Succeeding From the Margins of Canadian Society: A Strategic Resource for New Immigrants, Refugees, and International Students. Francis Adu-Febiri

       CCB Publishing British Columbia, Canada

      Succeeding From the Margins of Canadian Society: A Strategic Resource for New Immigrants, Refugees and International Students

      Copyright ©2009 by Francis Adu-Febiri and Everett Ofori

      ISBN-13 978-1-926585-28-4

      First Edition

      Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

      Adu-Febiri, Francis, 1956-

      Succeeding from the margins of Canadian society [electronic resource] : a strategic resource for new immigrants, refugees and international students / written by Francis Adu-Febiri and Everett Ofori.

      Includes bibliographical references.

      Electronic monograph in PDF format.

      ISBN 978-1-926585-28-4

      Also available in print format.

      1. Minorities--Employment--Canada. 2. Immigrants--Employment--Canada.

      3. Refugees--Employment--Canada. 4. Students, Foreign--Employment--Canada.

      5. Minorities--Canada--Economic conditions--21st century.

      6. Immigrants--Canada--Economic conditions--21st century.

      7. Refugees--Canada--Economic conditions--21st century.

      8. Students, Foreign--Canada--Economic conditions--21st century.

      9. Canada--Emigration and immigration--Economic aspects. 10. Multiculturalism--Canada.

      11. Affirmative action programs--Canada. 12. Canada--Social conditions--1991-.

      I. Ofori, Everett, 1963- II. Title.

      FC104.A38 2009a 305.800971 C2009-903085-3

      Every effort has been made to locate the copyright holders of all copyrighted materials and secure the necessary permission to reproduce them. In the event of any questions arising as to their use, the publisher will be glad to make necessary changes in future editions.

      Extreme care has been taken to ensure that all information presented in this book is accurate and up to date at the time of publishing. Neither the author nor the publisher can be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Additionally, neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America and the United Kingdom.

      Publisher: CCB Publishing

      British Columbia, Canada

      www.ccbpublishing.com

       To Ernestina Adu-Febiri of Victoria, Ellen H. Reynolds of Toronto and all immigrants, refugees and international students.

       CONTENTS

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction – Racial/Ethnic Minorities in Canadian Society: Constraints, Successes and Possibilities

Being Chocolate in a Vanilla World: The Story of Margaret Matthews

PART I: CONNECTING TO THE MAINSTREAM CANADIAN SOCIETY

1. Oh! Canada

2. Successful Racial and Cultural Minorities

3. Going for the Gold

4. Barriers to Minority Success: Ethnocentrism

5. Barriers to Minority Success: Racism, Identity and Diversity

       6. Let’s Talk About S - Solutions

       7. Making Canada Your Home

       8. Why You Should Keep Your Chin Up

       9. Canadian Higher Educational Credentials as an Imperative

       10. Smart Goal Setting and Why

       REMINDERS AND RESOURCES

       PART II: CONNECTING TO CANADIAN ACADEMIA FROM THE MARGINS OF SOCIETY

       11. Education in Canada: Minorities Connecting to Mainstream Curriculum and Instruction From the Margins

       12. Acquiring Critical Thinking Skills to Succeed in the Canadian Academic Culture