Migrant Routes: Exploring the experiences, challenges and barriers migrants face when coming to Canada

• Many immigrants come to Canada because they believe that there is plenty of work, and that their skills will be needed. Often, their credentials are not officially or formally recognized.
  
• Many refugees come to Canada to escape extreme poverty, abuse, violence or war, but many face poverty and discrimination in Canada too, and social services are not able to effectively address their needs.
  
• By 2030, population growth in Canada will be 100% dependent upon immigrants. In as soon as six years, some projections suggest Canada will be 100% dependent on immigration as a principal source for our labour force growth.
  
• Immigration and refugee processes place many women in dependant situations.

 We offer free English and French resources and workshops tailored specifically to the needs of your community/workplace/union/school/organization.

In an effort combat racial discrimination and build inclusive and equitable communities for newcomers to Canada, the Centre for Race and Culture has created the Migrant Routes program which provides free educational resources and workshops to interested organizations, workplaces, unions, schools, and communities across Canada.

The Migrant Routes program uses education and training to help community members, workers, educators and students to explore the experiences, challenges and barriers newcomers face when settling in Canada and to help develop and identify ways to build anti-racist, equitable and inclusive spaces for migrants in their new Canadian communities.

Migrant Routes workshops do the following:

1. Examines the experiences/challenges/barriers that migrants face when joining and becoming a part of Canadian communities including workplaces, schools, organizations, and other social, political and economic institutions;
   
2. Addresses how discrimination and racism can impact migrants through policies and practices;
   
3. Provides the capacity for participants to build their own awareness of the social, economic, political conditions and relations that can create a welcoming and equitable society for migrants and;
   
4. Develops strategies and examines how our organizations, unions, schools, workplaces and communities can assist in creating equitable and inclusive spaces for migrants to participate and be represented in Canadian society.

In addition to providing workshops tailored specifically to the needs of participants, this program uses the Karibuni (Ki-Swahili for Welcome) DVD documentary, created by Victor Moke-Ngala, to take participants on a virtual exploration of Franco-African immigrants' arrival in Alberta. Through this documentary, participants learn of the journey Franco-Africans take in leaving their original homes, arriving in Canada, experiencing the challenges and barriers to integration and eventually finding support and joining welcoming communities within their new home country.

The Karibuni manual provides further education and resources in the area of migration to Canada to help participants build a more in-depth awareness and knowledge about the experiences, barriers and challenges newcomers face.

New!  Download the Karibuni Manual!    Click here

The Karibuni manual offers education in the area of:

• Understanding migrant issues
• Understanding the concept of integration
• Social capital, stereotypes and systemic discrimination
• Racial profiling, media discrimination and representations of newcomers
• Strategizing on ways to make positive change towards inclusion
• Developing creative solutions through action

"If newcomers are to integrate into society so that both they and citizens can benefit from immigration, Canadians need to welcome them. Screening the Karibuni documentary and using the resource manual gives newcomers and citizens the chance to learn about and analyse the experiences of newcomers to Canada. That understanding is a key step towards building a more sincere and sustained welcome" (Karibuni manual, 2009).

For more information or to request a free workshop in your area and to access our resources, please contact Natasha Goudar, Migrant Routes Program Coordinator at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or call 780-425-4644 ext 112.

Sources: www.changingthecanvas.org; www.colourofpoverty.ca