1. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OF
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN
THE HOST SOCIETY:
THE CASE OF GREATER VICTORIA
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OF
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN
THE HOST SOCIETY:
Catherine Xie, Annabelle Song,
Cindy Lu, Pallas Zhang

2. immigrants to B.C. in 2010 came from Asia. Europe accounted
for 12.7% (5,622) of new immigrants to B.C. followed by Africa
and the Middle East with 10.4% (4,593), Central and South
America with 4.4% (1,948), United States with 3.8% (1,697),
and Australia and New Zealand with 1.4% (608).
Chart 2: Top ten source countries of immigrants to
B.C. in 2010
Data Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Top ten
source countries of immigrants to B.C. in 2010
By world region, 29,700 or just over two-thirds (67.2%) of new
immigrants to B.C. in 2010 came from Asia. Europe accounted
for 12.7% (5,622) of new immigrants to B.C. followed by Africa
and the Middle East with 10.4% (4,593), Central and South
America with 4.4% (1,948), United States with 3.8% (1,697),
and Australia and New Zealand with 1.4% (608).
Chart 2: Top ten source countries of immigrants to
B.C. in 2010
Data Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
D
In
la
im
t
t
la
n
r
w
n
In
h
A
o
c
Im
la
8
a
im
By world region, 29,700 or just over two-thirds (67.2%) of new
immigrants to B.C. in 2010 came from Asia. Europe accounted
for 12.7% (5,622) of new immigrants to B.C. followed by Africa
and the Middle East with 10.4% (4,593), Central and South
America with 4.4% (1,948), United States with 3.8% (1,697),
and Australia and New Zealand with 1.4% (608).
Chart 2: Top ten source countries of immigrants to
B.C. in 2010
Data Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
and the Middle East with 10.4% (4,593), Central and South
America with 4.4% (1,948), United States with 3.8% (1,697),
and Australia and New Zealand with 1.4% (608).
Chart 2: Top ten source countries of immigrants to
B.C. in 2010
By world region, 29,700 or just over two-thirds (67.2%) of new
immigrants to B.C. in 2010 came from Asia. Europe accounted
for 12.7% (5,622) of new immigrants to B.C. followed by Africa
and the Middle East with 10.4% (4,593), Central and South
America with 4.4% (1,948), United States with 3.8% (1,697),
and Australia and New Zealand with 1.4% (608).
Chart 2: Top ten source countries of immigrants to
B.C. in 2010
Data Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
By world region, 29,700 or just over two-thirds (67.2%) of new
immigrants to B.C. in 2010 came from Asia. Europe accounted
for 12.7% (5,622) of new immigrants to B.C. followed by Africa
and the Middle East with 10.4% (4,593), Central and South
America with 4.4% (1,948), United States with 3.8% (1,697),
and Australia and New Zealand with 1.4% (608).
Chart 2: Top ten source countries of immigrants to
B.C. in 2010
Data Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
for 12.7% (5,622) of new immigrants to B.C. followed by Africa
and the Middle East with 10.4% (4,593), Central and South
America with 4.4% (1,948), United States with 3.8% (1,697),
and Australia and New Zealand with 1.4% (608).
Chart 2: Top ten source countries of immigrants to
B.C. in 2010
and Australia and New Zealand with 1.4% (608).
Chart 2: Top ten source countries of immigrants to
B.C. in 2010
Data Source:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada

