From India to Canada: Indian Community Initiatives to Build Bridges in Montréal Anna Maria Fiore 8 th Metropolis Conference March 23 th -26 th 2006

Summary 1. I ntroduction 2. S ocio-demographics datas 3. C ommunity structure 4. S ocial and intercultural activities

Unity in Diversity? Religious diversity (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, etc.) Religious diversity (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, etc.) Linguistic diversity (22 official langages) Linguistic diversity (22 official langages) «Malgré cette extraordinaire diversité, ces populations semblent liées par une appartenance ethnoculturelle commune.» Buchignani et al. (1985: 127)

Socio-demographic Datas on the Persons of Indian Origins

Persons of Indian Origin in Canada and Some Metropolitan Areas Canadian Census 2001

South Asian and Indian Immigration Evolution, ,Montréal Canadian Census 2001

Distribution of Indian Population (from India), Québec, 2001 Montréal: 81.1 % Montréal: 81.1 % Montérégie : 11.5 % Montérégie : 11.5 % Laval: 2.1 % Laval: 2.1 % Outaouais : 1.8 % Outaouais : 1.8 % Autres rég.: 3.5 % Autres rég.: 3.5 % Source: Canadian Census, 2001 Special compilation MICC Special compilation MICC

Landed Immigrant Status, Indian Origin Population,Québec, Canadian Census, 2001

Ages Groups of the Indian (from India) population, Québec, Canadian Census, 2001 Age Groups Number % 0-14 years years years years years and over Total

Mother Tongues, Indians (From India) population, Québec, Canadian Census, 2001

Community Structure

Preliminary Typology of The Organizations of the Indian (from India) community Business1 Cultural7 Éducative3 Communication5 Umbrella1 Regional2 Religious13 Social7 Sport1

Community Characteristics Institutionnal Completness Institutionnal Completness Integrated community life Integrated community life Organisations on the basis of commun interest more than religion or ethnicity Organisations on the basis of commun interest more than religion or ethnicity Montréal Metropolitan organizations Montréal Metropolitan organizations Peace Making initiatives Peace Making initiatives

Social capital ( Coleman, 1988; Putnam, 2000) Activities bridging groups together and linkig them to authorities : Activities bridging groups together and linkig them to authorities : Children Festival Children Festival Indian dance Indian dance Gandhi Birthday Gandhi Birthday Celebrating religious activities together Celebrating religious activities together Day of peace and love Day of peace and love Temples Public Access Temples Public Access