African Christian Churches
Integration and Adaptationof African Newcomers
a. Alberta: immigrants (census 2006) Number Percentage
Non-immigrants
2 702 225 83 %
Immigrants 527 030 16 %
non permanent Residents
27 100 1 %
Total 3 256 355 100 %
5,4 % (28 525 ) of the 527 030 immigrants, are francophones.
Source : Stat. Canada, Census 2006, Product no 97-557-XCB2006021 au catalogue de Statistique Canada.
b. Alberta: Francophone immigrants by country of origin , 2001-2006.
Country of origin Number
Repubublic of congo 320
France 205
Rwanda 175
Algeria 155
Marrocco 105
Burundi 85
Cameroun 45
Ivory Coast 45
Tchad 30
Total 1230
Source: stat. Can, Census 2006, produit 97-557 XCB 2006007, Stat. Can cat.
c. Where do they live?
City Franch as official
language
Bilingual Franch-English
Edmonton 135 1720
Calgary 120 2375
Brooks 10 60
Source: Stat. Can, Census 2006, produit 97-557-XCB200-6021, Stat. Can. Cat.
2. Partners in settlement process
a. The subsidized francophone organizations b. Associations organized by country of origin c. Churches
a. Francophone institutions in the community Lack of resources to take up new challenges related
to
Cultural barrier: - a cultural identity - Minority thinking
Lack of competence to work with newcomers
Difficulty to build networks with francophone newcomers
b. Responses from Immigrants a. Associations by countries of origins
Dominations City
The morocco community Edmonton
The Rwandans' community
Edmonton
The Guinea community Edmonton
The Haitian community Edmonton
The Congolese association of Edmonton
Edmonton
The Ivory Coast community
Edmonton
b. Churches
Religious groups fill in the gap left by the government and francophone organizations;
Attempts for newcomers to solve their own challenges;
b. Churches…
Church City Leader Members(estimate)
Christian city multicultural church of calgary
Calgary Past. Mondo 50-60
Cité de reveil spirituel Calgary Past. Vincent 90-10
Deeper Life Bible Church
Edmonton Past. Jacob 65-70
Église source de vie Edmonton Past. E. Bumba
15-25
Fellowship Christian Reformed Church
Edmonton M. Huizinga 87
c. Churches
Church City Leader Members(estimate)
Église francophone de Brooks
Brooks Past. P. Tandu Pas disponible
Jerusalem City Church
Edmonton Past. N. Kayumba
130-135
Le corps du Christ 40-50
Life of faith Christian Church of Calgary
Calgary Past. Bukasa 200-250
Penuel Christian Assembly
Edmonton Past. R.V. Tshubula
20-25
Church City Leader Members(estimate)
Restoration and victory international ministries
Edmonton Past. Serge 45-50
Shiloh Baptist Church Edmonton Past. A. Karekezi
110-120
The kingdom citizen ministry internantional
Red Deer Past. P. Kabengele
30-40
Victoria Church Edmonton Past. J. Mwamba
25-30
Zion Temple Celebration Centre
Edmonton Past. B. Tuyikunde
65
Remarks: Even though, the names are in English the
main language spoken is French The numbers presented in this PowerPoint
are estimate given by the leaders of these churches.
Characteristics They are principal support of the majority
of African newcomers settled in Edmonton Positive social changes: welcoming of
newcomers, housing etc. They are deeply rooted by their African
values Leadership is somewhat familiar with the
Canadian culture; Monoethnic;
A 1. Family,
friends 2.Churches,3. Country
associations
BPublic institutions,
Schools etc.
right and wrong information
Right informations ?
d. A Survey
68.1 % of the response thought Francophone immigrant churches should be more involved in the social integration of their members in Alberta:
Connect the welcoming communities to the immigrants
networking; Eliminate isolation; Share experiences;
How are Church actions and initiatives bound to emerging Canadian values?
Challenges- Strengthening of traditional African values:
(same sex marriage…) - Management problems- Leaders are newcomers
Final remarksContemporary society: Tendency « to ignore religion until some
religious group or individual behaves well rather badly »;
Religion is an important factor in the settlement process of african immigrants.