3. nch further funding
cipate this funding
d our existing
our clients’ English
te new students who
assroom-based
8
Volunteer mentors and small group facilitators provided invaluable support to participants. Their
commitment reflects an understanding of newcomers’ needs and contribution to our community. Thank
you to Pam Devito for an amazing volunteer coordination!
Guest speakers and guided tours of local sites of relevance have been popular components. Five guest
speakers were invited to help cover different topics and we are grateful for their contribution to the
project. Thank you to Murray Rankin, MP for Victoria, citizenship Judge Gerald Pash, Native Friendship
Centre Liaison Leslie McGarry, Lawyer Roberto Alberto, Camosun College Instructor Daniel Reeve,
Geographer Grace Stubblefield, and Greater Victoria Development Agency Economist Dallas Gislason.
We are in the process of finalizing our Citizenship 101 Facilitators’ and Participants’ Handbooks, and we
are planning the second stage of the project, which includes the outreach activities to other agencies
across the province. Arrangements are being made at this time for a train-the-trainer workshop in
Kamloops, BC, with the participation of 5 agencies.
To learn more about this exciting project, we invite you to visit our webpage at www.citizenship101.ca,
which has become the main contact source for the project. You will find videos, photos, discussion
topics and other resources available not only for newcomers, but for all Canadians interested in good
citizenship.
10
VIRCS’s2012/2013
BoardofDirectors
ElviraLopez–President
NancyHum–ActingPresident
AnselmeHategekimana–Co-Treasurer
MelanieMurray–Co-Treasurer
CatherineKamau-Secretary
MiguelEspinosa–Director-at-large
AaronHall-Director-at-large
MarieMorrison-Director-at-large
ZachyOlorunjowon-Director-at-large
DavidTurner-Director-at-large
YuJun(David)Wang-Director-at-large
TsehayeHaileWoldemenkeros-Director-at-large

4. R E S E A RC H Q U E S T I O N
K E Y W O R D S
community engagement, immigrant, refugee,
host society, cultural identity,
cultural adaptation, social construction,
How immigrants’ and refugees’ cultural
identities contribute to their community
activity engagement in Greater Victoria?

5. T H E O RY A N D K E Y C O N C E P T S
“Social construction theory addresses the processes by
which people jointly construct their understanding of the
world. Advocates assume that meanings are developed in
coordination with others rather than separately within
each individual or in the world of things, making social
interaction the loom upon which the social fabric is
woven.”(Leeds-Hurwitz, 2009, p. 891).

6. • Qualitative method
• Pre-survey and interview
——10 interviewees working in VIRCS
—— to learn the participants’ personal experiences of and perspectives towards
community engagement
M E T H O D O LO G Y

7. Gender
Marriage Status
Original Nationality
Year of Birth
P R E - S U R V E Y
4
6
Male
Female
2
1
1
1 1
1
3
India
Mexico
Malaysia
Uganda
El Salvador
Somali
China
3
3
2
1
1 1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
Blank
5
3
2
0
Married
Single
Other
Blank

8. Occupation Time spent in Canada
Number of Canadian friends
Time spent in Greater Victoria
P R E - S U R V E Y
1
1
8
0
Student
Employer
Employee
Other
3
4
0
1
2
0-9 years
10-19 years
20-29 years
30-39 yeats
40-49 yeats
3
4
2
0
1 0-9 years
10-19 years
20-29 years
30-39 yeats
40-49 yeats
2
0
1
7
Less than 5
Between 5 and 10
Between 10 and 20
More than 20

9. Types of community activities interviewees have participated in
P R E - S U R V E Y
0
2
4
6
8
10
12 Fes+val celebra+on
Vo+ng
Volunteering
Neighbourhood
Religious ac+vity
Parade
Recrea+onal ac+vity
Dona+on
Poli+cal ac+vity
Private par+es
Informal social
Social engagement
Other
Number of par+cipants
Total

10. Activities interviewees want to participate but could not find in
Greater Victoria
P R E - S U R V E Y
1
1
1
7
Bridge Card
Hun/ng
Concert
Blank

11. Main reasons for participating in the activities
P R E - S U R V E Y
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Interes.ng ac.vity
Cultural a8rac.on Relaxing
Environm
ental sim
ilarity to Curiosity
M
ee.ng friends
M
aking new
friends Other
Number of par.cipants
Total

12. Activities organized by VICRS that interviewees have
participated in
P R E - S U R V E Y
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Food Fair
Kids W
inter Celebri7on
La7n Caribean m
usic fes7val
W
orld refugee day
Fashion show
Lunch
Dinner Fund Rasing
Open House Children
Number of par7cipants
Total

13. F I N D I N G S
• During the different PROCESSES of CULTURAL ADAPTATION,
reasons for individuals to participate in activities are different.

