Embracing Newcomers & Families| Canada Celebrating Welcoming Week 2023

Embracing Newcomers & Families| Canada Celebrating Welcoming Week 2023

From September 8 to 17, Canada celebrated ‘Welcoming Week 2023’, encouraging Canadians to embrace newcomers and support their integration into their new homeland. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) describes Welcoming Week as an annual event that offers an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate newcomers, fostering a sense of belonging in the community, regardless of their origins.

According to the 2021 census data, approximately 8.3 million immigrants reside in Canada, constituting nearly one-fourth of the total population. Statistics Canada predicts that the immigrant population will continue to grow, reaching 34% of the population by 2041.

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) emphasizes that the more newcomers feel welcomed, the more effectively they will assimilate and contribute to their communities.

The feeling of being part of a community or group

 A recent research conducted by Statistics Canada reveals that immigrants tend to experience a greater sense of belonging in Canada compared to those born in the country, particularly among those who settle in Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador).

This stronger sense of belonging is associated with increased community involvement, expanded social networks, and a higher likelihood of immigrants choosing to remain in Canada and actively contribute to its economy. The study identifies this sense of belonging as linked to newcomer’s perspectives on Canada’s multicultural policies, their views on the distinctive Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and their recognition of the importance of Canada’s national symbols as key elements of Canadian identity.

Immigration in Canada:

Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently emphasized the advantages of immigration, stating that being a welcoming country yields substantial benefits. He highlighted that immigration has been a driving force behind Canada’s economic growth and is a vital component of the country’s strategy to address its aging population. Immigrants make significant contributions by fostering innovation across various industries, filling gaps in the labour market, and creating jobs. They are integral to both Canada’s cultural diversity and its economic prosperity.

Immigration constitutes nearly all of Canada’s labour force expansion and approximately 75% of its population growth. Furthermore, a substantial portion of newcomers to Canada arrive through economic class immigration programs, indicating their status as skilled workers.