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I don't believe the Americans slotted immigrants of origins X Y and Z into block settlements, but if you look at ethnic origin maps for the Great Plains and Midwest, it's obvious people of certain origins settled predominantly in certain areas. In many cases the predominantly "Klingon" or "Vulcan" areas are larger than the original block settlement areas on the Canadian Prairies were.
So it happened there too. Even if it wasn't official government policy. (At least, I couldn't find a record that it was U.S. government policy.)
Another thing about block settlements in Canada is that while the immigrant groups saw them as way to maintain their way of life and resist assimilation, it's easy to find evidence that this was not what the Canadian government had in mind. (Even if it appears they may not have been completely honest with some groups.)
The Canadian government's main reason for having block settlements was because the established population didn't want anything to do with these weird newcomers. So in order to prevent opposition and hostility from taking root, they parked the newcomers by themselves some distance away from established communities. It's also likely true that many newcomers didn't want anything to do with the established population, or with other newcomers who were different from then.
The block settlement system actually didn't last that long, as the government started noticing that people weren't assimilating fast enough for their liking. Of course, it had taken root in a number of regions by that point. That's probably the reason that English-only school legislation was passed in most provinces, eliminating schooling in non-English languages. Including French of course.
So I still maintain that the Canadian government actively saying it wants immigrants to maintain their culture(s) is a post-1960s thing.
In GTA there are several ethnic enclaves for chinese, and the various south asians. Were these areas created specifically for those new groups, or did they already exist, and anyone already there had to move out?
In GTA there are several ethnic enclaves for chinese, and the various south asians. Were these areas created specifically for those new groups, or did they already exist, and anyone already there had to move out?
That would be illegal.
Throughout our history new immigrants to Canada have naturally gravitated to areas where there they can find others with a similar language and culture. It makes the transition to Canada less of a culture shock. By the second or third generation that need is mostly gone.
My great-grandfather immigrated to Saskatchewan in 1892. The tiny town he retired to in 1907 had mostly German speaking residents. The Lutheran church he attended only switched to English for its services in the early 1930s. I know that none of his grandchildren, scattered in various provinces, could speak German.
Canada has one of the most successful immigration systems in the world (the point system). So successful Ausyrralia has implemented the same policy. You have no need to worry about Canada. You should worry about your own FAILING immigration system.
I sort of expected someone to reply with such kind words.
In GTA there are several ethnic enclaves for chinese, and the various south asians. Were these areas created specifically for those new groups, or did they already exist, and anyone already there had to move out?
Nothing in the GTA was created specifically for anybody. But as Irene said, people like to be with their own, especially when they initially arrive; so ethnic neighbourhoods just formed and grew: the various Chinatowns, Little Italy, India Bazaar, Greektown, and so on.
Some communities moved around. The Jewish part of town was once on Spadina south of College (anybody remember Shopsy's and Switzer's on Spadina?). As the Jewish community became more affluent, it moved north--into Forest Hill, and up Bathurst Street.
Some dispersed. The Roman Catholic Irish weren't terribly popular with Protestant Toronto, so they congregated with their own along Gerrard Street East, east of Parliament. Many grew cabbages in their front yards, hence the neighbourhood's name: Cabbagetown. But time passed, religion became less important to all Torontonians, kids grew and left. Now, you would be hard-pressed to find an Irish part of town.
But nothing was specifically created for anybody. Nobody had to move out and nobody was displaced, unless they wanted to be.
You are American. You don't seem to grasp Canadian culture and our way of thinking. We are not polarized or prone to fear mongering. We have no distinct culture...
Tell that to Mulroney and the supporters of Meech Lake. Have you read those accords?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Canuckduck
... and we embrace multiculturalism so we embrace all world culture. The majority of us have one parent born outside of Canada.
It's incredible how Americans think Canadians have the same kind of politicism and opposition to refugees as them.
Many Canadians I talk to on the phone are disgusted by having to separate men and women in swimming pools. And that's just a start.
And the daughters of Syrian refugees in Toronto wanted badly to go on a school field trip. THeir fathers wouldn't let them go for "Islamic reasons." Do they want to live in a free society, or just get handouts?
Tell that to Mulroney and the supporters of Meech Lake. Have you read those accords?
Many Canadians I talk to on the phone are disgusted by having to separate men and women in swimming pools. And that's just a start.
And the daughters of Syrian refugees in Toronto wanted badly to go on a school field trip. THeir fathers wouldn't let them go for "Islamic reasons." Do they want to live in a free society, or just get handouts?
Well those daughters seem pretty interested in the freedoms of western society. Hopefully they will be able to take advantage of them.
There wasn't anything scandalous in those accords, which are long dead anyway.
But the debates around them were divisive for sure.
My apologies for not being clear. Meech Lake referred to Quebec as a "distinct society." The gentleman to whom I was responding said Canada had no distinct societies, including immigrants. Meech came within a few renegade votes in the MB Parliament from becoming law. The attempt to ram Charlottetown through by referendum, since the provinces weren't biting, fared no better. But they both came uncomfortably close. And the Trudeaus seem to have an affinity for immigrants remaining "distinct" as long as they vote Liberal.
Originally Posted by New York Times Article on Syrian Refugee Children
(link) In October, Bayan craved one item above all on her wish list: to join her school’s overnight trip. For three days at the end of the month, the whole fifth grade would travel to an island in Toronto’s harbor, exploring, conducting science experiments and sleeping in dorms.
“I want to go but my dad said no,” Bayan said over a family lunch of chicken and stuffed cabbage rolls.
****************
Mr. Mohammad told Bayan again: No trip. He was not an immigrant who set out to adapt to a new world; he was a refugee trying to hold on to what had been ripped from him. “We’re forced to be here,” Mr. Mohammad said later. “We’re happy, but we’re forced to be here.”
He still had a shot at preserving the identity he wanted for Bayan, but he and his wife would have to be vigilant, willing to deny their daughter some of what she wanted.
“I will do this for her,” he said. “God help us.
The children are not being allowed the advantages of being in a free country. This is Syria in Canada.
The children are not being allowed the advantages of being in a free country. This is Syria in Canada.
I know and it sucks. It's hard to act against parental authority when kids are minors and the parent is not doing anything illegal.
But yes Canada needs to protect the rights of women of all origins. If we need to crack down I will support that.
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That would be illegal.
