Challenges Faced By New Immigrants

Urban Problems

Immigrants who chose to settle in rural areas of the prairies faced hardships unique to that lifestyle, such as those of climate, environment, and isolation. Those who chose to settle in urban areas encountered problems that were unique to their situations.

Immigrants who chose to live in cities, such as Winnipeg, had to consider employment. Those who settled in rural areas had no other options but to become farmers. Options for the employment of immigrants in cities were basically limited to construction or other hard-labour jobs. Faced with discrimination and language difficulties in the communities, many immigrants created small businesses for themselves. Many opened corner stores which sold goods to other immigrants in the community.

The vast majority of immigrants were forced to seek out cheap housing. In Winnipeg, cheap housing could be found in the city’s north end. Immigrants clustered in this area. Many lived near or at the poverty level and, as a result, death and disease was ever present. While the city’s government made every attempt to improve the living conditions of the wealthy, they would often ignore the needs of the poor. Wealthy people had a role in electing government officials but poor people did not. Immigrants living in squalor found it extremely difficult to escape these situations.

Racism and discrimination was also more evident in urban settings. Immigrants could not easily escape the insulting comments and sometimes violent action taken against them by prejudiced native-born Canadians like they could in the more isolated rural areas. Many immigrants suffered great social injustices simply because they were different.