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Cultivating Welcoming Communities in a Neoliberal Era: Narrative Meets Practice in Rural Saskatchewan

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  • Melissa Kelly

    (Toronto Metropolitan University)

Abstract

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan, and particularly rural Saskatchewan, has an ageing population and has experienced a great deal of out-migration in recent years. As a result, its labour force has been shrinking over time (Moazzami, 2015). International migration has been viewed as one way to reverse negative population growth and boost the economy of the region. Several programs and initiatives have been developed to successfully attract and welcome international migrants to Saskatchewan’s rural areas. Despite this, retention is poor, with many immigrants choosing to move on to other destinations. In this paper, I argue that effectively welcoming immigrants in a context where they are seen primarily as economic actors poses a number of political, discursive and practical challenges. The economic rationale for immigration tends to reduce, somewhat ironically, the welcome that is extended. This paper is based on an analysis of information generated through interviews with key informants, all of whom are individuals engaged in the work of welcoming immigrants in different parts of rural Saskatchewan.

Suggested Citation

  • Melissa Kelly, 2023. "Cultivating Welcoming Communities in a Neoliberal Era: Narrative Meets Practice in Rural Saskatchewan," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 939-956, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:24:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1007_s12134-023-01080-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-023-01080-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rosario Sampedro & Luis Camarero, 2018. "Foreign Immigrants in Depopulated Rural Areas: Local Social Services and the Construction of Welcoming Communities," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(3), pages 337-346.
    2. Melissa Kelly & Michelle Nguyen, 2023. "Correction to: Choosing to Stay: Understanding Immigrant Retention in Four Non-metropolitan Counties in Southern Ontario," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 1077-1077, December.
    3. Rosario Sampedro & Luis Camarero, 2018. "Foreign Immigrants in Depopulated Rural Areas: Local Social Services and the Construction of Welcoming Communities," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(3), pages 337-346.
    4. Melissa Kelly & Michelle Nguyen, 2023. "Choosing to Stay: Understanding Immigrant Retention in Four Non-metropolitan Counties in Southern Ontario," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 1055-1075, December.
    5. Emma Flynn & Harald Bauder, 2015. "The Private Sector, Institutions of Higher Education, and Immigrant Settlement in Canada," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 539-556, August.
    6. Glynis George & Erwin D. Selimos & Jane Ku, 2017. "Welcoming Initiatives and Immigrant Attachment: The Case of Windsor," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 29-45, February.
    7. Melissa Kelly & Michelle Nguyen & Anna Triandafyllidou, 2023. "Why Migrants Stay in Small and Mid-sized Cities: Analytical and Comparative Insights," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 1013-1027, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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