Welcoming Communities? An Assessment of Community Services in Attracting and Retaining Immigrants in the South Okanagan Valley (British Columbia, Canada), with Policy Recommendations

Abstract

The urban bias of Canadian immigration has led to policies intended to redirect immigration away from major metropolitan areas. Policy makers have identified the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia as a region that could benefit from additional immigration. Whether the policy succeeds depends on the presence of (a) quality services in a welcoming community; (b) affordable, suitable, and adequate housing; (c) educational opportunities; (d) employment opportunities that offer an adequate income; and (e) opportunities to integrate into the community. This study evaluates community services and their role in attracting and retaining immigrants to the South Okanagan, a sub-region of the Okanagan Valley. The study uses data from four focus groups with 31 immigrants, 10 semi-structured interviews with immigrants, and 15 interviews with key informants. The researchers found that immigrants face two major obstacles in their service use: physical access, given the near-absence of an effective public transportation system; and financial instability, as many of the surveyed immigrants rely on low-paying 'survival jobs' in the cyclical tourism and service industry. These findings have led to recommendations to improve regional socio-economic conditions. Keywords: Regionalization of immigration, community services, immigration, economic development, Okanagan Valley, Canada