessible.
As many organizations embark or continue on the journey to digital equity, we recognize this is multi-faceted. It is crucial to ensure that no one falls through the gaps as the sector evolves. Together, we’re building a future where digital transformation truly leaves no one behind! 💡
Thank you to our incredible CWICE team for continuing to support discussions that drive innovation and system change.
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