Immigrant and Refugee Serving Organizations in a Canadian City: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Government-initiated immigrant and refugee-related programs seem to have encountered problems that are, at least in part, due to a lack of research on the critical functions of immigrant and refugee serving non-governmental organizations in Canadian cities. Ethnic organizations not only provide culturally sensitive services but also, along with the mainstream non-governmental organizations, play key roles in facilitating the integration of immigrants. This study, based on a sample of 41 ethnic and mainstream non-governmental organizations, and government organizations, serving immigrants and refugees in Winnipeg, Manitoba, attempts to delineate the features, roles, issues and concerns of these organizations. After presenting relevant theoretical frameworks and the research methodology, this paper provides a descriptive analysis of these organizations involved in providing services to immigrants and refugees. Furthermore, this study looks at some policy implications and emphasizes the need to include ethnic and mainstream non-governmental organizations as partners in the immigration policy review process.