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Ethno-Cultural Project

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“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” Maya Angelou

Canada is undergoing rapid demographic transition including a rising percent of  first and/or second generation immigrants from the global South.  At the same time, poverty is persistent across Canada, with recent immigrants and racialized communities increasingly more vulnerable to poverty than the mainstream population.  Institutional, cultural, language and other barriers, including racism, stand in the way of many recent immigrants being able to avoid falling into or climbing out of poverty.

In 2010, Canada Without Poverty, in partnership with the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women, the Calgary Centre for Culture, Equity and Diversity, and the Colour of Poverty – Colour of Change in Toronto, began an initiative to reach out to such groups, which are typically under-represented in anti-poverty work.  Constituting one-fifth of Canada’s population, ethno-cultural-racial-faith based communities are an important part of Canada’s cultural mosaic and have distinct challenges and needs that must be addressed.  To better understand the perspective of ethno-cultural communities on poverty issues, a survey targeted at community based groups and immigrant service organizations was undertaken in May/June 2011.  The results from both the survey and follow-up forums, are intended to inform the focus of this initiative moving forward, additional research, community engagement strategies, and provide more in-depth information on the current realities facing low-income individuals and families from various ethno-cultural-racial-faith based groups.

Engaging local community leaders and encouraging participation in advocacy work will create greater representation of ethno-cultural communities in anti-poverty action that would better reflect the lived experience, perspectives and values of these communities.  All voices should be at the table when discussing solutions to address poverty.

This initiative commences with focus on Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, with intent to expand in the next phase to Québec, Manitoba and Nova Scotia.  Survey results are now available here, and in the new year discussion notes from the forums will be posted here as well.  The first forum was in Calgary on November 26th, 2011, and the second forum will be in Vancouver on February 2nd, 2012. For more information contact megan [at] cwp-csp.ca