Cultural Differences

Fitting into a new culture with new people and a new language can be challenging. British Columbia (BC) has taken a number of important steps at the community level to make your stay here as welcoming as possible – no matter what your country of origin. Canada prides itself on its mix of cultures – we truly are a country of immigrants and BC recognizes this by developing services designed to assist permanent and temporary immigrants when they arrive in BC

When you arrive here, you may find certain customs and practices strange, either in your community or in the workplace. While communities and employers work hard to provide a diverse and inclusive environment, there is always a period of adaptation. It is important that you – the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) –  also make an effort to adapt your lifestyle to new customs and practices you find in BC  to ensure a successful stay in the province.

Welcoming Communities

British Columbia is committed to offering a welcoming environment where diverse cultural, religious and linguistic communities can work and live in harmony. You will find that we have dynamic, multicultural communities that are actually committed to celebrating diversity.

In BC, every effort is made to respect your rights, your beliefs and your culture. You may want to take a quick look at what our communities are doing behind the scenes to prepare for you and make you welcome.

Read more >> Multiculturalism in BC and Diversity in BC.

Diverse Peoples

With its location on the Pacific Rim, British Columbia brings together people, ways of life, beliefs and cultures from all corners of the globe.  BC welcomes about 40,000 new permanent immigrants each year. Last year, about 250,000 foreign workers worked in Canada on temporary work permits. About 58,000 of these worked in British Columbia. Most TFWs in BC come from the U.S., Mexico, Australia, France, the Philippines, Japan and the U.K. Find out about the cultural make-up of communities in BC 

Community Organizations

Most settlement agencies are equipped to help only permanent immigrants to the province, and will not be able to provide services for TFWs. However, BC has a number of multicultural groups and services that can assist TFWs in a number of ways. These organizations may focus on assistance to persons from specific countries, religions, or ethnic groups.

Employers and Diversity

Employers in BC are encouraged to introduce diversity, or a mix of peoples, into the workplace since it attracts new employees and positions them as an employer of choice. By putting in measures that create an inclusive environment they can help new employees feel welcomed. Successful employers recognize that supporting employment diversity can benefit not only staff, but employers as well.

Employers in BC are encouraged to address harassment, discrimination, racism, fair recruitment, and safe working conditions. 

What You Can Do

Here are just a few ideas to help you get more used to the Canadian way of life:

• Make friends with people who speak English so that you can practice before you arrive in BC
• Enrol in English classes before you arrive, or while you are here, to improve your speaking and reading skills or sign up for online lessons.
• Listen to Canadian radio stations, like CBC radio.
• Read newspapers from British Columbia.
• Use chat groups or discussion groups in English.
• Practice English texting on your cellphone.
• Use a document reader to read English text aloud on your computer.
• Contact a religious or cultural organization to help you make new friends and contacts.
• Contact a university or college to find students you can practice your English with.
• Rent DVD movies from your local library and select the English language playback.