Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the leadership role(s) of vice-principals in diverse, multi-ethnic schools and communities and understand the supervision and mentoring support they require to help them become more effective leaders within them. The research questions guiding this study were: what forms of mentoring do vice-principals, who serve in diverse schools in rapidly changing communities, require? Who is in the best position to provide mentoring for them? Design/methodology/approach The author used a qualitative case study methodology. Data that were analyzed for this paper were drawn from surveys, semi-structured interviews, one focus group interview and school and community documents from three data sets within two case studies in Canada. The first data set was part of the author’s doctoral research program in a diverse school in Alberta; the other case study was part of a larger collective case study that the author is currently involved with and leading in New Brunswick. Several vice-principals were part of both studies. The author then constructed a survey questionnaire specifically focused on mentoring vice-principals in diverse schools. Vice-principals in both provinces, who were part of the two studies, were invited to respond to the follow-up survey. Using a constant comparative analytical approach, the author coded and analyzed the data from all three sets together. The author formed several categories and ultimately collapsed the categories into five distinct themes that illustrated and confirmed the social realities of the vice-principals in their schools and communities. Findings Five key findings emerged from the analysis of the data sets. They were building leadership capacity, fostering positive relationships, increasing global awareness, reducing stress and anxiety and becoming a diversity champion and peace-builder. Originality/value To this researcher’s knowledge, this paper contributes to a significant gap in the literature on vice-principals who serve in diverse schools and communities.

In this paper, the authors explore the re-adjustment experiences of seven refugee students from Syria and Iraq, who enrolled in a large high school in New Brunswick. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, school and community documents, and field notes. Five themes were identified and are reported and discussed in this paper. Recommendations for future direction regarding how to successfully integrate Syrian refugee children into Canadian schools are provided.

Canada is a country with a long history of substantial ethnocultural diversity. Questions about the reasonable accommodation of immigrant groups, the preservation of official language minority rights, and the fostering of Aboriginal rights permeate political and social discourse in Canada. Effective citizenship requires people who understand the subtle differences between and among groups in Canada, and are able to wrestle intelligently and respectfully with difficult questions inherent in these issues. This article reports on a study designed to map the conceptions of ethnic diversity held by grade 6 students in the eastern Canadian province of New Brunswick with a particular focus on the three areas outlined above. Overall, students demonstrated quite superficial understandings of ethnic diversity being able to identify some practices and beliefs as 'cultural', but with little knowledge of specific cultural groups or practices or the role of language as a vehicle for cultural enhancement and preservation.

The province of New Brunswick is growing its population through immigration and retention strategies of newcomers to grow and stabilize its economy. Many communities, traditionally unaccustomed to such growth, are now experiencing a rapid shift in their ethnocultural populations. This report is based on a case study research conducted in three rural New Brunswick schools in three closely connected communities. Each school is confronting their own issues with the shift in their student demographics, but all share common strengths and challenges. The researchers identified four main intersecting themes, each connected to a sub-theme. They found that: 1). Newcomer students are striving hard to learn and live in an English culture; 2). Newcomer students are working to belong in their school through finding Canadian-born friends and allies; 3). Educators and newcomer students are mindful that deficit thinking hinders language and verbal communication; and 4). Stereotypical perceptions about new immigrants taking jobs away from New Brunswickers are pervasive and consistent in the schools and communities that were studied. As more newcomers arrive in the province, the researchers advocate that educators and school leaders need more knowledge and support for working with newcomer students and families. Further, deeper conversations about stereotyping and racism will need to occur to effectively eradicate the negative perceptions about immigrants and immigration in the province.

Educators and leaders across Canada must re-conceptualize their pedagogies and leadership approaches and reflect on their own worldviews to enhance the transitions of new immigrant, international and refugee students into their schools. This paper reports on ongoing case study research in New Brunswick, Canada. The researchers are investigating the impact and implications of immigration and demographic changes on school and community stakeholders. The authors discuss the social justice and participatory methodological framework they are employing in the first school of five in their investigation and report the mid-case thematic findings related to the changing demographic conditions in the province. The findings have been consistently shared with school leaders and teachers through active participation, open communication and co-construction of meanings. The authors are hopeful that the key findings from this research will inform educators and policy-makers as they respond to the educational and social needs of their students and community members.