African Christian Churches Integration and Adaptation of African Newcomers

a. Alberta: immigrants (census 2006) NumberPercentage Non- immigrants % Immigrants % non permanent Residents % Total %  5,4 % ( ) of the immigrants, are francophones.  Source : Stat. Canada, Census 2006, Product no XCB au catalogue de Statistique Canada.

b. Alberta: Francophone immigrants by country of origin, Country of originNumber Repubublic of congo320 France205 Rwanda175 Algeria155 Marrocco105 Burundi85 Cameroun45 Ivory Coast45 Tchad30 Total1230 Source: stat. Can, Census 2006, produit XCB , Stat. Can cat.

c. Where do they live? CityFranch as official language Bilingual Franch- English Edmonton Calgary Brooks1060 Source: Stat. Can, Census 2006, produit XCB , Stat. Can. Cat.

2. Partners in settlement process  a. The subsidized francophone organizations  b. Associations organized by country of origin  c. Churches

a. Francophone institutions in the community  Lack of resources to take up new challenges related to  Cultural barrier: - a cultural identity - Minority thinking  Lack of competence to work with newcomers  Difficulty to build networks with francophone newcomers

b. Responses from Immigrants  a. Associations by countries of origins DominationsCity The morocco communityEdmonton The Rwandans' community Edmonton The Guinea communityEdmonton The Haitian communityEdmonton The Congolese association of Edmonton Edmonton The Ivory Coast community Edmonton

b. Churches  Religious groups fill in the gap left by the government and francophone organizations;  Attempts for newcomers to solve their own challenges;

b. Churches… ChurchCityLeaderMembers (estimate) Christian city multicultural church of calgary CalgaryPast. Mondo50-60 Cité de reveil spirituelCalgaryPast. Vincent90-10 Deeper Life Bible Church EdmontonPast. Jacob65-70 Église source de vieEdmontonPast. E. Bumba Fellowship Christian Reformed Church EdmontonM. Huizinga87

c. Churches ChurchCityLeaderMembers (estimate) Église francophone de Brooks BrooksPast. P. TanduPas disponible Jerusalem City Church EdmontonPast. N. Kayumba Le corps du Christ40-50 Life of faith Christian Church of Calgary CalgaryPast. Bukasa Penuel Christian Assembly EdmontonPast. R.V. Tshubula 20-25

ChurchCityLeaderMembers (estimate) Restoration and victory international ministries EdmontonPast. Serge45-50 Shiloh Baptist ChurchEdmontonPast. A. Karekezi The kingdom citizen ministry internantional Red DeerPast. P. Kabengele Victoria ChurchEdmontonPast. J. Mwamba Zion Temple Celebration Centre EdmontonPast. B. Tuyikunde 65

Remarks:  Even though, the names are in English the main language spoken is French  The numbers presented in this PowerPoint are estimate given by the leaders of these churches.

Characteristics  They are principal support of the majority of African newcomers settled in Edmonton  Positive social changes: welcoming of newcomers, housing etc.  They are deeply rooted by their African values  Leadership is somewhat familiar with the Canadian culture;  Monoethnic;

A  1. Family, friends  2.Churches, 3. Country associations B Public institutions, Schools etc. right and wrong information Right informations ?

d. A Survey  68.1 % of the response thought Francophone immigrant churches should be more involved in the social integration of their members in Alberta:  Connect the welcoming communities to the immigrants  networking;  Eliminate isolation;  Share experiences; How are Church actions and initiatives bound to emerging Canadian values?

Challenges - Strengthening of traditional African values: (same sex marriage…) - Management problems - Leaders are newcomers

Final remarks Contemporary society:  Tendency « to ignore religion until some religious group or individual behaves well rather badly »;  Religion is an important factor in the settlement process of african immigrants.