14. The cultural adaptation process includes enculturation,
acculturation, and deculturation)Chuang, 2004, p. 59(.
Acculturation: “The process of acculturation involves acquiring the
elements and cultural patterns of a new host culture" (Chuang,
2004, p. 59)
T H E O RY A N D K E Y C O N C E P T S

15. VOLUNTEERING:
“I think I need to support the community. That is your duty as a
citizen to be in contribution to your community.” ——Jennifer
“It was my way to get into the environment, and to get a job, too.”
——Yiura.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY:
“Though I am not a Christian, I go to church to help them prepare the
parties or something else. Besides, I can make some new friends and
learn something new. “ ——Junnian
“I am Christian, I am following Jesus, I don’t care about the
denomination, I just Jesus, that’s it, the only one.” ——Yiura
For example…

16. F I N D I N G S
•There are ACTIVE and PASSIVE approaches to cultural adaptation

17. Melting Pot:"each group lost its uniqueness quickly, but all
contributed something to the flavor of the whole" ) Leeds-Hurwitz,
2002, p. 69(.
Salad bowl : "each ethnic group retains all of its unique
characteristics,even when physically located next to groups with
differences" ) Leeds-Hurwitz, 2002, p. 69(.
T H E O RY A N D K E Y C O N C E P T S

18. Active approach
“I participated these activities because I want to do something for the
community. The community needs it. And I live in Canada now. I
would like Canadians to know how’s the diversity, how we can mingle
with them, what value we can ask them to come and join us..” ——
Kamal
Passive approach
“You can’t live in isolation, so you have to be part of the large
community as well.” ——Amarjit
For example…

19. AC T I V I T I E S E T H I N I C I T Y I N T E RV I E W E E
A P P ROAC H T O
A DA P TAT I O N
D O N A T I O N C H I N A E M I L Y A C T I V E
F E S T I V A L
C E L E B R A T I O N
C H I N A E M I L Y A C T I V E
F E S T I V A L
C E L E B R A T I O N
I N D I A K A M A L A C T I V E
F E S T I V A L
C E L E B R A T I O N
E L S A L V A D O R A L V A R O A C T I V E
F E S T I V A L
C E L E B R A T I O N
S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E A C T I V E
F E S T I V A L
C E L E B R A T I O N
I N D I A A R M A J I T P A S S I V E
P A R A D E I N D I A K A M A L A C T I V E
P A R A D E I N D I A A R M A J I T A C T I V E
P A R A D E U G A N D A A L F R E D A C T I V E
P O L I T I C A L
A C T I V I T Y
S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E A C T I V E
P O L I T I C A L
A C T I V I T Y
U G A N D A A L F R E D A C T I V E
P O L I T I C A L
A C T I V I T Y
C H I N A J U N N I A N P A S S I V E
P R I V A T E P A R T I E S E L S A L V A D O R A L V A R O A C T I V E
P R I V A T E P A R T I E S S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E A C T I V E
P R I V A T E P A R T I E S M A L A Y S I A J E N I F F E R A C T I V E
P R I V A T E P A R T I E S M E X I C A N Y I U R A A C T I V E
P R I V A T E P A R T I E S C H I N A H A I X I A P A S S I V E
R E C R E A T I O N A L
A C T I V I T Y
C H I N A H A I X I A A C T I V E
R E C R E A T I O N A L
A C T I V I T Y
S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E A C T I V E
R E C R E A T I O N A L
A C T I V I T Y
M A L A Y S I A J E N I F F E R A C T I V E
R E C R E A T I O N A L
A C T I V I T Y
M E X I C A N Y I U R A A C T I V E
R E L I G I O U S
A C T I V I T Y
C H I N A H A I X I A A C T I V E
AC T I V I T I E S E T H I N I C I T Y I N T E RV I E W E E
A P P ROAC H T O
A DA P TAT I O N
R E L I G I O U S
A C T I V I T Y
C H I N A J U N N I A N A C T I V E
R E L I G I O U S
A C T I V I T Y
I N D I A K A M A L A C T I V E
R E L I G I O U S
A C T I V I T Y
I N D I A A R M A J I T A C T I V E
R E L I G I O U S
A C T I V I T Y
S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E A C T I V E
R E L I G I O U S
A C T I V I T Y
U G A N D A A L F R E D A C T I V E
R E L I G I O U S
A C T I V I T Y
M A L A Y S I A J E N I F F E R A C T I V E
R E L I G I O U S
A C T I V I T Y
M E X I C A N Y I U R A A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G C H I N A E M I L Y A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G C H I N A H A I X I A A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G C H I N A J U N N I A N A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G I N D I A A R M A J I T A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G C H I N A K A M A L A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G E L S A L V A D O R A L V A R O A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G U G A N D A A L F R E D A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G M A L A Y S I A J E N I F F E R A C T I V E
V O L U N T E E R I N G M E X I C A N Y I U R A A C T I V E
V O T I N G C H I N A E M I L Y A C T I V E
V O T I N G I N D I A K A M A L A C T I V E
V O T I N G S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E A C T I V E
V O T I N G U G A N D A A L F R E D A C T I V E
V O T I N G M A L A Y S I A J E N I F F E R A C T I V E
V O T I N G M E X I C A N Y I U R A A C T I V E

