APS 341 Urban Sociology

A third of humanity is on the move. History's largest migration is creating new urban spaces that are this century's focal points of conflict and change unseen centres of febrile activity that will reshape our cities and reconfigure our economies. These arrival cities are where the next great economic and cultural boom will be born, or where the next explosion of violence will occur. This book embarkers on a detailed tour of thirty cities and villages on five comments, introducing the people and communities whose tragedies and victories are changing the world.

Ontario receives the majority of newcomers to Canada, and its cities are a locus of diversity. Recognizing that the building and sustenance of "welcoming communities" is as much a local project as a national and provincial one, this volume explores the activities of municipal governments in Ontario as well as those of a number of other important "social forces" situated at the local level. The conclusion provides a sense of the relative success (or failure) that Ontario cities have had in the creation of welcoming and inclusive communities.

This book examines immigration to small cities throughout Canada. It explores the distinct challenges brought about by the influx of people to urban communities which typically have less than 100,000 residents. Readers will discover how different groups of migrants, immigrants, and Francophone minorities confront systemic discrimination; how settlement agencies and organizations develop unique strategies for negotiating limited resources and embracing opportunities brought about by changing demographics; and how small cities work hard to develop inclusive communities and respond to social exclusions.