1. Who Are We?

2. Canada today...  The majority of Canadians (as many as 97%) are immigrants or descendants of immigrants.  This is why Canada is considered to be a “multicultural” society.  For the most part, Canada also encourages immigrants to retain their traditions and language!

3. Patterns of Immigration  The number of immigrants changes from year to year  In recent years, more than 200,000 immigrants have arrived each year

4. When?What Happened?Why? 1840sArrival of1000’s of Irish settlers Irish potato crop fails; facing starvation 1905-1914Massive immigration to Canadian west from Eastern Europe Canadian gov’t wants to settle prairies, offers free land/incentives to immigrants 1915-1919Little immigrationWWI, worldwide influenza epidemic limits movement 1930-1945Little immigrationWorld economic depression, WWII 1947-1960Many Italians come to Canada Italians flee devastation caused by war 1956Many Hungarians come to Canada Hungarian revolt against Russians fails, flee 1980-1997Arrival of thousands of Hong Kong Chinese Immigrants seek political stability before China retakes control of HK in 97 1980-2003Many people from Afghanistan Immigrants seek safe haven from conflict

5. See a pattern?  The source of immigration changes depending on different factors (usually economic and political conditions)  Canada offers these people a “haven”, a country which offers freedom and opportunity

6. Why People Become Immigrants Push factors: war, absence of human rights, poor economic/educational opportunities, religious persecution, terrorism, natural disasters Pull Factors: to join family, job opportunities, better taxes Intervening obstacles: distance, cost, can’t meet requirements!

7. When Someone Becomes An Immigrant It is not as easy as you think! There are strict rules to who can immigrate to Canada Three groups of people: 1. Economic Immigrants 2. Family Immigrants 3. Refugees

8. More on Immigrants Economic: skilled workers/business immigrants; must be able to contribute to economy–Est. a business, buy a business, invest Family: this allows families to reunite (spouse, children etc); sponsorship program (i.e. housing & $$) Refugee: someone who fears cruel / inhumane treatment (or even death) in home country

9. Interprovincial Migration  Migration that occurs BETWEEN provinces  Changes population dynamics between the difference provinces/territories in Canada