Cultural Diversity

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

Working hard to serve all populations

Immigration is in the process of dramatically altering the ethnic, linguistic and cultural personality of larger Canadian cities. An aging population and low birth rates will heighten the importance of immigration and internal migration. While Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are experiencing this trend to the greatest extent, we know that immigration and diversity is an important issue impacting London today and increasingly in the future.

Some of London’s immigrants have been living in Canada for many years and some have arrived more recently. According to the 2001 Census, London was home to 69,175 immigrants, making up one fifth (20.5%) of London’s total population (336,680). Numbers of immigrants in London increased by 31% from 1981 to 2001, with most of the growth occurring between 1986 and 1996. Our proportion of immigrants in London has generally remained consistent over the past 20 years.

In London, we need to ensure that physical planning is culturally-sensitive and supports integration of diversity throughout London. This strategy of inclusion should work to eliminate ghettoization, isolation, discrimination and labeling in our community.

The City Seniors’ Centres are working diligently to remove barriers and encourage residents of all cultures to embrace each other’s differences and participate together in all recreational activities. We have been working diligently to identify our programming gaps and will be including additional programs to celebrate different cultures. To learn more about what we have planned please contact Michelle Kerr, Supervisor at 519-661-2500, x6478 or by .

AT KIWANIS SENIORS' COMMUNITY CENTRE:

English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes, for those aged 55 & over, are now being offered at Kiwanis Seniors' Community Centre! Please click here for our flyer.
Our focus is on life skills!