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Somali Canadians

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Somali Canadians
,
Notable Canadians of Somali descent:
Mocky, K'naan
Regions with significant populations
Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Hamilton
Languages
Somali, English, French
Religion
Sunni Islam

Somali Canadians are naturalized citizens and residents of Canada who were born in, or with ancestors from Somalia.

Overview

Canada has one of the largest Somali populations in the Western world, with the census reporting 37,785 people claiming Somali descent,[1] though unofficial estimates place the figure as high as 200,000.[2] Somalis tend to be concentrated in the southern part of the province of Ontario, especially the Ottawa and Toronto areas. The Albertan cities of Calgary and Edmonton have also seen a significant increase in their respective Somali communities over the past five years. In addition, the neighbourhood of Rexdale in Toronto has one of the largest Somali populations in the country.

In the early 1990s, Canada saw an increase in the total number of Somali immigrants entering the country, with some secondary migration from the United States.

As with many other immigrant groups in the Toronto area, Somalis have faced some barriers to employment despite counting many qualified professionals. This has been attributed to enclave economies, self-employment, language unfamiliarity, and various public policies and social programs.[3][4][5][6] Many Somali businesspeople based in Canada have consequently sought and found employment opportunities in the United States as well as in other countries.[6] To address the issue, the Canadian government, in coordination with the Somali Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization's Somali Youth Skills Project, set up in 2010 job-preparation training and work experience programs for local Somali youth. Part of the Canadian government's Youth Employment Strategy, the initiative is intended to help youngsters that are facing challenges finding employment to better access career information, develop necessary skills, gain relevant work experience, find decent jobs and stay employed.[4] The Canadian Somali Congress has also teamed up with local Jewish community organizations in Ottawa and Toronto to offer mentorship opportunities to young Somali university students and professionals. The program is scheduled to span two years and takes place in various major cities across the country, partnering 130 experienced Jewish-Canadian mentors with 18 to 25 year-old Somali-Canadians.[7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Statistics Canada - Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census
  2. ^ a b Somali Canadians Today | Taariikh - History
  3. ^ Immigrant Employment Success in Canada,Part II: Understanding the Decline
  4. ^ a b Government of Canada Helps Somali Youth in Edmonton Prepare for Job Market
  5. ^ Small business fails to tap into immigrant talent
  6. ^ a b The New Expats -Many Somalis came to Canada looking for a better life. They found it back in Africa
  7. ^ Jewish community to mentor Ottawa Somalis
  8. ^ Jewish and Somali Canadians join forces with government’s help on mentoring plan
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