Sense of Belonging in Canada : A Perspective for Immigrants
Canada's Mosaic: What Shapes Immigrants' Sense of Belonging?
Sense of Belonging in Canada : Sense of belonging to a country, particularly as an immigrant, has long been a trusted method for measuring social integration, national identification, and feelings of acceptance/feeling that one is ‘at home’ in Canada. In the 2020 General Social Survey (GSS) conducted by Statistics Canada (StatsCan), we find insights into the Canadian provinces and territories where immigrants are most likely to report a strong sense of belonging to this country.
Factors Influencing Immigrant Sense of Belonging
Immigrants’ sense of belonging in Canada is influenced by various factors, including:
1. Post-Migration Experiences: Positive feedback from their surroundings, acceptance, and opportunities for success shape an immigrant’s sense of belonging.
2. Immigrant Sociodemographics: Elements such as the number of years since immigration, age at immigration, admission category, and population group matter. Long-term differences in settlement patterns contribute to regional variations.
3. Immigrant Composition in Each Region: Provinces differ in their proportion of recent immigrants, affecting the sense of belonging, which strengthens with time.
4. Feelings of Acceptance/Instances of Discrimination: Discrimination and exclusionary experiences vary across regions, impacting an immigrant’s sense of belonging in Canada.
5. Structural Factors/Context: Economic opportunities, education, and socioeconomic conditions in the provinces influence an immigrant’s acculturation and incorporation.
Sense of Belonging in Canada Updates
Results of the 2020 General Social Survey
StatsCan’s 2020 GSS data reveals significant differences in the reported sense of belonging among immigrants in Canada, influenced by the factors mentioned above.
Generally, immigrants in Ontario and the Atlantic provinces (PEI, NS, NL, and NB) report a strong sense of belonging, while this sentiment is weaker in British Columbia and Alberta.
Interestingly, the variation between Alberta-based immigrants and those in Ontario can be attributed to Alberta’s immigrant composition. If these factors were equal, the proportion of immigrants in Alberta with a strong sense of belonging would resemble Ontario.
However, the difference in sense of belonging between Ontario and British Columbia immigrants cannot be solely explained by these factors. Even after accounting for them, immigrants in British Columbia are about 11 percentage points less likely to report a strong sense of belonging compared to Ontario.
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