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June 12, 2000
Immigrant youth report experiencing racism, bigotry
- but enjoy the freedom of Canada's youth culture
OTTAWA - Immigrant Youth in Canada, a new study from the Canadian Council on Social Development (CCSD), reveals that recent young immigrants report experiencing racism and bigotry in Canada, especially those who are members of visible minority groups.
The ground-breaking report, a companion to The Progress of Canada's Children 1999/2000, combines the latest available statistics with focus-group research by Ekos Research Associates. It presents data on the language abilities, lifestyle differences and religious beliefs of immigrant youth.
The report reveals that the vast majority of immigrant youth in the focus groups find it difficult to feel totally accepted as Canadians, and most experience some ostracism or bullying at school. Many report that teachers, staff and fellow students are all part of the problem.
"These young people leave behind relatives and friends when they come to Canada, where they do a balancing act between their 'at-home' culture and the values of Canadian society. They demonstrate an impressive level of optimism and resilience in the face of challenges," said Jean Kunz, co-author of the report.
Although most of the focus-group participants, aged 15-24, said they enjoy the freedom of Canada's youth culture, many reported feeling overwhelmed and alienated by the rampant consumerism and superficiality of North American culture, contributing to feelings of isolation. Findings also indicated that most immigrant youth place greater emphasis on religious faith in their daily lives than Canadian-born youth, and are more involved in religious activities.
The report also examines the community supports available to recent immigrants to help them adjust to life in Canada, pointing out that adaptation is a two way street. "While immigrant youth generally adapt well to Canadian life, problems remain, and many community service providers do not have adequate resources to help young people address these problems," said Louise Hanvey, who co-authored the report with Jean Kunz.
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Immigrant Youth in Canada - Related Material
Canadian Council on Social Development,
190 O'Connor Street, Suite 100,
Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 2R3
Tel: (613) 236-8977, Fax: (613) 236-2750, Web: www.ccsd.ca, Email: council@ccsd.ca
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