York University, September 12, 1996 --The Toronto Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement launched its first annual competition today for $200,000 in funding for research on immigration.

The Centre's Director, Dr. Morton Beiser, said he expects to receive quality proposals from university and community-based researchers eager to explore the impact and potential of immigration on Toronto's economy, schooling and education, and community life. The Centre is a joint partnership between the founding universities (York, Ryerson, and University of Toronto) and community partners.

"The Centre will promote applied and practical research that will inform public and policy debate about Canada's immigration program,"said Associate Director Dr. Valerie Preston of York University where the Centre's Request for Proposals was released today. The Centre will judge the proposals according to their quality and utility, she added.

Located in Canada's leading immigration destination, the Toronto Centre is one of four federally funded research centres established last April by Immigration and Citizenship Canada and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. These centres of excellence are part of the International Metropolis Project in which Canada is playing a lead role. The Toronto Centre will receive $2 million over six years, with the lion's share devoted to research funding.

In June, the Toronto Centre held consultations with more than 60 university researchers and representatives from community agencies and local governments within the GTA. Those consultations helped shape the Centre's Statement of Purpose which was released today.

Ten percent of the research monies will be devoted to community-based researchers. "This collaborative approach will lead to mutual learning and will help make the research real and relevant to new immigrants and their neighbours," said M.S. Mwarigha, of the Social Planning Council of Metropolitan Toronto.

York University President Susan Mann said she was delighted that at least 70 percent of the total budget for the funded research will be dedicated to the support of undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students. "This important project will expand the already excellent research done by York Faculty and students while contributing to the establishment of a body of knowledge about an issue crucial to the GTA," said Mann.

The deadline for submissions is November 15, 1996; the first awards will be announced in early January, 1997. Please see attached material for more background on the Centre.

For more information, please contact:
Sine MacKinnon, Senior Advisor for Media Relations, York University
(416)736-2100, x 22087; e-mail:sinem@yorku.ca
YU/042/96

WHAT: The Toronto Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement is a joint research partnership between the founding universities (York University, Ryerson Polytechnic University, the University of Toronto) and community partners.

Located in Canada's leading immigration destination, it is one of four federally funded research centres addressing issues of immigration and settlement in urban centres. The other three are in Montreal, Vancouver and the Prairies. Announced in April, 1996 by Canada Immigration and Citizenship and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Centre will receive $2 million in funding over six years.

The Centre is part of the international Metropolis project in which Canada is playing a lead role. It will facilitate exchanges and collaboration among scholars worldwide, interested members of the community and the broader public.

WHY: The Centre aims to contribute to policy and program development by fostering applied multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research that will identify new strategies for realizing the positive potential of the Canadian immigration program and ensuring the successful participation of immigrants in their new home. More than 100 scholars will work under the Centre's name.

The Centre's research program concentrates on three areas: economics, education and schooling, and community life. The objectives are:

• to promote innovative research on the integration of immigrants into Canadian society with particular attention to the GTA;
• to create a network of researchers, policy-makers and community groups for ongoing, collaborative research into immigration issues;
• to provide training opportunities for students interested in immigration issues;
• to disseminate research findings broadly throughout Canadian society.

Dr. Morton Beiser, from the University of Toronto, is Director; Dr. Valerie Preston (York University) and Dr. Kenise Murphy Kilbride (Ryerson Polytechnic University) are Associate Directors.

WORK TO DATE: In June, the Centre held consultations attended by more than 60 university researchers and representatives from numerous community agencies and local governments within the GTA. On the basis of the consultations, the Centre has developed a statement of purpose that it will release with a Request for Proposals Sept. 12/96 when the first research competition is announced. The first awards will be announced in early January, 1997. The Centre also intends to establish an Advisory Partnership Council.

WHERE: The Centre has branch offices at York University and Ryerson Polytechnic University in addition to its main office on the University of Toronto campus. For more information about the Centre and its activities, please contact the following people:

CONTACTS:

Mr. Ted Richmond, Administrative Coordinator
(416) 946-3114
richmond@fsw.utoronto.ca

Dr. Valerie Preston, Associate Director
(416) 946-3112;(416) 736-5107
vpreston@yorku.ca

Dr. Joanna Rummens, Academic Coordinator
(416)946-3113

Dr. Kenise Murphy Kilbride, Associate Director
(416) 946-3112; (416) 979-5339
kilbride@acs.ryerson.ca