Give a warm welcome
People come to Canada for many reasons. No matter where they’re from or why they’re here, a warm Canadian welcome can make a difference. Help make your neighbourhood a better place for everyone to live.
Get involved
- Match with a newcomer and help them settle into their new community.
- Share information about your community and local services.
- Introduce newcomers to others with common interests to help build networks.
- Donate second-hand clothing and furniture.
- Share a favourite Canadian pastime.
- Invite a newcomer to a local sporting event.
- Contact a settlement organization near you to start welcoming newcomers, including refugees.
- Take part in our citizenship by going to a citizenship ceremony, celebrating Canada Day and Citizenship Week, or organizing a reaffirmation ceremony.
- Connect with local charities to learn how you can help. Some examples:
“The generosity of our community has been outstanding. It's our way of showing newcomers that Canadians care.”
Welcome Afghans
“After being displaced and living in refugee camps, families are arriving with very few possessions or funds. They are starting over in a new country, and we want to help them have the best start possible.”
Welcome Ukrainians
“Lera brought so much joy to my life and my home, and the experience of hosting her and her friends from Ukraine has changed me in other ways, too. I have a new sense of gratitude for what this city has to offer.”
Learn
- Part of becoming more welcoming is understanding how we select, screen and set up immigrants for success in Canada. Find out how Canada’s immigration system works.
- Immigrants help grow Canada’s future. Learn more about how immigrants contribute to different sectors like sports, business and health care.
- Read what the research says about how Canada’s immigration system works for all of us.
Canada’s immigration system: an overview
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Transcript: “Canada’s immigration system: an overview”
Video length: 1 minute, 41 seconds
Bright ambient piano music plays throughout.
The scene opens on a close-up of 2 people talking, and pans out to a diverse group of people standing outside talking together. Among them is a woman (Maria).
Narrator: Immigration is an important part of the Government of Canada’s plan to keep our economy growing.
The scene transitions to a map of Canada.
Narrator: If it weren’t for immigrants, many employers would have trouble finding enough qualified workers to fill available jobs.
“Hiring” signs pop up in several places on the map.
Narrator: This is because Canadians are living longer and having fewer children. There are more people retiring than there are young Canadians entering the job market.
A couple waves from in front of their house to their child, who is boarding a school bus. The school bus drives away with only a few children on board.
Narrator: This also means there won’t be as many workers paying taxes to support our social services, such as pensions and health care. That’s why Canada has a plan for immigration.
The bus drives by a retirement home. On the front porch, a nurse serves hot tea to a resident.
Title screen displays: “Selection”.
Narrator: Every year, the Government of Canada sets targets for each category of immigrant we allow into the country. The majority of immigrants who come to Canada are selected for their ability to contribute to our economy. Canada also has spaces in the immigration plan to reunite families and to help the world’s most vulnerable.
Text displays: “Immigration categories”.
A pie chart displays 3 categories: “Economic contribution” (approximately 60%), “Reuniting families” (approximately 25%), and “Refugees and humanitarian” (approximately 15%).
Title screen displays: “Screening”.
Narrator: Before they arrive, Canada thoroughly screens immigrants to make sure they are in good health, have not committed serious crimes, and don’t pose a security risk. The health and safety of Canadians is the Government of Canada’s top priority.
We are in front of Maria’s computer screen. As Maria scrolls through her file, text displays on the computer screen: “Medical Test”. Maria scrolls more and text displays on the computer screen: “Fingerprints and Photo (Biometrics)”. A greyscale fingerprint turns green as the text displayed underneath changes from “Biometrics Requested” to “Biometrics Received”. A check mark appears in a box beside the word “Done”. Maria scrolls again to the section “Criminal Record”. The record shows “Clear” in green.
Title screen displays: “Success”.
Narrator: When immigrants succeed, Canada succeeds. That’s why we fund services to help immigrants settle in their communities.
Maria is standing in an office with her employer, and they shake hands.
The scene transitions to a classroom. Maria is sitting at a desk and raises her hand.
Narrator: Settlement services help immigrants adapt to life in Canada and put them on the path to becoming Canadian citizens who give back, work, pay taxes and feel at home in Canada.
The scene transitions to Maria, proudly holding a small Canadian flag in one hand and a citizenship certificate in the other.
The scene transitions to a community garden. Maria plants a flower.
The scene transitions to Maria with her spouse. They pose for a photo in front of their new home.
Narrator (also displayed): Learn more about how immigrants enrich our communities at Canada.ca/immigration-matters.
The text changes to “#Immigration Matters”.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada corporate signature is shown on a black background, followed by the Canada wordmark.
Celebrate
- Share stories of immigration and facts about immigrants’ contributions to various sectors on your personal social media channels.
Breathing new life into Charlottetown’s dance scene
Polina Salabay, a lifelong dancer who recently immigrated from Ukraine, is expanding opportunities for children in Charlottetown by offering free lessons in hip-hop, jazz-funk, Zumba and more.
Bringing some relief to a long-term care home
Within a week of arriving in Canada, 23-year-old Dilruba Hussaini, originally from Afghanistan, was working full-time at a long-term care home in St. John’s that, like many, has long faced labour shortages.
- Participate in Welcoming Week every September to recognize and celebrate the people, places and values that help everyone feel welcome.
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