Post-migration and integration experience amid COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: a case study of African newcomers in St. John's, NL

Tiamiyu, Atinuke (2024) Post-migration and integration experience amid COVID-19 pandemic in Canada: a case study of African newcomers in St. John's, NL. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a variety of impacts on marginalized groups in Canada, exacerbating existing inequalities in society. The integration process of newcomers, immigrants and non-immigrants, was significantly affected as they rely heavily on informal social connections to access information about housing, employment, and other social institutions. Existing studies on the experiences of newcomers during the pandemic have predominantly focused on the impact and effects of the virus on these groups. However, the voices and interpretations of newcomers' challenges have been largely overlooked, even though their understanding of these challenges greatly influences their integration. This thesis aims to explore the integration experience of African newcomer immigrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on how they interpreted their social interactions while facing challenges after migration. The study took place between 2020 and 2022 in St. John’s, a mid-sized Canadian city that actively seeks to attract and retain immigrants. The thesis is based on data from 17 semi-structured interviews conducted with newcomer immigrants who migrated from Sub-Saharan Africa and self-identified as racialized. The theoretical approach of the study is based on symbolic interactionism, and the analysis relies on Blumer and Cooley's orientation. The findings reveal emotional struggles such as loneliness and anxiety and difficulties in social and economic integration. The notion of dual skepticism and misplaced social-cultural values are the main social challenges experienced by immigrants. They exercised agency and coped by relying on faith, self-advocacy, transcending predetermined labels, and showcasing adaptability and resilience.

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