Canada is celebrating Welcoming Week 2023 in full swing from September 8 to 17.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds this celebration annually to welcome newcomers and celebrate the diversity of Canada.
For Canadians, this is the time to embrace newcomers, lend a helping hand to them, and instill a sense of belonging among newcomers.
According to the IRCC, This celebration of diversity also presents the perfect opportunity to learn about the multiple cultures of the country.
Per se, 2021 census data, the Canadian population comprises approximately 8.3 million immigrants. That is a quarter of the entire population.
A report by Statistics Canada forecasts a significant rise of 34% in the immigrant population by the year 2041.
IRCC strongly points out that the contributions immigrants make to the community and their ability to adapt to Canadian society are directly proportional to the quality and level of welcome immigrants initially receive.
The Benefits Of Welcoming Week
Welcoming Week is an integral part of the IRCC’s #ImmigrationMatters campaign, and it poses immense benefits to both newcomers and Canadians alike.
For Newcomers
Welcoming Week fosters a sense of belonging among newcomers. It gives them opportunities to learn about Canadian culture and society. New immigrants also get a chance to mingle with fellow newcomers, PRs, and Canadians.
A Statistics Canada report points out that Canadian immigrants, especially those settled in Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, demonstrate a stronger sense of inclusion and societal connection than Canadian-born people.
This elevated sense of belonging makes a newcomer more enthusiastic to actively engage in society, make social bonds, and contribute to the economy for a longer period.
According to the study, there are some defining factors that establish a sense of belonging among newcomers, such as
- Their perception about Canada’s multicultural policies,
- Their take on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
- How they identify the national symbols of Canada as integral to Canadian identity.
For Canadians
Welcoming Week offers Canadians the perfect opportunity to learn about diverse cultures while also offering a plethora of suggestions on how they can help newcomers.
Contacting organizations that offer settlement services can be a helpful way to get matched with a newcomer.
Here are some creative ways Canadians can help newcomers:
- Assisting them in daily activities
- Inviting them to shared meals
- Assist them in improving English or French by engaging in casual conversations
- Participate in cultural events together
Why Immigration Is Beneficial To Canada?
In a recent statement, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller underlined the numerous benefits of foreign immigration to Canada.
Miller pointed out how Canada’s economy is thriving and developing due to immigration.
Immigrants are an integral part of Canada’s socio-economic fabric and contribute significantly to its overall development in many ways, like:
- Promoting innovation
- Overcoming labor shortages
- Creating new employment avenues
Since a majority of immigrants come to Canada as skilled workers via economic class immigration programs, they contribute to nearly 75% of Canada’s overall population growth and nearly 100% of Canada’s labor force.
Immigrants are a boon for the Canadian economy too. According to Statistics Canada, immigrants own a significant portion of about 24.4% of private businesses.
In the year 2022, Canada opened its gates to 4,37,000 newcomers. The Canadian government strives to welcome even more immigrants in the coming years, with an estimated target of about 4,65,000 newcomers by 2023 and 5,00,000 by 2025.
It clearly shows why Canada places so much importance on its immigration program.
