Research Objectives

In general terms, this study focuses on the reasons why refugees choose to stay in or leave smaller urban centres in Alberta. More specifically, the study addresses a number of interrelated research questions including:

• How many refugees (and their families) stay in the communities of initial settlement, and how many leave?
• Do some of the five smaller destination communities retain refugees longer than others?
• Do higher proportions leave these communities, compared with refugees who initially settle in larger centres like Edmonton and Calgary?
• Among refugees who leave, how long do they stay in their initial settlement community before leaving?
• Where do they typically go?
• Why do refugees leave these communities?
• Do local economic conditions play a part or, in other words, are the rates of leaving lower when local labour markets offer more employment opportunities?
• Do refugees encounter more difficulties (or perceive that they encounter more difficulties) accessing services in these communities?

• Do refugees encounter (or perceive that they encounter) a less welcoming reception from other local residents in these communities?

To answer these and other related questions as completely as possible, the present study employed a multi-faceted research design. Specifically, five separate but inter-related components of the study were developed. These included:

1. Face-to-face interviews with a sample of 616 refugees originally destined to the five communities, as well as a comparison group of refugees settled in Edmonton and Calgary.
2. Seventy-eight semi-structured interviews with settlement workers, educators, CIC staff, and other social service providers in the host communities.
3. Public opinion surveys in the five host communities and in Edmonton and Calgary (total sample of approximately 800).
4. A literature review of previous research (primarily in Canada) on the geographic mobility and integration of immigrants and refugees.
5. Analysis of Census data and other official statistics regarding ethnic, immigrant, language status, and labour market characteristics of the five smaller host communities, in comparison with Edmonton and Calgary.

These five components are elaborated in Chapter 2 (Research Methods).

In addition, this research report comprehensively describes the factors affecting the integration of refugees in Alberta. The findings have implications for refugee settlement policy in Alberta, and can provide insights into the settlement of refugees (and possibly voluntary immigrants) in the rest of the country as well.