The results will inform policy, program and service priorities and planning across the Region.

Waterloo Region – 2021 Immigrant Survey. Because your story counts.

Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership launched its 2021 Immigrant Survey today, which runs until June 21. The Immigrant Survey is a bi-annual, multilingual survey for all immigrants, refugees, claimants, international students, temporary workers and their families in Waterloo Region. It is an opportunity to share experiences of living here and help build a thriving, prosperous community for everyone.

Roughly one quarter of Waterloo Region’s population are immigrants and immigration now accounts for 80 per cent of population growth and all labour force growth in Canada. The experience of immigrants in the region matter.

In 2019, nearly 1,100 immigrants participated in this survey. This year, the survey aims to hear from least 1,500 immigrants on topics including education, housing, employment, health, belonging, discrimination, community building and more. Extensive demographic questions are included and survey results will be analysed and disaggregated to show the various experiences of different immigrant groups.

More than 60 immigrant and community service, business, municipal and post-secondary partners across Waterloo Region’s urban and rural communities will use the results to develop policies and programs that better serve, support and empower immigrants and other community members to reach their full potential.

People who complete the survey can enter a draw for prizes that include a $200 prepaid Visa card, $100 gift certificates to local immigrant-run restaurants and Tim Horton's gift cards.

The survey mainly is available online this year, but email, phone or paper can be available if needed. It is available in 11 languages: English, Arabic, Amharic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Serbian, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya and Turkish.

The Immigration Partnership encourages all residents, organizations and businesses in Waterloo Region to be a #ImmigrantSurvey ambassador – help encourage all immigrants to participate in the survey, among family, friends, neighbourhoods, at work, and through other networks and social media.

The survey and information on how to be an #ImmigrantSurvey ambassador is posted on the Immigration Partnership’s Website.

For more information, please contact Tara Bedard, Executive Director, Waterloo Region Immigration Partnership, at tbedard@regionofwaterloo.ca or 226.750.7640.