An exploratory study of fourth wave Ukrainian immigration in Winnipeg : problems and perspectives of immigrants' adaptation

Abstract

Ukrainian immigrants' adaptation in the Canadian society is a multifaceted and an ongoing process. Four waves of the Ukrainian immigration can be traced within Canadian-Ukrainian history. The focus of this exploratory study is to examine the causes and the socio-economic and socio-cultural dimensions in adaptation of the recent fourth wave Ukrainian immigration in Winnipeg. The fourth wave of Ukrainian immigration to Canada occurred after Ukraine became an independent country in 1991. A literature review on Ukrainian immigration to Canada assisted in developing the starting point for understanding the causes for Ukrainian immigration and provided the overview of the major themes, which were traced in their socio-economic and socio-cultural adaptation. The study employed a qualitative research strategy and relied on primary data, collected through sixteen in-depth face-to-face interviews. Each interview explored a Ukrainian immigrant's adaptation experience in the areas of housing, education, employment, language and community connections. The research was designed to increase understanding about the recent Ukrainian immigrant's adaptation process in Winnipeg through determining their needs for community and social work services. The study's findings strongly indicate that the problems encountered by Ukrainian immigrants in the process of socio-economic and socio-cultural integration are both personal and social, necessitating the formulation of policies to facilitate the adaption process and create desirable outcomes. This thesis highlights the importance of developing a vigorous advocacy and community outreach informational programs to help Ukrainian newcomers in their adaptation in Winnipeg. These measures may help them cope with the isolation and occupational discrimination many of them experience during the first few years in Canada.