Always a welcoming place for immigrants

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Michael Chan applauds COSTI

An open door policy, then and now. Since the ’60s, COSTI has recognized the importance of social cohesiveness – an essential piece in what is the puzzle of a multi-ethnically rich society like Canada’s. COSTI has never stopped evolving. And it will continue to expand, COSTI president Bruno M. Suppa explained, as long as it continues to be “recognized by the government and the working world as being valuable to immigrants and their contribution to the economy and the country’s well-being.”
The manner in which immigrants are welcomed has changed over the past 45 years – a concept emphasized repeatedly at the annual reunion of COSTI associates held last Thursday at the Caledonia Road headquarters, and during which the financial report was tabled as well.
Special guest of honour was Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Michael Chan.“In my two years as minister,” he said, “I’ve participated in many meetings – it’s evident how good Canada, and particularly Ontario, is in integrating immigrants, and how they’re welcomed with open arms. At times we don’t always succeed in making things go the way we want. That’s typical of human nature. We need to be patient and use our available resources the best way we can. But we’re people, and we know how to deal with immigrants who, having come from very far, see Canada as a land of opportunity. They have to face many challenges. But we want to help them be happy.”
New members were elected to the executive during the evening: Frank Iacobucci, Supriya James, Matthew Kou, Leo Sdao, Ronald M. Tapley, Anil Verma, and Abdollah Zahiri. As well, two members received homage: John Spina, and Adrian David.
The organization’s executive director Mario J. Calla discusses the progress made on the working relationship between immigrants and COSTI – which now has 20 offices throughout Toronto – and what needs to be done to help newcomers that still feel isolated.
“The biggest development over the years is the teaching of English to professionals. We have specialized programs geared to engineers or doctors, for example. Programs that then offer them the opportunity of finding a job. Seventy-eight percent found jobs after the course. It’s been hugely successful for us.”
According to Calla, the Italian community does not feel isolated.
“It was able to integrate itself, though other groups of immigrants did not succeed in doing so. They live in isolation – they don’t participate in the life of the nation, and they don’t learn English. COSTI has developed strategies to create a bridge between these groups and the rest of the community. The provincial and federal government must continue to view immigrants as an essential component for building this nation. Canada was built on immigration.”
A recent study on ethnic enclaves in Toronto is useful in better understanding the nature of these cultural groups.
“The more concentrated ones, such as the Chinese, are however, a minority within their enclave – 55% of those living in Chinatown are not of Chinese origin, explained Calla. The ethnic enclaves clearly bring advantages to (its) members because they tend to institutionalize socio-cultural resourced through centres and clubs. The immigrant enclaves that have established themselves a long time ago, such as the Italians and Jews, and who have integrated themselves very well, continue to grow. These groups are concentrated in specific areas, such as for example, Woodbridge for Italians, but they have integrated well from the social, political and economic point of view.”
Other research shows that immigrants to Canada are able to integrate much more quickly with respect to immigrants to the U.S.
“They want to put their trust into a country that knows how to accept and respect their cultural identity,” said Calla.
COSTI supports ten ethnic organizations that develop programs for those in difficulty by helping them escape from the vortex of domestic violence and gambling (for example). Through the Family and Mental Health Centre.
COSTI welcomes 59,000 immigrants annually – each with their own past, and their own story to tell. Such as that of Debra Grant, originally from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in the Caribbean.
“My voyage began in 1997,” a visibly emotional Grant says. “I felt so lonely. I was scared, I was frightened. I had nothing. Some of my friends told me about COSTI, so I made an appointment. They listened to me. I felt like a new person. I began to laugh. I was then able to find an apartment for me and my son. I never lost hope. COSTI became my point of reference and I suggest it to anyone who needs help. It’s the best place were people can interact with each other.”
Helen Odeesho, Iraqi refugee, came to Canada with her daughter at the beginning of the year.
“I escaped to Jordan in 1991, she says. “I was a nurse. I was no longer able to live under the Saddam Hussein regime. I had to run away, for the good of my daughter. They had killed a dear friend of mine, Joseph, only because he was Christian. When I came to COSTI after hours and hours of travel, it seemed so strange that there were people who didn’t know me but cared about me. ‘Sit down and relax’, they told me,” Odeesho says with a smile on her lips. “Before coming to Canada, I used to take sleeping pills. I’ve quit since then. I accepted the word ‘refugee.’ I left my parents for my daughter’s sake. And I’m proud of her results in school – she won several prizes for having the highest marks in religion. Now I’m a volunteer at a food bank because I feel like I want to help the community. I’m sure I’ll find a job. I feel reborn. I can walk the streets without being afraid anymore. I’m now a Canadian resident. That piece of paper always reminds me that I am now free. No one will ever be able to tell me to leave this country.”

Publication Date: 2009-12-06
Story Location: http://www.tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=9642