- Joined
- Sep 25, 2007
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- 201
Hi all,An article from the October 31st edition of the Globe and Mail (Report on Business). Excerpts:
Markham`s economic success, especially in the tech field, is partly thanks to its lower-tax and growth policies, and the fact that it leveraged IBM`s locating there in the 1980s to attract other tech companies.
But a big factor in its business prosperity is the waves of immigrants - primarily east and south Asian - who settled in Markham and developed not only businesses but also networks to help each other succeed.
Diverse and busy
Markham is Canada`s most diverse municipality, with a population that is more than half immigrants, according to the latest Statistics Canada census figures from 2006.
And Markham`s story is not unique. The 2006 census figures show immigrants are increasingly moving to the suburban edges of Canada`s cities, rather than settling downtown.
Mr. Wong educates new immigrants about the "Canadian way of understanding things," and also writes manuals and gives seminars to Markham employers, offering them advice on how to assess job applicants whose language skills may be lacking.
"I`m trying to bring the communications gap a lot closer," he says.
In a community as ethnically diverse as Markham, there can be no sustained economic success without such bridging efforts. And Markham is successful because there are dozens of agencies, not-for-profits, community groups and companies all doing just what Mr. Wong is doing.
Connecting globally
The latest chapter in Markham`s evolving relationship with its immigrant communities is an official recognition that the town`s diversity provides "an opportunity for us to sell ourselves globally," says Joann Simmons, community and health services commissioner for York Region.
Last year, Markham was one of four municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area that embarked on trade missions to Asia (the others were Toronto, Mississauga and Vaughan). "These immigrants are wonderful connections for doing business with their homeland," Mr. Scarpitti says.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...pageRequested=1
Keith
Markham`s economic success, especially in the tech field, is partly thanks to its lower-tax and growth policies, and the fact that it leveraged IBM`s locating there in the 1980s to attract other tech companies.
But a big factor in its business prosperity is the waves of immigrants - primarily east and south Asian - who settled in Markham and developed not only businesses but also networks to help each other succeed.
Diverse and busy
Markham is Canada`s most diverse municipality, with a population that is more than half immigrants, according to the latest Statistics Canada census figures from 2006.
And Markham`s story is not unique. The 2006 census figures show immigrants are increasingly moving to the suburban edges of Canada`s cities, rather than settling downtown.
Mr. Wong educates new immigrants about the "Canadian way of understanding things," and also writes manuals and gives seminars to Markham employers, offering them advice on how to assess job applicants whose language skills may be lacking.
"I`m trying to bring the communications gap a lot closer," he says.
In a community as ethnically diverse as Markham, there can be no sustained economic success without such bridging efforts. And Markham is successful because there are dozens of agencies, not-for-profits, community groups and companies all doing just what Mr. Wong is doing.
Connecting globally
The latest chapter in Markham`s evolving relationship with its immigrant communities is an official recognition that the town`s diversity provides "an opportunity for us to sell ourselves globally," says Joann Simmons, community and health services commissioner for York Region.
Last year, Markham was one of four municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area that embarked on trade missions to Asia (the others were Toronto, Mississauga and Vaughan). "These immigrants are wonderful connections for doing business with their homeland," Mr. Scarpitti says.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...pageRequested=1
Keith