1. Bill Walters Executive Director Immigrant Integration Branch Kelowna, June 23, 2009 Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces: The role of immigration in community and regional economic development Thompson/Okanagan/Kootenay Region

2. Overview of the Presentation WelcomeBC Overview Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program (WICWP) Creating a Common Vision Stages of the Journey Survey Results WICWP Program Elements and Initiatives Conceptual Frameworks Conclusions

3. *Launched in June 2007 Vision British Columbia is home to welcoming and inclusive communities where: newcomers choose to settle and can achieve their full potential; multiculturalism is valued and celebrated; and racism is eliminated. * WelcomeBC: a Strategic Framework

4. BC is committed to providing the best settlement and integration services possible Integration is a two-way process, which involves commitment on the part of newcomers to adapt to life in Canada and on the part of Canadians to welcome and adapt to new people and cultures Newcomers should become economically self-sufficient and be able to participate in the social dimensions of life in BC The ability of newcomers to communicate in one of Canada’s official languages is key to integration Communities in BC are essential to ensuring that newcomers have opportunities to participate in and contribute to the economic and social life of BC Newcomers and communities should share the principles, traditions and values that are inherent in Canadian society, such as freedom, equality and participatory democracy WelcomeBC Principles

5. WelcomeBC Goals (and objectives) Building a strong foundation for immigrant success Using English in daily life and in the labour market Participating in the labour market Participating in community life Creating welcoming and inclusive communities Welcoming and supporting newcomers Supporting multiculturalism and addressing racism

6. WelcomeBC Programs BC Settlement and Adaptation Program The primary goal of BCSAP is to support the successful settlement and adaptation of new immigrants and refugees to British Columbia Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program Inclusive, welcoming and vibrant communities in British Columbia where immigrants can realize their full potential, racism is eliminated and cultural diversity is valued and celebrated

7. Family is the reason why many come and quality of life is why many remain Top reasons for choosing to come to Canada Improve future for family Join family or close friends Education opportunity Top reasons for staying permanently Quality of life Positive future prospects for family To be close to family and friends 4 years later… Source: Stats Canada Longitudinal Survey of Immigrant to Canada, Wave 1

8. Family, friends and job prospects equally important reasons behind settlement in smaller areas Vancouver: 1.Family and friends41.3% 2.Climate20.0% 3.Lifestyle11.7% Toronto: 1.Family and friends49.7% 2.Job prospects23.4% 3.Lifestyle4.9% All other CMAs and non-CMAs 1.Family and friends35.6% 2.Job prospects32.3% 3.Education prospects12.1% Montreal: 1.Family and friends31.3% 2.Language18.5% 3.Job prospects15.8% Source: Longitudinal Survey of Immigrant to Canada, Wave 1 Three most important reasons of settlement choice for economic class principal applicants

9. WICWP Logic Model Immigrant Integration Branch

10. Long Term Outcomes of WICWP Ultimate outcomes a program desires to achieve or the most removed benefits that the program can reasonably expect to influence An enriched and strengthened cultural and social fabric of Canadian society where there is support for the equality of all Canadians in the economic, social, cultural and political life of Canada Communities and workplaces are vibrant and inclusive Immigrant newcomers view all BC communities as being welcoming destinations Community adopts integration as a two-way process, which involves commitment on the part of newcomers to adapt to life in Canada and on the part of Canadians to welcome and adapt to new people and cultures Public institutions and workplaces reflect the diversity of the population

11. Creating a Common Vision (with appealing benefits) Sample of suggestions from a community forum held in Metro Vancouver (June 2008) A safe, friendly community Ready access to housing, food, shelter for all Everyone’s assets and skills are welcomed and used People living together and supporting each other at an individual and community level Shared community spaces that allow for interaction – e.g., community gardens, healing centres, welcoming centres, block parties Removing not just the physical walls that separate people, but also the emotional, social and psychological walls Respect for who immigrants are and vice versa Intercultural representation on government and community bodies and institutions Summary of emerging dimensions: personal, public space, systemic From “Creating Welcoming & Inclusive Communities: What Will it Take?”

12. Stages of the Journey and Key Activities *From “WelcomeBC.ca Project Customer Segmentation Final Report” (not published)

13. Survey Results by Stage (n=452) *From “WelcomeBC.ca Project Customer Segmentation Final Report” (not published)

14. Survey Results by Segment (n=452) *From “WelcomeBC.ca Project Customer Segmentation Final Report” (not published)

15. WICWP Program Elements Community Partnership Development Communities may obtain support to identify and coordinate key sustainable partnerships and collaborations with diverse groups and stakeholders to work towards achieving a common vision around fostering welcoming and inclusive communities Knowledge Development and Exchange Communities may obtain assistance to promote knowledge development and sharing among diverse groups and stakeholders, and with the community members at large Public Education Communities may obtain assistance to facilitate cross-cultural understanding and increase public awareness among community members at large Demonstration Projects Communities, groups or stakeholders may obtain support to design, implement, deliver and evaluate projects that explore strategic and innovative approaches to fostering welcoming and inclusive communities.

16. Current Community Engagement in WICWP 30 B.C. communities engaged; between 5 and 30 organizations per community depending on population size 52 organizations providing leadership 29 organizations in community partnership development 38 organizations qualified for knowledge development and exchange 37 organizations qualified for public education 38 organizations qualified for demonstration projects

17. Current Community Engagement in WICWP Lower Mainland/Greater Vancouver/Sunshine Coast = 27 organizations Vancouver Island = 6 organizations Central Interior = 10 organizations North = 5 organizations Province-wide initiatives = 3 organizations

18. Examples of WICWP Projects and Initiatives Building Welcoming and Inclusive Neighbourhoods (13 Neighbourhood Houses) Safe Harbour (28 communities and 540 safe harbour locations) Community Dialogues (10 communities) Multicultural Health Fairs Research/Surveys of perceptions and attitudes

19. 1.Urban Social Sustainability Sample definitions: Development that is compatible with the harmonious evolution of civil society, fostering an environment conducive to the compatible cohabitation of culturally and socially diverse groups while at the same time encouraging social inclusion, with improvements in the quality of life for all segments of the population ( Polese and Stren, 2000) Cities achieve social sustainability when citizens’ basic needs are met, when they have equal access to opportunities, when people live together in harmony and when everyone is able and welcome to participate fully in the economic, social and political life of the community. A sustainable city is a city that is fully inclusive.... Inclusion means that each person’s participation and contributions are welcomed, recognized, and valued ( Orloff, 2005) Placing WICWP Within an Appropriate Conceptual Framework From WICWP Research Framework (Wachtel, 2008)

20. 2. Workplace Employee Engagement Various models aimed at improving organizational productivity and/or profitability Often uses survey methodology Follow up actions can include: working through the results; using the results to start conversations; making changes strategically; supporting each other through the change Placing WICWP Within an Appropriate Conceptual Framework

21. Conclusions Requires a common vision with appealing benefit statements Common elements along the journey Stakeholders may be at different points of the journey Range of elements: from the personal to the systemic Comparative frameworks: Urban Social Sustainability, Workplace Engagement Welcoming and inclusive communities are for everybody, not just the newly arrived

22. Thank you! Bill Walters Immigrant Integration Branch Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 5 th Floor, 605 Robson Street Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5J3 Telephone: (604) 660-2203 Fax: (604) 775-0670 E-mail: ALMD.IIB@gov.bc.ca Website: www.WelcomeBC.cawww.WelcomeBC.ca