Brighter Together Foundation was born based on one mission, and that is to shed light on, and celebrate the positive impact that immigrants make in Canada. We’d like to take this opportunity to applaud Canadian’s perspective on immigrants, as a country that continues to lead the way for being more accepting of newcomers. Moreover, we’d like to share ways, you can continue to build Canada's welcoming environment by spreading kindness, and more importantly, inspire others to do so.
In the fall of 2021, the Environics Institute interviewed 2,000 Canadians between September 7th and 23rd asking their views on immigration in Canada. The survey found that “a clear majority supports current levels of immigration, views immigrants as good for the Canadian economy, and believes they are important for building the country’s population” (Miekus). Even so, this trend has been prevalent all the way back to 2018. According to Gonzalez-Barrera and Connor, a 2018 survey indicated that 68% of those surveyed believe that immigrants make the country stronger. Moreover, Miekus stated that “the vast majority of Canadians (80 per cent), agree that the economic impact of immigration is positive”. These statistics indicate the encouraging ambient that newcomers are welcomed in Canada and a positive outlook goes a long way.
So, what can you do to make Canada’s newcomers feel welcomed? Well, according to Becker, “a key element of migrants’ well-being is their emotional integration, that is, the extent to which they perceive themselves as members of society and their identification with the country are living in”. Becker also suggests that you can create programs focused on increasing emotional integration in settings where friendships between migrant and native participants can be formed. Some examples of programs include, neighborhood community events, school events, meetings that invite new parents to socialize with local parents, amongst others.
These are just a few of the many things you can do, but a little does go a long way. It even starts from the way you foster this welcoming mentality with your children and family members All in all, this contributes to the well-being of your community, and even inspiring others to do so. Because together we can make Canada Brighter.
What have you done to help a newcomer feel more welcome? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
Becker, Charlotte Clara. “Migrants’ Social Integration and Its Relevance for National Identification: An Empirical Comparison across Three Social Spheres.” Frontiers in Sociology, vol. 6, 3 Jan. 2022, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2021.700580.
Gonzalez-Barrera, Ana, and Phillip Connor. “Around the World, More Say Immigrants Are a Strength than a Burden.” Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes Project, Pew Research Center, 14 Mar. 2019, https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2019/03/14/around-the-world-more-say-immigrants-are-a-strength-than-a-burden/.
Miekus, Alexandra. “Canadians Largely Supportive of Immigration, Survey Finds.” CIC News, Canada Immigration News, 13 Nov. 2021, https://www.cicnews.com/2021/11/canadians-remain-largely-supportive-of-immigration-new-survey-finds-1119585.html#gs.sr5xcy.