Diverse Populations in Saskatchewan: The Challenges of Reaching Them

Abstract

Saskatchewan is more diverse than it was even 5 years ago. Although historically Saskatchewan has always had a diverse immigrant population, with immigrants from many European and Eastern European countries, recently there have been other large immigrant communities arriving from several parts of the globe through various significant government initiatives and policies; some as refugees, some as guest workers, some as international students with their families. Not only is this diverse immigrant population growing, but the social make up of the new immigrants is also changing. There are many reasons why Saskatchewan is receiving more immigrants. This paper states those reasons, discusses the history of immigration in Saskatchewan, the current immigrant situation, and the role libraries can play in educating, informing and entertaining these immigrant populations. This paper focuses on new immigrants coming into Saskatchewan and does not discuss other groups that are part of a diverse society such as aboriginal populations, seniors, the GBLT, or French Canadians. The authors sent out questionnaires to see what other libraries in Canada have done in this area and have used programs and services offered by both the Vancouver Public Library and the Toronto Public Library as examples of what can be offered to diverse immigrant populations.