Anti-Racism and Anti-Discrimination

Activities:  What Works ? 

Dr. Smita JoshiDirector – Multiculturalism

Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism

Presentation Outline

• Context.• Rationale for our approach given

our context & goals.• Focus on our successes: Sharing

sample projects that work.

Our Context

Being small can be a blessing and a curse!

Demographics - Diversity represented in the

province• Small numbers of Immigrants; a little Small numbers of Immigrants; a little over 8500; Around 1.5% of the total over 8500; Around 1.5% of the total population.population.

• Yet, over 100 countries / 70 languages Yet, over 100 countries / 70 languages spoken.spoken.

• Home to 2000 people with French Home to 2000 people with French heritage.heritage.

• 19,000 people with aboriginal ancestry. 19,000 people with aboriginal ancestry. • 10,000 who also speak “non-official”

languages.(Source Census, 2006)

Building Social Capital Networks

• Works best in smaller setting• Actions at Macro level• Actions at Micro level

Public Consultations

1. Implementation of the provincial Policy on Multiculturalism. A total of 13 focus group meetings held in 10 locations across the province ; included 217 participants.

• Newfoundland and Labrador’s Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy. The Canadian Policy Research Networks (CPRN) facilitated 13 sessions of 11 deliberative dialogue sessions with 484 youths aged 18 to 30 attended in September and October 2008.

How is diversity viewed in our province? Results of our

consultations• Diversity & Multiculturalism viewed positively.

• Recognize importance of Education; that fear of the unknown/ lack of exposure can cause people to be less open to immigrants.

• Conversely, in rural NL, immigrants are more likely to be welcomed with open arms as they are often the precious and valued health care providers, entrepreneurs that fulfill major need in the community. 

• Close-knit communities and cultures can result in isolation of newcomers from other parts of the province as well as from other parts of the world.

Rationale for our Approach

• Our Challenge: To be proactive and change where necessary, what we think, how we feel and act.

• Approach: Through government and community partnerships, take a holistic approach, support the local champions to build welcoming communities.

Policy & procedures

Anti-Discrimination

HolisticApproach

Education &

Public awareness

Cultural inclusiveness

StrategicPartnerships

Programs & Servicesbased onEquality

Actions UndertakenAssistant Deputy Ministers Committee• Interdepartmental Working group• Public Service Commission : Provincial Diversity

committee • Coordinating Committee on Newcomer Integration-

Federal, provincial, municipal, community partners• International Student Labour Market Integration

Project Committee.• The employers’ guide to hiring international

students and graduates.• Strategic partnerships with Municipalities,

Teachers Association, School Board Association, Eastern Health, Royal Constabulary etc.

• Smaller Centre Strategies – “Toolbox of Ideas for Smaller Centres” - pilot has been conducted in selected areas of the province.

Our 26 Partners during March Celebrations!

Economic Development Boards• Labrador Straits Development Corporation• Mariner Resource Opportunities Network • Capital Coast Development Alliance

Community Groups• Association for New Canadians• Sharing Our Cultures • Multicultural Women’s Association of Newfoundland

and Labrador• African Association of Newfoundland and Labrador• Friends of India• Japanese Association of Newfoundland and Labrador• Multicultural Women in Corner Brook• Media as “partners”

Partners Municipal/Provincial/Federal • Education• Innovation, Trade and Rural Development• Justice• Women’s Policy Office• Tourism, Culture and Recreation• Human Rights Commission• Royal Newfoundland Constabulary• City of St. John’s• Citizenship and Immigration Canada• Eastern health CareEducational Institutions• Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association• Eastern School Board• Conseil Scolaire Francophone School Board• College of the North Atlantic-St. John’s and

Stephenville Campus• Memorial University of Newfoundland

Since 2007, our office has funded 54 community partnerships

projects to enhance settlement, inclusion and integration services.

Multiculturalism

MilestoneCelebrating Successes!

Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism

June 24, 2009

Since the launch

of the Policy in June 2008…

We conducted 13 Focus Group Meetings in 10

locations

Receivedwidespread support for the policy

across the Province

Citizens highlighted the importance of public

education to strengthen diversity.

…and the need for culturally sensitive services

too!

With supporting partners…

In March 2009, together we lit up our Province

Thanks to the provincial proclamation!

We light up our homes, our hearts our community with

multicolored lights as a symbol of being a welcoming community

Supported by a proclamation from the City

too!

Together We Rocked !

Welcoming newcomers!

Organizing culturally sensitive

Public Seminars in French on Islam.

We worked with our students

with specialized classroom activities

developed by department of Education

Students learned about each

others cultures

And International students learned about life

in rural communities

They celebrated World Day…

Bell Island Style!

And learned about the importance

of different languages.

Teachers promoted respect for all.

With service partners working to meet family needs…

Acknowledging importance of Inclusive citizenship

for all…

….The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary helped to provide

culturally sensitive services

We celebrated Sharing Our Cultures…

Everybody has a purpose here….

Memorial University International Students Bazaar

Multicultural Women’s Food and Craft Fair…

a win -win for all!

Thank you to all our partners for

celebrating diversity

as our strength!

So let us continue to build on our Successes!

And recognize the outstanding achievements

CongratulationsRemzi Cej!

Province’s newest

Rhodes scholar who originally

came from war-torn Kosovo!

Continue to promote our rich heritage

Listen to the children!

…..and build on our strengths.

Together we can provide safe harbours

Gander Airport

9/11

Maximize all potential

Promote collaborations

Let’s find the way

We’ll find a way

There is a Way!

Thank- you!

For additional information contact our office at (709)

729-6607

References • Policy & Implementation report

http://www.nlimmigration.ca• Making Newfoundland & Labrador a province

of Choice, Synthesis Reporthttp://www.lmiworks.nl.ca/yras/pdf/Synthesis_Report.pdf

• Making Newfoundland & Labrador a province of Choice, Summit Report http://www.lmiworks.nl.ca/yras/pdf/NL_Youth_Summit_Final_Report.pdf

• Employers Guide to Hiring Immigrants http://www.nlimmigration.com/media/10909/employersguidetohiringimmigrants.pdf