Lesson 13 — Activity 1:

Challenges Faced by Immigrants

Moving to a new country takes courage. The immigrants that come to Canada need to know how to successfully integrate into society. This is harder than it sounds. For lots of people, this means learning a new language, learning new customs, and sometimes learning a new job or new skills. Many people will feel very anxious and afraid when trying to "fit in" because feeling at home in a new country takes time.

Here are just some of the problems faced by immigrants in Canada.

Language barriers: Being able (unable) to communicate affects every area of life where we have to interact with others. From jobs to schooling to simply finding your way around or buying food, learning a native language is essential. As an immigrant, if you have difficulty speaking one of Canada's national languages of English or French, you will have difficulty in all areas of your daily life.

Employment: Many new immigrants face two particular problems with respect to employment. The first is getting their credentials recognized. For example, perhaps they were a doctor or nurse in their home country, and their degree must be recognized in Canada before they can find work, which can become a long and frustrating process. The second problem may be finding work opportunities. In Canada, it is possible to start the process of getting your credentials recognized before you enter the country as well as finding relevant work experience opportunities.

Access to services: The type, range, and quality of services available in a new country is likely to be different to that of the person's home country. Services which pose the biggest hurdles include health care, legal advice, and access to mental health services or social services. Language can often be an underlying part of this problem once again, but researching in advance can make it easier for new immigrant to access all kinds of services in their new country.

Prejudice and racism: This is a sad feature of the immigrant experience across the world. Support services include social services, community and peer groups, along with a modern police force that has strong diversity and anti-racism policies, which are all available to help those facing issues of racism. The work to combat racism and discrimination on the grounds of race is outlined under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Isolation: Missing the support of friends and family is a big factor for most immigrants. Those who come from societies where traditional support structures within communities are strong can find that they feel lost and isolated when moving to a Western country. Canada does, in fact, have a diverse population, and major cities have communities from many different countries. This makes them an ideal place for those settling in Canada where community groups can offer support and advice for those adjusting to life in a very different kind of society.

The weather: Last but not least, this factor is another one that people may overlook when moving to any new country. Canada is associated with cold weather and snow. Many immigrants who moved to Canada came from a much hotter climate, sometimes with no snow. The cold weather can be difficult for them to get used to.

It is our job as Canadian citizens to help these people feel welcomed and give them the opportunity to become successful citizens.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has the following helpful suggestions for newcomers:

Let's all do our part to help these new citizens become a part of our society.

Self-check!