Immigrants' network in Canada: the case of Ghanaian immigrants in Canada


Emmanuel Kyeremeh, Toronto Metropolitan University; Jonathan Amoyaw, Dalhousie University; Bridget Annor, Western University

Research indicates that immigrants establish new connections upon their arrival in the host country while also preserving their old ones in their home nations. The structure and development of these connections can influence their integration into many aspects of the host nation. However, there has been few studies investigating the structure of immigrants networks and its influence on their integration, particularly in places like Canada. Utilizing egocentric network analysis of 172 Ghanaian immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area, we investigate the configuration and composition of their networks. Additionally, we also investigate the type of support immigrants are likely to derive from such networks since networks are known to provide varying degrees of support. Based on prior studies, we focus on two forms of support (informational and emotional support) in these networks, and how they impact their integration. The findings indicate that immigrants in Canada were primarily connected to immigrants of the same nationality, followed by connections with individuals in other locations, then connections with individuals in their home country, and finally connections with those who were native-born. The application of multinomial multilevel regression demonstrates that immigrants tend to receive emotional and informational support from their connections, which can originate from both their relationships in the host country and their home country. We utilize theoretical knowledge derived from the migration project and the context of reception to elucidate the impact of these connections on the process of integration in Canada. The policy implications of these findings are also addressed.

This paper will be presented at the following session: