Cape Breton immigration group launches surveys

‘We want to hear about your experiences’

A Cape Breton group dedicated to enhancing the integration of immigrants is looking for ways to improve the experiences of newcomers to the island.

The Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership has launched two surveys that it hopes will provide more insight into the settlement experiences of newcomers and reveal how the community perceives the immigrants through its concerns and attitudes.

“These surveys are going to serve as important tools to guide the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership’s activities and strategies as we move forward,” said Carla Arsenault, president and CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership, which launched the immigration initiative.

“Whether you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, international student, refugee or a temporary resident, we want to hear about your experiences and outlooks as they relate to immigration and newcomers in Cape Breton.”

Earlier this year, the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership wrapped up two series of information sessions across Cape Breton. The first saw the group present its mandate along with other newcomer focused programs to Cape Breton’s municipal governments and local business communities, while the second was more of a consultative effort that included community engagement sessions in 13 island communities where residents and employers were invited to provide input on how to make Cape Breton more welcoming to newcomers. The last of these sessions was held in mid-July.

Recent statistics indicate that there are just under 3,000 immigrants in Cape Breton, that the top source countries are the United States, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and China, and that Victoria County has the highest percentage of immigrants on the island.

The figures also show that only 26 per cent of immigrants who settled on the island in 2010 are still in Cape Breton.