Douglas Todd, a Vancouver Sun columnist who writes about immigration issues, is coming to Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Richmond campus to speak at the school’s annual TALK public lecture.
“The question I’m going to explore is, can people from different cultures and with different values still find a sense of cohesion in Metro Vancouver and create a harmonious society?” Todd told the Richmond News.
The flip side of the question is, according to an event post, "will Canadians create cultural enclaves, largely spending time with people of their own colour, mother language and distinct culture?"
Todd, an author and highly decorated journalist, said the questions are based on the World Values Survey, a global research project which found that people who live in different nations often have different values.
He believes there is a real challenge here in Metro Vancouver where almost half of the population is foreign-born. Meanwhile, a Vancouver Foundation Survey found there is a low degree of connection and engagement among local residents.
“Some of the problems are people forming into ethnic neighbourhoods. It’s totally understandable, but I think it can create a sense of isolation,” he said.
“Vancouver people and Canadians are super polite to each other, no matter what their ethnicity, but I’m just concerned there is not that much real engagement.
“Religion can bring people together, for example, but can also divide people.”
Regardless, Todd has hope for the future of the Lower Mainland.
“Immigration tends to be a long game - the real benefit (usually) comes in the second and third generations. That’s one hope I think,” said Todd.
“Intermarriage I think is (another) hopeful thing - It’s increasing in Canada but not at a hugely fast rate. And there has to be a real stress on learning English.”
He added that studies show immigrants who become fluent in the local language are more economically successful and happier.
“A study by UBC’s psychology department urges people to be more culturally curious, even asking the question ‘where are you from’ -- which some people find offensive,” he said.
“But we have to become curious about people who are different, otherwise we will never get to know each other. I encourage that, even though it might be a bit awkward to take some risks.”
Todd, who has written many critical articles about the country’s immigration policies, said he is trying to ask “hard questions that people want to ask but are afraid of.”
“The more I go into this, the more I realize people are afraid of being called a bigot, racist or xenophobic,” he said, adding a UBC study shows four per cent of Canadians are “real racists - i.e. think they are more superior than another ethnic groups."
“There is a small group of racists, but most people aren't. They are just trying to figure out what’s going on. But people toss around the word ‘racist’ so easily now, and the definition has expanded very broadly.”
Todd believes more information and conversation is the key to a healthier discourse around immigration, which is “very complicated and has a lot of force in it.”
“The forum (at KPU) is one way to do that," he said.
"I wish more journalists just wrote about immigration issues in a regular way.
"Politicians can talk about it more - not in a way to stir trouble, but most politicians just don’t touch it. My goal as a journalist is to get more conversations going."
