Minds On

Newcomers to Canada

People move to a new country for lots of different reasons. Some people might move to feel safer if their home country is experiencing war or political unrest. Others might move to be closer to their family or to seek new opportunities for work and school.

Newcomers often need support adjusting to a different environment, climate, culture, language, community, and more.

Explore the 16 Hudson video, “Meet the Garmianys,” about a community welcoming a newcomer family to their new apartment building.

After exploring the video, consider the following questions:

  • Why did the Garmianys move to a new country?
  • How is their new community welcoming them?
  • How did Lili connect with the grandfather, even though they spoke different languages?

Press Let’s Check! to reveal the correct answers.

Question Answer
Why did the Garmianys move to a new country? They moved because they didn’t feel safe in their country anymore and decided to restart their life in a different country.
How is their new community welcoming them? The community had a meeting to discuss ways to support the newcomer family. They decided to provide gifts like furniture and toys for the kids to make them feel welcome. They also discussed ways to communicate since they don’t speak the same language as the newcomer family.
How did Lili connect with the grandfather, even though they spoke different languages? Lili played chess with the grandfather. Bonding over a shared activity helped them connect without speaking the same language.

Action

Key words

Before you begin this learning activity, you will need to become familiar with some key words.

Press the following tabs to access the key words and the definitions.

People expressing their anger or frustration towards political leaders, often through riots, protests, and more.

People who recently moved to a new place or country.

The act of harming someone or a group of people because of their identity, including their race, religion, sexual orientation, and more.

The act of forcing someone to leave their home.

Treating someone unfairly because of their race.

Treating someone unfairly because of their identity.

Protection given to someone seeking a safe place after leaving their home country.

Push and pull factors

Every year, Canada welcomes people from countries around the world. Sometimes this happens in waves, with more newcomers arriving from the same regions of the world. This could be caused by events like war or changes to their environment (for example, water pollution, earthquakes, climate change, and more) that affect groups of people at the same time. In other cases, individuals or families could choose to move to Canada for their own reasons, like wanting to be closer to other family members or to start a new job.

What describes the reasons someone might move to a different country?

These are called push and pull factors. Push factors are reasons that may cause people to leave their home country, while pull factors are reasons that make a new country appealing.

The Government of Canada has four different categories for individuals who apply to live in Canada:

Family Class People who want to move to Canada to be reunited with family who have previously settled in Canada.
Economic Immigrants People who are skilled workers and business people who want to work in Canada.
Refugees People who are leaving their home country due to violence, war, or persecution.
Humanitarian People who are leaving their country due to fear of hardship or suffering.

For each category, consider the push and pull factors that would lead them to apply to live in Canada.

For each sentence, select the missing word.

Case studies

Explore the following case studies of people who have moved to Canada.

Do you think this scenario is a push or pull factor?

Pause and Reflect

Think about it!

  • What specific push factors led Jewish people to Canada after WWII? How might this push factor have impacted these people?
  • What was one pull factor that surprised you? Why?
  • What are two push or pull factors that you would like to learn more about? Why did you choose these?

Record your ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.

Consolidation

Push and pull factors case studies

Let’s learn more about the people who came to Canada for a variety of push and pull factors. Use the following graphic organizer to explore specific groups of people who have moved to Canada and determine the push and pull factors that influenced their move. Use the definitions in the Action section to help you.

When finding the various newcomer groups, you can use information in this learning activity or complete some internet research using reputable sources such as Canadian encyclopedias, government websites (websites ending in .ca, .gov., .edu), or books from your local library. Include one to two points of information to support your choice.

Complete Push and Pull Factors Case Studies in your notebook or use the following fillable and printable document.

Push and Pull Factors Case Studies
Reasons to move to a new country Push or pull factor? Newcomer group chosen (choose 1-2 points to support your choice)
political unrest
persecution
displacement
racism
discrimination
asylum

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Push and Pull Factors Case Studies. 

Activity (Open PDF in a new window)

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity?  Which of the next 4 sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel...

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.