According to the 1996 Census, young Canadians under age 25 are more culturally and ethnically diverse than are older generations.¹⁵ This trend will increase because youth form one-third of the immigrants who come to Canada each year. Most of these immigrants speak neither English nor French upon their arrival. Their experiences and backgrounds are diverse. Integrating into a new social and cultural environment requires time and effort, as well as the support of the community.

Recent immigrant youth differ from Canadian-born youth in their participation in religious activities, as well as in their smoking and drinking behaviours. With the passage of time, however, the lifestyles of these immigrant youth begin to resemble those of their Canadian-born counterparts.

This report indicates that programs which provide English or French as a second language are an effective way to integrate newcomers into Canadian society. Through these programs and the various social activities they entail, the immigrants not only learn the language, they also develop friendships with others.

Findings from this research also counter the myth that higher levels of immigration could lead to ethnic segregation. A number of immigrant youth in the focus groups said that they found ethnic-specific institutions to be helpful in their initial period of transition from one culture to another. Nevertheless, most said that they seldom participated in activities within their own ethnic communities, except for special occasions. Most immigrant youth expressed the desire to move beyond their own ethnic enclaves once they had acquired the English or French language skills. Some said that although they did not expect to carry on the traditions from their country of origin, they would retain the language. With the economy being increasingly globalized, knowledge of a "third language" will be useful for many of these young people.

Family reunification has been the cornerstone of Canada’s recent immigration policy. Children and youth are often admitted under the family-class category. As is evident from these findings, immigrant youth generally adapt well to Canadian society over time. Adaptation, however, is a two-way street. While immigrants need to accustom themselves to their new environment, social service organizations and all other sectors of society need to provide more resources to meet the needs of their clients.