20. F I N D I N G S
• Activities engagement plays an significant role in CREATING,
MAINTAINING and RECONSTITUTING individual’s cultural
identities.

21. AC T I V I T I E S E T H I N I C I T Y I N T E RV I E W E E
F E S T I VA L
C E L E B R AT I O N
AC T I V I T Y O RG A N I Z E D
B Y G OV E R N M E N T
C H I NA E M I LY
C H I NA J U N N I A N
S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E
U G A N DA A L F R E D
N E I G H B O U R H O O D AC T I V I T Y C H I NA E M I LY
P R I VAT E PA R T I E S M A L AYS I A J E N I F F E R
R E C R E AT I O NA L AC T I V I T Y M A L AYS I A J E N I F F E R
VO LU N T E E R I N G
S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E
M E X I C O Y I U R A
C H I NA E M I LY
C H I NA H A I X I A
U G A N DA A L F R E D
VOT I N G
S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E
C H I NA E M I LY
U G A N DA A L F R E D
C R E A T I O N

22. M A I N T E N A N C E
AC T I V I T I E S E T H I N I C I T Y I N T E RV I E W E E
D O NAT I O N M A L AYS I A J E N I F F E R
F E S T I VA L C E L E B R AT I O N
AC T I V I T Y O RG A N I Z E D B Y
G OV E R N M E N T
M E X I C O Y I U R A
M A L AYS I A J E N I F F E R
PA R A D E
I N D I A A M A R J I T
U G A N DA A L F R E D
M E X I C O Y I U R A
P O L I T I C A L AC T I V I T Y U G A N DA A L F R E D
R E C R E AT I O NA L AC T I V I T Y C H I NA H A I X I A
R E L I G I O U S AC T I V I T Y
I N D I A A M A R J I T
S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E
M E X I C O Y I U R A
M A L AYS I A J E N I F F E R
VO LU N T E E R I N G M A L AYS I A J E N I F F E R
VOT I N G
M E X I C O Y I U R A
M A L AYS I A J E N I F F E R
N E I G H B O U R H O O D AC T I V I T Y C H I NA J U N N I A N
R E L I G I O U S AC T I V I T Y C H I NA J U N N I A N
VO LU N T E E R I N G C H I NA J U N N I A N

