Canada’s Welcome Week 2023 Celebrations, running from September 8-17, aim to foster a sense of belonging among newcomers and inspire Canadians to assist them in settling into their new homes.
It is an annual event created by IRCC to welcome newcomers and give them a chance to feel a part of the community, no matter where they come from.
Approximately 8.3 million immigrants live in Canada today, according to data from the 2021 census. This population of immigrants is expected to increase and make up 34% of the population by 2041, according to Statistics Canada.
In its report, the IRCC emphasizes that the level of welcome newcomers receive impacts their integration into Canadian society and their ability to contribute to their communities.
Canada’s welcome week 2023 celebrations – IRCC’s ImmigrationMatters Campaign
The IRCC’s #ImmigrationMatters program, which aims to raise awareness of the benefits of immigration to Canada, includes Welcoming Week as a key component. The program actively promotes public participation and provides several opportunities for Canadians to change the world.
Contacting groups that provide settlement services is one unique way to participate in Welcoming Week. This allows people to pair up with immigrants, giving them crucial support as they settle into their new neighborhood. This can entail helping them get around in their new environment on a daily basis.
Furthermore, Welcoming Week encourages Canadians and recent immigrants to join together for shared meals or to take part in cultural activities. These exchanges promote a sense of belonging and community. Encouraging brief conversations to assist visitors in improving their French or English is essential, as these small acts of goodwill contribute to the overall welcoming atmosphere.
Feeling of belonging
Recent research from Statistics Canada indicates that immigrants are more likely than Canadian-born people to feel included and connected in society. Those who choose to settle in Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces, which include Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, are particularly affected by this phenomena.
This improved sense of belonging among newcomers leads to greater involvement in the society, deeper social ties, and a higher propensity to decide to stay in Canada, supporting the economy of the nation.
According to the study, a number of important factors contribute to newcomers’ sense of belonging, including how they view Canada’s multicultural policies, how they feel about its distinctive Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and how they view the national symbols of Canada as essential parts of Canadian identity.
Advantages of Canada’s immigration
Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently emphasized the important benefits of immigration for Canada in a statement.
Miller stressed the many advantages of having a friendly population, emphasizing how immigration has fueled Canada’s economic development. It is also a crucial part of the country’s plan to deal with its aging population. In addition to promoting innovation across numerous industries, addressing labor market shortages, and creating employment opportunities, immigrants make significant contributions to Canada. They are an essential component of the social and economic fabric of Canada.
Notably, immigration is the primary driver of Canada’s labor force expansion, accounting for nearly 100% of its growth, and it contributes to approximately 75% of the country’s overall population increase. Newcomers to Canada predominantly enter through economic class immigration programs, indicating their status as skilled workers, thereby bolstering Canada’s workforce and overall prosperity.
Immigration is a key factor in Canada’s economic health and a pillar of its resilience. According to Statistics Canada data from the third quarter of 2022, immigrants held a significant majority share in 24.4% of all private sector enterprises.
Canada welcomed more than 437,000 new immigrants in 2022, demonstrating the country’s dedication to strict immigration regulations. The ambitious immigration levels strategy for Canada calls for the admission of 465,000 newcomers by the end of 2023. By the end of 2025, there should be a yearly inflow of approximately 500,000 new permanent residents as a result of this commitment to immigration. These figures highlight Canada’s dependence on immigration as a key tenet for maintaining a strong and prosperous economy.
