Welcoming Churches: Responding to the Immigrant Reality in Canada 

At the heart of this research project is a shared vision of Canadian churches where recent immigrants are fully welcomed and included. The study is being conducted together with the Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre (TIM Centre) and World Vision. It focuses on churches across Christian denominations and in cities across Canada.

Project purpose

This study will help us understand how churches are responding to the immigrant reality in Canada. More importantly, it will give ideas about what churches can do to better welcome and include recent immigrants in their church life.

Study scope and sites

The study will have a national scope with additional in-depth information gathered from five sites:Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg and Vancouver. These sites were selected because of their large immigrant populations and the presence of World Vision programs. In 2006, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver were home to nearly two-thirds of Canada's immigrants (Statistics Canada, 2006).

Study partners

World Vision (WV): World Vision is the lead organization for this project and the project funder. Visit www.worldvision.ca for more information

Centre for Community Based Research (CCBR): CCBR is responsible for carrying out all research related tasks with support from other partners

Tyndale Intercultural Ministry Centre (TIM Centre): The Tyndale Intercultural Ministry Centre will be the site lead within Toronto and Hamilton. For more information, please visit www.timcentre.com

Study methods

This project will use a participatory action research approach to answer the research questions. This exploratory research will use both quantitative and qualitative methods. Main methods will include: literature review, focus group interviews, key informant interviews, and an on-line survey for churches in eleven cities with high immigrant populations.

Community forums

A community forum will be held in four cities (Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and Vancouver) in September of 2010. The forums will provide an opportunity for research findings to be presented and discussed by forum participants. Participation will be open to all, including church leaders (Canadian-born and immigrant) interested in figuring out how better to support each other in reaching out to and welcoming recent immigrants. Our hope is that the forums will provide an opportunity to build partnerships for future action. Details about individual forums (including times and locations) can be found in the side bar.

How you can get involved

·Provide literature and information about the topic

·Complete an online survey (April - June 2010)

·Recommend other individuals who could be involved in this project

·Join us at a community forum in your area

Contact Rich Janzen (rich@communitybasedresearch.ca) or Yasir Dildar (yasir@communitybasedresearch.ca) if interested in contributing in any of the above or needing more information about the project.

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