Welcoming Week 2023 in Canada is here, and it’s all about celebrating newcomers and helping them become a part of the Canadian community. From September 8 to 17, Canadians are coming together to make newcomers feel at home.
Let’s explore what this week is all about and why it’s important.
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Why Welcoming Week Matters
- Building Belonging: Welcoming Week is an annual event organized by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It’s a chance to recognize and celebrate newcomers and ensure they feel like they belong in their new home, no matter where they come from.
- Canada’s Diverse Population: Did you know that approximately 8.3 million immigrants live in Canada? That’s nearly a quarter of the total population! By 2041, this number is expected to rise to 34%. Welcoming newcomers is crucial for Canada’s growth and prosperity.
#ImmigrationMatters Campaign:
Welcoming Week is part of IRCC’s #ImmigrationMatters campaign, which focuses on highlighting the benefits of immigration in Canada. Here’s how you can get involved:
- Connect with Organizations: Reach out to organizations that provide settlement services. They can match you with a newcomer, and you can help them adjust to their new community.
- Share Meals and Attend Events: Consider sharing a meal or attending cultural events with newcomers. This helps build connections and friendships.
- Language Exchange: Engage in conversations with newcomers to help them improve their English or French language skills.
“I invite you to showcase your community’s or organization’s successes on social media by using the hashtag #WelcomingWeek2023. Sharing these successes from within our communities will encourage others to make their communities more welcoming. For many, arriving here is just a start on the path to becoming Canadian, and we can help guide them along those first steps. I wish everyone a wonderful Welcoming Week!”
Immigration Minister Marc Miller
The Power of Belonging
- Statistics Canada’s Insights: Recent research by Statistics Canada shows that immigrants often feel a strong sense of belonging in Canada. This is especially true for those who settle in provinces like Ontario and the Atlantic Provinces.
- Community Engagement: Feeling a sense of belonging makes newcomers more active in their communities. They make connections, choose to stay in Canada and contribute to the country’s economy.
- Factors That Influence Belonging: Newcomers’ feelings of belonging are influenced by Canada’s multicultural policies, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the significance of Canadian national symbols.
The Economic Benefits
Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasizes the economic benefits of immigration:
- Driving Innovation: Immigrants drive innovation in various industries.
- Filling Labor Market Gaps: They help fill gaps in the job market.
- Population Growth: Immigration accounts for most of Canada’s population growth.
- Business Impact: In the third quarter of 2022, businesses mainly owned by immigrants made up 24.4% of all private sector businesses in Canada.
“Being a welcoming country brings significant benefits. Our economic growth has been driven by immigration, and it is a major part of our economic plan to address our aging population. Whether driving innovation across numerous industries, filling labour market gaps or creating jobs, immigrants play an essential role in the cultural and economic fabric of Canada.”
Immigration Minister Marc Miller
Canada’s Immigration Goals
Canada welcomed over 437,000 new immigrants in 2022, and the goal is to welcome 465,000 newcomers by the end of 2023. By 2025, the target is to welcome over 500,000 new permanent residents each year.
Conclusion
Welcoming Week is a time for all Canadians to come together and celebrate the richness that newcomers bring to the country. By making newcomers feel welcome, we’re not only helping them but also contributing to the growth and prosperity of Canada.
So, let’s join hands and celebrate Welcoming Week 2023 with open hearts and open arms! #WelcomingWeek2023 #ImmigrationMatters