23. AC T I V I T I E S E T H I N I C I T Y I N T E RV I E W E E
F E S T I VA L C E L E B R AT I O N
AC T I V I T Y O RG A N I Z E D
B Y G OV E R N M E N T
I N D I A A M A R J I T
I N D I A K A M A L
E L S A LVA D O R A LVA RO
PA R A D E I N D I A K A M A L
VO LU N T E E R I N G
I N D I A A M A R J I T
I N D I A K A M A L
E L S A LVA D O R A LVA RO
R E L I G I O U S AC T I V I T Y
C H I NA H A I X I A
I N D I A K A M A L
U G A N DA A L F R E D
P R I VAT E PA R T I E S
C H I NA H A I X I A
E L S A LVA D O R A LVA RO
S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E
R E C R E AT I O NA L AC T I V I T Y S O M A L I S H A R M A R K E
R E C O N S T I T U T I O N

24. Most interviewees positively involved in voting because they
want to show their Canadian identity.
“I Vote because I am Canadian now. If you were here, you get some rights
and you need some obligations too. But for this part, you feel part of it
this place you are living right now. So how can you decide the
government if you don’t participate. As a citizen, I can show my desire or
my think.” —— Yiura
OT H E R F I N D I N G S

25. All of the interviewees positively participate in volunteering activities
because they think volunteering is important for their adaptation into the
Canadian society.
At different adaptation stages, they participate in volunteering work
for different purposes.
“It is a good way to make friends and construct social network, and it was
one of the reasons I volunteered in the beginning, but I still doing
volunteer work now when I already have my social circle, so I just want to
help others now.” ——Emily
OT H E R F I N D I N G S

26. Church, temple and other religious places are not only about religious
celebration for the interviewees, but also places to meet friends,
exchange information and maintain their own cultural identities.
“Though I am not a Christian, I go to church to help them prepare the
parties or something else. Besides, I can make some new friends and
learn something new.” ——Junnian
“I am Sikh. I go to Sikh temple. All of the religious ceremonies are done
there, even the weddings. I do participate in that, but if there are any
activities in the Hindu temple, in the church, I am invited.”
——Kamal
OT H E R F I N D I N G S

27. VA L I D I T Y I S S U E A N D
SUGGESTION FOR FUTURE STUDY
Though data of this field study covered several ethnic backgrounds, the
number for each ethnicity is not big enough.
Future studies of similar topic are suggested to
explore deeper into certain ethnicity.
Future studies are also suggested to explore
deeper into each of the cultural adaptation
processes, eg. for acculturation, the active and
passive cultural adaptation approaches.

28. I M P L I C AT I O N S
For organizing further community activities, it is important for organizers
to take two elements into consideration:
target groups’ cultural identities and stages of their adaptation to the
host culture.

29. R E F E R E N C E S
Fong, M. (2004). Multiple dimensions of identity. In F. Mary & C. Rueyling
(Eds). Communicating ethnic and cultural identity (pp. 19-34). Lanham,
MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Chuang, R. (2004). Theoretical erspectives: Fluidity and complexity of
cultural and ethnic identity. In F. Mary & C. Rueyling (Eds). Communicating
ethnic and cultural identity (pp. 51-68). Lanham, MD: Rowman &
Littlefield.
Bradford, L., Burrell, N. & Mabry, E. (2004). Negotiating cultural identity:
Strategies for belonging. In F. Mary & C. Rueyling (Eds). Communicating
ethnic and cultural identity (pp. 313-327). Lanham, MD: Rowman &
Littlefield.
Pinkney, J. (2004). A little bit black, but not all the way. In F. Mary & C.
Rueyling (Eds). Communicatinthnic and cultural identity (pp. 373-382).
Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Leeds-Hurwitz, W. (2009). Social construction of reality. In S. Littlejohn &
K. Foss (Eds.), Encyclopedia of communication theory (pp. 891-894).
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

30. Thank You
Catherine Xie, Annabelle Song,
Cindy Lu, Pallas Zhang