Canada has become a world leader in its pro-immigration policies at a time when many other countries, such as the US, have become increasingly unwelcoming to newcomers. But what will immigration to Canada look like in the future?
For the third event in our New Perspectives series, join a panel of experts for an in-depth discussion on the practical steps required to ensure newcomers feel included, represented and empowered in British Columbia and elsewhere in Canada.
Event details:
The event will be held in-person at the Ismaili Centre Vancouver (4010 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC V5G 1G8) on the ancestral and unceded homelands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples.
There will be free parking and a small drinks reception from 5.30 pm on the day.
This event is in collaboration with UBC’s Centre of Migration Studies (CMS).
Panelists:
Nick (Naeem) Noorani – Newcomer entrepreneur and community leader, CEO of Immigrant Networks.
Dan Hiebert – Immigrant policy expert providing a national perspective on Canada’s immigration policy.
Sohat Sharma – Newcomer mentor and advocate, co-founder and President of the Melius Mentorship Network.
Moderator:
Antje Ellermann – Director of the Centre of Migration Studies, UBC
Speaker Biographies:
Nick (Naeem) Noorani – Born in Mumbai, India, Nick came to Canada in 1998 with a world of international experience in advertising and marketing, but he faced many challenges in his new Canadian home, and noticed that many other immigrants also struggled to build professional networks in Canada. This led to his creation of the Canadian Immigrant magazine in 2004; Canada’s first national magazine for immigrants.
In August 2010, Nick resigned from the Canadian Immigrant magazine to launch Destination Canada, a company dedicated to helping international students and immigrants before they arrive in Canada. He continues to speak to thousands of immigrants through his seminars and keynote addresses, inspiring them to go after success through his role as CEO of Immigrant Networks.
Daniel Hiebert – Daniel is a Emeritus Professor at UBC’s Department of Geography. He has led large research projects on immigration and cultural diversity in Canada, and on the relationship between cultural diversity, human rights, and national security.
Sohat Sharma – Sohat is a final-year student currently studying Pharmacology, Physiology and Public Health at University of British Columbia. He is the Co-Founder and President of Melius Mentorship Network which is a youth-run non-profit organization that provides one-on-one mentorship to newcomer and refugee youth by university students. Melius Mentorship Network has provided one-on-one mentorship to over 50 youths and has held 10 workshops, assisting over 200 newcomers feel welcome in British Columbia.
Antje Ellerman – Antje (she/they) is a Professor of Political Science (Comparative Politics) and Founding Director of the Centre for Migration Studies at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on the politics of migration and citizenship in liberal democracies, the connections between international migration and the politics of policy making and implementation, anti-immigration populism; coercive state power; and questions of immigration and settler identity in settler colonial states.
Antje was born and raised in Germany before spending many years living, working, and studying in Northern Ireland, England, and the United States.
