Immigration to Canada Facts for Kids

The government promoted cheap wheat lands in the Prairies. 1898

Canada is a beautiful and welcoming country that many people from around the world choose to call home. Did you know that this country has the eighth-largest immigrant population in the world? Immigrants are people who chose to leave their home country and move to a new country to live there permanently and the process of moving is called immigration. According to the 2021 Canadian census, immigrants in Canada number 8.3 million persons and make up approximately 23 percent of Canada's total population. Let's explore why and how people might move to Canada.

Why do people move to Canada?
History
Different ways to immigrate
Benefits
Challenges
How Canada supports immigrants
Interesting facts about immigration to Canada
Images for kids
See also

Why do people move to Canada?

People move to Canada for many reasons, including:

Safety and Quality of Life: Canada is one of the safest countries in the world, with clean air, beautiful nature, and friendly communities.
Education: Kids in Canada can attend school for free from kindergarten to high school, and the country has some of the best universities in the world.
Healthcare: Canada offers free healthcare to its citizens and permanent residents, so families don’t have to worry about expensive medical bills.
Job Opportunities: Canada has a strong economy with lots of jobs in different fields.
Multiculturalism: Canada is known for its diversity, where people from all over the world live together and share their cultures.

History

Come to Stay, printed in 1880 in the Canadian Illustrated News, which refers to immigration to the "Dominion".

Canada has a long history of welcoming immigrants. Here are some key moments:

First Wave (Pre-1815): Early settlers came from France and Britain, and later, Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution arrived.
Second Wave (1815–1850): Known as the Great Migration, this period saw many Irish and British immigrants settle in Canada.
Third Wave (1890–1920): Immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe came to Canada, especially to work on farms and railways.
Modern Immigration: Today, Canada welcomes people from almost 200 countries, with immigrants making up about 23% of the population.

Different ways to immigrate

Here are some of the ways people can immigrate to Canada:

Economic immigration: This is for people who have skills and experience that Canada needs. The government uses a points system to assess applicants based on things like their education, work experience, language skills, and age.
Family sponsorship: Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their family members to immigrate to Canada. This includes spouses, children, parents, and grandparents.
Refugee protection: People who are afraid to return to their home countries because of persecution or danger can apply for refugee protection in Canada.
Provincial nominee programs: Each province in Canada has its own immigration program that targets people with specific skills and experience that are needed in that province.

Benefits

Fifth-wave Canadian children celebrating Canada Day in Vancouver, 1 July 1999

Immigration is good for Canada in many ways! Here are some of the benefits:

Economic growth: Immigrants help to grow the Canadian economy by filling jobs, starting businesses, and paying taxes.
Cultural diversity: Immigrants bring new cultures, languages, and traditions to Canada, making it a more vibrant and interesting place to live.
Innovation: Immigrants often bring new ideas and perspectives that can help Canada to innovate and solve problems.
Population growth: Canada's population is aging, and immigration helps to keep the population growing and young.

Challenges

While immigration has many benefits, it also has some challenges. Here are some of the challenges that immigrants may face:

Language barriers: It can be difficult for immigrants to adjust to life in Canada if they don't speak English or French.
Cultural differences: Immigrants may experience culture shock when they arrive in Canada, as they adjust to new customs and ways of life.
Finding a job: It can be difficult for immigrants to find a job in Canada, especially if their qualifications are not recognized.
Discrimination: Some immigrants may experience discrimination because of their race, ethnicity, or religion.

How Canada supports immigrants

The Canadian government and many organizations offer programs and services to help immigrants adjust to life in Canada. These include:

Language training: Free language classes are available to help immigrants learn English or French.
Job search assistance: Programs are available to help immigrants find jobs and get their qualifications recognized.
Settlement services: Settlement workers can help immigrants with things like finding housing, enrolling their children in school, and accessing healthcare.
Community programs: Many community organizations offer programs and services to help immigrants connect with others and feel welcome in their new home.

Interesting facts about immigration to Canada

Canada receives its immigrant population from almost 200 countries.
A record number of 405,000 immigrants were admitted to Canada in 2021.
Immigration in Canada since the 1970s, or the fifth wave, has been mostly from Asia.
In March 2024, Canada announced its plans to reduce the number of temporary immigrants by 20% over the next three years, decreasing their population from the current 6.2% to 5%.
According to Project Atlas, Canada is the world's fourth most popular destination for foreign students. In a given year it is estimated that around 600,000 international students reside in the country as temporary residents.
New immigrants settle mostly in major urban areas in the country, such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
Canada also accepts large numbers of refugees, accounting for over 10 percent of annual global refugee resettlements.

Images for kids

A majority of Muslims in Canada are of immigrant backgrounds consisting a diverse range of ethnic groups.
Punjabi Sikh settlers at a lumber camp in British Columbia, circa 1914
A collection of four maps showing the distribution of the Canadian population for 1851 (Newfoundland 1857), 1871 (Newfoundland 1869), 1901 and 1921 by historical region.
A Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the Quebec-New York border in Lacolle directs a man entering Canada outside of a port of entry to a nearby tent for processing.