immigration and settlement programming in sw ontario
TRANSCRIPT
Immigration and Settlement Programming in Southwestern
Ontario
Jennifer Long Wilfrid Laurier University
Sessional Faculty Anthropology Program
Research funded in by a Mitacs Accelerate Grant
and the United Way London & Middlesex With Dr. Vicki Esses and Andrea Brown
Information about Canadian Immigration – National Household Survey, 2011
1. In 2011, Canada’s foreign-born population represented 20.6% of the total population.
2. Asia (including the Middle East) was Canada's largest source of immigrants during the past five years.
3. More than 200 ethnic origins were reported in the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS).
4. The vast majority of the foreign-born population lived in four provinces: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec and Alberta.
Where do immigrants go?
Immigrant Population of Milton, Ontario
Statistics Canada. 2011 National Household Survey
Immigrant Population of London, Ontario
Statistics Canada. 2011 National Household Survey
London Immigration
Shields, John and Adnan Türegün (with research assistance from Sophia Lowe). 2014. “Settlement and Integration Research Synthesis 2009 - 2013.” A CERIS Report Submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ottawa.
Research Questions
1. What similarities and differences exist between newcomers’ perceptions of accessibility to targeted, mixed, or universal services?
2. Did program or personal characteristics of participants influence newcomers’ preferences for use of targeted, mixed, or universal services?
3. What role do services (either universal, mixed or targeted services) play in developing networks and integration with the host society?
Terminology1
Targeted centres provide services (programs) for a specific group of individuals, in this case, immigrants
Universal centres typically provide services for all people, regardless of group membership
Mixed centres refers to those organizations providing both targeted and universal services or programs
1 Esses, Victoria, Paula Brochu, Carolyn Camman, Muhammad Raza, Neil Bradford, Nina Hamou and Huda Hussein. (2010) Community Capacity and Needs Report. Available at: http://immigration.london.ca/pdfs/LMLIP/LMLIPreport-april2010FINAL.pdf
Methodology
96 in-depth interviews conducted with newcomer client participants at 5 centres funded by the United Way (chosen for the type of services they provide – universal, mixed, targeted)
15 interviews with service providers at the 5 sites
Online survey of 24 organizations funded by the United Way
Demographic Information of Research Participants
Largest Age Group Interviewed: 30 – 49 years old.
Four Largest Source Countries of newcomer participants: Nepal, China, Colombia, and Iraq.
Three Largest Self-Reported Immigration Status: Refugees, Skilled Workers, and Family Class
Average Time Lived in Canada: 4.4 years
Interviews Findings from Service providers’ Perceptions of
targeted, mixed, or universal services
Summary of Findings - Newcomers
Newcomers were satisfied with programming at all centres
Targeted and mixed centres are used more often than universal centres.
Participants had to use more than one centre to access necessary services (2.35 on average)
One-stop-shops and multi-use programs beneficial and lacking.
Summary of Findings - Newcomers
Networking to find employment, practice English, and fulfill other social functions
Current service options did not fulfill networking needs
Few if any centres (or programs) had mixed participant groups
Multi-use programs with Londoners
Summary of Findings – Service Providers
Barriers to Service Provision:
Lack of awareness of available services
Regulations about immigration status
of clients (targeted centres)
Perceived intercultural
miscommunication
Recommendations
Additional Services – Internship opportunities
Improving Current Services – More hosting and mentorship programs
Suggestions for Organizational Changes - Concurrent services or programs for family/children involved in programs
Suggestion for Additional Support Roles – Cultural Heritage Education Broker (community connectors)
Implementation
Pilot program - Mutual Aid Parenting Program – amalgamation of English- and Spanish-speaking programs
Increased opportunity for integration (networking, efficient programming)
Move programs under one individual – community connector
Focus on neighbourhood (location-based) programming
Kelly, Philip (with research assistance from Lualhati Marcelino and Catherine Mulas). 2014. “Foreign Credential Recognition Research Synthesis 2009 - 2013.” A CERIS Report Submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ottawa.
Post-Postdoc Research Directions
Cultural miscommunication and experiences of diversity in the workplace
Created and piloted intercultural competency (diversity) training materials
Current Research – Brantford & Waterloo, Ontario
Experiences of cultural diversity among English Language Learning students at the Brantford and Waterloo campus
Create a better understanding of which services can be provided to help support their integration
Understand their willingness to stay within Canada following their degree
Thank You
Acknowledgements
Dr. Vicki Esses, Western University
Andrea Brown & Kelly McManus
Auleen Carson
Refe
rences
CBC News. November 10, 2014. Canadian attitudes toward immigrants conflicted, poll says. CBC News. Available at: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canadian-attitudes-toward-immigrants-conflicted-poll-says-1.2826022
Community Development Halton. 2012. Profile of Newcomers in Halton. Available at: file:///C:/Users/user/Dropbox/BE.%202014-2015/Conferences/Milton/Profile-of-Newcomers-in-Halton-FINAL.pdf
Esses, Victoria, Paula Brochu, Carolyn Camman, Muhammad Raza, Neil Bradford, Nina Hamou and Huda Hussein. (2010) Community Capacity and Needs Report. Available at: http://immigration.london.ca/pdfs/LMLIP/LMLIPreport-april2010FINAL.pdf
Kelly, Philip (with research assistance from Lualhati Marcelino and Catherine Mulas). 2014. “Foreign Credential Recognition Research Synthesis 2009 - 2013.” A CERIS Report Submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ottawa
O’Brien, Jennifer and John Miner. 2013. Left Behind by Canada’s Economic Recovery, the London area is also bucking the nation’s key population trend. News Article, London Free Press. Available at: http://www.lfpress.com/2013/05/08/the-london-census-metropolitan-area-has-more-canadian-born-residents-and-fewer-immigrants-than-province-as-a-whole
Shields, John and Adnan Türegün (with research assistance from Sophia Lowe). 2014. “Settlement and Integration Research Synthesis 2009 - 2013.” A CERIS Report Submitted to Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ottawa.
Statistics Canada
2011a. NHS – Focus on Geography Series, Milton. Available at: http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/fogs-spg/Pages/FOG.cfm?lang=E&level=4&GeoCode=3524009
2011b. NHS – Focus on Geography Series, London. Available at: http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/fogs-spg/Pages/FOG.cfm?lang=E&level=4&GeoCode=3539036
2013. Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity in Canada (based on the National Household Survey, 2011). Catalogue No. 99-010-X2011001.
Wachsmuth, David. 2008. Housing for Immigrants in Ontario’s Medium-Sized Cities. CPRN Research Report. Available at: http://www.cprn.org/documents/50555_EN.pdf