Immigration to Canada Facts for Kids

The government promoted cheap wheat lands in the Prairies. 1898

Canada is a beautiful and welcoming country. Many people from all over the world choose to live here. Did you know that Canada has one of the largest immigrant populations in the world? Immigrants are people who decide to leave their home country. They move to a new country to live there permanently. This process of moving is called immigration. In 2021, about 8.3 million immigrants lived in Canada. This means almost a quarter of Canada's total population are immigrants. Let's find out why and how people move to Canada.

Why People Choose Canada
A Look at Canada's Immigration History
How People Immigrate to Canada
Benefits of Immigration for Canada
Challenges Immigrants May Face
How Canada Supports Newcomers
Cool Facts About Immigration to Canada
Images for kids
See also

Why People Choose Canada

People move to Canada for many good reasons. Here are some of them:

Safety and Good Life: Canada is one of the safest countries. It has clean air, beautiful nature, and friendly communities.
Excellent Education: Kids in Canada can go to school for free. This includes kindergarten all the way to high school. Canada also has some of the best universities in the world.
Free Healthcare: Canada offers free healthcare to its citizens and permanent residents. Families do not have to worry about expensive medical bills.
Job Opportunities: Canada has a strong economy. This means there are many jobs in different fields.
Multiculturalism: Canada is famous for its diversity. People from all over the world live together here. They share their unique cultures and traditions.

A Look at Canada's Immigration History

Come to Stay, printed in 1880 in the Canadian Illustrated News. It talks about immigration to Canada.

Canada has a long history of welcoming people from other countries. Here are some important times:

First Wave (Before 1815): The very first settlers came from France and Britain. Later, people called Loyalists arrived. They were leaving the American Revolution.
Second Wave (1815–1850): This time is known as the Great Migration. Many Irish and British immigrants came to live in Canada.
Third Wave (1890–1920): During this period, immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe arrived. They often came to work on farms and build railways.
Modern Immigration: Today, Canada welcomes people from almost 200 countries. Immigrants now make up about 23% of Canada's population.

How People Immigrate to Canada

There are different ways people can move to Canada. Here are some of them:

Economic Immigration: This path is for people with skills and experience. Canada needs these skills for its economy. The government uses a points system. It looks at things like education, work experience, language skills, and age.
Family Sponsorship: Canadian citizens and permanent residents can help their family members move to Canada. This includes spouses, children, parents, and grandparents.
Refugee Protection: People who are afraid to go back to their home countries can ask for protection in Canada. This is for those facing persecution or danger.
Provincial Nominee Programs: Each province in Canada has its own immigration program. These programs look for people with specific skills. These skills are needed in that particular province.

Benefits of Immigration for Canada

Children celebrating Canada Day in Vancouver, 1999.

Immigration helps Canada in many ways! Here are some of the benefits:

Economic Growth: Immigrants help Canada's economy grow. They fill jobs, start new businesses, and pay taxes.
Cultural Diversity: Immigrants bring new cultures, languages, and traditions. This makes Canada a more exciting and interesting place to live.
Innovation: Immigrants often bring new ideas and ways of thinking. This can help Canada to create new things and solve problems.
Population Growth: Canada's population is getting older. Immigration helps to keep the population growing and younger.

Challenges Immigrants May Face

While immigration has many good points, it also has some challenges. Here are some difficulties immigrants might face:

Language Barriers: It can be hard for immigrants to get used to life in Canada. This is especially true if they do not speak English or French.
Cultural Differences: Immigrants might experience culture shock. This happens when they adjust to new customs and ways of life.
Finding a Job: It can be difficult for immigrants to find a job in Canada. Sometimes, their qualifications from their home country are not easily recognized.
Discrimination: Some immigrants might face unfair treatment. This can happen because of their background, ethnicity, or religion.

How Canada Supports Newcomers

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

Language Training: Free language classes are available. They help immigrants learn English or French.
Job Search Help: Programs help immigrants find jobs. They also help them get their qualifications recognized.
Settlement Services: Special workers can help immigrants with many things. This includes finding a home, enrolling children in school, and getting healthcare.
Community Programs: Many local groups offer programs. They help immigrants connect with others and feel welcome in their new home.

Cool Facts About Immigration to Canada

Canada welcomes immigrants from almost 200 different countries.
In 2021, a record number of 405,000 immigrants came to Canada.
Since the 1970s, most immigrants to Canada have come from Asia.
In March 2024, Canada announced plans to reduce the number of temporary immigrants. They aim to decrease this group by 20% over the next three years.
Canada is the fourth most popular country for foreign students. About 600,000 international students live in Canada each year.
New immigrants often settle in big cities. These include Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
Canada also welcomes many refugees. It takes in over 10 percent of all refugees resettled globally each year.

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.