Welcoming Communities Initiative

a multidisciplinary alliance of universities, colleges, and community organizations dedicated to promoting the integration of immigrants and minorities across Ontario

Research of Interest

The Local Diversity Gap: Assessing the Scope and Causes of Visible Minority Under-Representation in Municipal Elections
Pictured: Karen Bird
Pictured: Karen Bird

A number of social groups are numerically under-represented within elected local councils in Ontario. In a recent paper, author Karen Bird examines the representational deficit facing women, visible minorities, and the foreign-born, following the October 2010 municipal elections across the province. Drawing on an original survey of approximately 1,500 declared candidates across Ontario’s 23 largest cities (with at least 100,000 inhabitants), it finds that the under-representation of visible minorities…


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What's New

Using the Media to Engage Communities: Dispatch from the U.S. National Immigrant Integration Conference
Dispatches from the U.S. Immigrant Integration Conference

The Fourth Annual U.S. National Immigrant Integration Conference took place in Seattle,Washington from October 24 to 26, 2011. The conference brought together policy-makers, practitioners, researchers, elected officials, government employees, business representatives, and faith communities for three days of dialogue. Keen to benefit from the discussion, the Welcoming Communities Initiative participated in a number of conference sessions.  In the weeks that follow, we will share some of the key findings…


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Events

JAN26
FEB25
Gov

Call for Proposals Issued by CIC and AHS

January 26, 2012 until
February 25, 2012
Location: Alberta

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, in partnership with the Alberta Ministry of Human Services, has issued two Calls for Proposals for establishing Local Immigration Partnerships in Alberta. These CFPs are for: 1) a Calgary Local Immigration Partnership (submission deadline February 24, 2012); and 2) Southern Alberta Small Centre Local Immigration Partnerships (submission deadline March 9, 2012). Further information, including the application forms, can be found here (select…

FEB08-10
WCI

CIC Ontario Region and WCI Conference

February 8, 2012 at 12:00pm until 4:30pm
February 9, 2012 at 8:30am until 4:30pm
February 10, 2012 at 8:30am until 4:30pm
Location: Sutton Place Hotel, Toronto

This three-day conference will centre on approaches and measures for taking stock of the Ontario LIP experience. In support of this goal, the results of WCI studies bearing on LIP assessment, outcomes and comportment will be presented. Opportunities will be created for LIP community representatives, government officials and researchers to assess progress and to discuss future directions. On-site registration February 8th from 9am – 2pm. Conference begins at noon (lunch) on February 8th.


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  • ABOUT US

    The Welcoming Communities Initiative (WCI) is a multidisciplinary alliance of universities, colleges, and community organizations dedicated to promoting the integration of immigrants and minorities across Ontario.

    To achieve this goal, the WCI seeks to implement a comprehensive program of research aimed at devising, improving and testing measures to attract, retain, and integrate newcomers, including students and foreign workers, in cities, towns and less populated locales. Many of these communities would like to grow their economies, renew their populace, and reinvigorate their labour markets.

    The WCI favours research that combines local expertise with academic scholarship in order to address practical concerns and challenges. In particular, the Initiative promotes comparative work that engages local stakeholders, scrutinizes promising practices, communicates effectively, and drives innovation and improvements.