International Migrants Day - December 18

On December 18 we celebrate International Migrants Day, a day declared by the United Nations in the 2000s to celebrate the growing number of migrants throughout all countries. 

This day recognizes the many reasons people migrate to Canada and other countries, whether it be for work, asylum, or simply a new lifestyle. On this day we recognize not only the deep and meaningful contributions of migrants in our society, but also the complicated reasons why they chose to migrate and the challenging circumstances in which they often find themselves upon migration. We celebrate migration not simply as a one-time event but as an ongoing process with continuous benefits and challenges. 

The Live Work Well Research Centre (LWWRC) often studies the challenges migrants face upon entering a new country. Last year the Centre posted a blog for International Migrants Day. The blog described an interview with University of Guelph PhD student, Shruti Nadkarni, focusing on her own migration experience and her research into immigration, migrants, international students, refugees, and other minority identities such as gender minorities. 

In our Displacements, Emergence, and Change cluster—led by Leah Levac and Deborah Stienstra—the Centre focuses on creating communities where diverse families, livelihoods, and living environments can thrive. The perspective of migrants is a critical aspect of this cluster.  

One project to come out of this cluster is the Storied Lives podcast in collaboration with the Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination This podcast explores the many forms of poverty and the intersectional forces at play. In Episode 2: Quota, we hear from a female migrant worker and the poverty, racism, and xenophobia she experiences. We also hear from Jasmine Ramze Rezaee, the Director of Advocacy and Communications at YWCA Toronto, about her experience helping migrants as they face the struggles of having their credentials recognized, of facing discrimination, and of finding secure employment.  

Stream the full episode on your favourite podcast streaming service or on the Poverty Task Force website.