Changing Landscapes: Recent Immigrants Living in York Region

Introduction
The Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration
(Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2010, p.30)
states that “Immigration is a defining feature of
Canada’s development as a nation and its path to
the future. Much of what Canada stands for today
has been built on and shaped by immigrants of the
past, and newcomers will continue to significantly
contribute to Canada’s economic prosperity in
decades to come.”
The Changing Landscapes: Recent Immigrants Living
in York Region report uses 2006 Census data to
examine the social and economic characteristics
of recent immigrants — those who immigrated
between 2001 and 2006 — living in York Region.
The report helps us to better understand the
attributes, opportunities, challenges and needs of
recent immigrants. By creating awareness about
these issues we can create the right balance of
services and programs necessary to support their
social and economic integration.
The findings in the Changing Landscapes report
illustrate that immigration is a key factor in making
York Region one of the fastest growing and most
diverse municipalities in Canada. Successful
integration allows recent immigrants to contribute
to the economy, and the community, and to fully
participate in the social fabric of York Region.
Individual local municipal profiles, of the recent
immigrant population in York Region, are provided
as an appendix to this report. Using 2006 Census
data, municipal profiles have been prepared for
the five local municipalities that experienced the
highest rates of immigration between 2001 and
2006. Aurora, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond
Hill and Vaughan accounted for 98% (45,620 of
the 46,465) of recent immigrants who lived in
York Region in 2006.
Recent immigrants in the remaining municipalities of
East Gwillimbury, Georgina, King and Whitchurch-
Stouffville account for a growing, but much smaller
percentage, of the recent immigrant population in
the Region. This is an important finding that may
signal the beginning of a growing recent immigrant
population in areas that have not traditionally
included this population.
Changing Landscapes: Recent Immigrants Living in York Region
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