Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Changing Settlement Patterns Impact Toronto Services
Newcomers are settling in the suburbs of Toronto, according to the latest Research Bulletin from the Centre for Urban and Community Studies (CUCS) at University of Toronto.
Prior to 1970, immigrants mainly settled in the downtown core. Due to restrictive immigration policy, they were also very likely to be of European origin. However, by 2006, almost all new arrival were settling in the suburbs. These immigrants are ethnically and socio-economically diverse, with well-educated and financially secure people from China and India settling in Markham and Mississauga, and lower-income immigrants and refugees of African, Asian, and South American origin settling in the inner suburbs.
This pattern will be familiar to community agencies that serve newcomers. Agencies must open new locations in the northern and outlying areas of the city, or relocate entirely in order to reach their clients. Mario Calla, executive director of COSTI Immigrant Services, interviewed in the Globe and Mail yesterday said,
http://www.urbancentre.utoronto.ca/redirects/rb41.html
Prior to 1970, immigrants mainly settled in the downtown core. Due to restrictive immigration policy, they were also very likely to be of European origin. However, by 2006, almost all new arrival were settling in the suburbs. These immigrants are ethnically and socio-economically diverse, with well-educated and financially secure people from China and India settling in Markham and Mississauga, and lower-income immigrants and refugees of African, Asian, and South American origin settling in the inner suburbs.
This pattern will be familiar to community agencies that serve newcomers. Agencies must open new locations in the northern and outlying areas of the city, or relocate entirely in order to reach their clients. Mario Calla, executive director of COSTI Immigrant Services, interviewed in the Globe and Mail yesterday said,
"[W]e're seeing people that are coming directly from Pearson Airport, where they land, to a home in the 905… the way immigration patterns have changed, our staff speak 63 different languages, and we have relocated our centres in new immigrant settlement areas."While acknowledging the challenges of serving a diverse and geographically distributed newcomer community, CUCS strongly encourages action to meet the needs of immigrants:
"The vulnerability of new immigrants in the inner suburbs highlights the importance of providing appropriate settlement services, adequate and affordable housing, educational opportunities, and skills training – all matters that potentially lead to successful integration. Failure to deliver these services, especially to newly arrived low-income immigrants, risks fuelling social tensions that are increasing in other jurisdictions, especially certain West European cities."Read the bulletin:
http://www.urbancentre.utoronto.ca/redirects/rb41.html
Labels: Issues_and_Trends, Resources_and_Research
