Supporting Settlement

Newcomers to Canada face many barriers to successful settlement. This is particularly true in rural areas, where there are few resources to assist immigrants. Despite this, the number of newcomers to rural Manitoba has increased dramatically over the past few years. This has the potential to significantly impact the economic development and demographic growth of communities.

Successful settlement and retention of newcomers requires a welcoming community with adequate supports and resources. Ethnocultural organizations provide language and orientation support, and assistance in preserving culture, religion, ancestral language, and values. They also cultivate social and cultural links to the broader community. Research in urban areas has shown that these organizations are vital to meeting the needs of newcomers and ensuring a vibrant, inclusive, diverse community.