Program aimed at Whistler's sleep-deprived and newly-arrived parents

Parenting a newborn is hard and it can be even harder for a recent immigrant to Canada.

That's why Andrea Dunne, an immigrant and parent herself, is launching a pilot program in Whistler called Parenting Across Cultures to help ease the burden for sleep-deprived immigrant parents and help them find a footing in the community.

Dunne has been a settlement worker at the Whistler Multicultural Network for the past four years. She told CBC's On The Coast host Stephen Quinn that she noticed a growing number of immigrants using the network's services — and that there's a gap in the services available to them.

"I noticed that if I went to a program that was already offered in Whistler, I didn't always come across a huge amount of immigrant moms even though I knew they were out there," Dunne said.

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According to the latest census numbers, Whistler is the fastest growing community of its size in B.C., increasing more than 21 per cent since 2011. Dunne said that many of these new arrivals are immigrants.

"It's really growing," she said. "The Sea to Sky area is the second most popular area, second to Vancouver, for landing as a permanent resident in B.C."

The increase in immigrants has shifted the kind of support being solicited at the welcome network, Dunne explained.

"There's been a rise in people needing support filling out documents, like their Canadian child benefit application, or they need some support in accessing health care or understanding some of the terms," she said.

Challenges 'don't go away'

Dunne hopes the parenting program will help build community and create support networks for all newcomers, regardless of whether they are Canadian citizens new to Whistler or recently arrived immigrants. Being away from family is challenging, Dunne said, especially with a new child.

"If we can give them this opportunity to create a network of support early on, it will instill confidence and empower them to overcome future milestones," she said. "Because the challenges always stay there as a parent, they don't go away. They just change."

The program launches in the fall and is aimed at parents with children under the age of two.

To hear the full interview with Andrea Dunne, click on the audio link below. 

With files from On The Coast.