The New Face of Chinese Immigrants in Montréal

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Photo by Olivier Blondeau. MEM – Centre des mémoires montréalaises.

In the early 1990s, most Chinese immigrants to Montréal were educated professionals. They generally belonged to one of two groups that left the country for different reasons. Those who left mainland China, which was beginning to open up after decades of relative isolation, wanted to explore the Western world. Curious about what lay beyond their borders, young Chinese immigrated to Québec in search of opportunities. They brought with them cultural and intellectual values that they passed on to their children, who grew up in Montréal. By contrast, those who left Hong Kong did so out of fear of political and financial instability prior to Hong Kong’s handover to the Chinese government in 1997. Years of contact with Western culture made it easier for this group of educated professionals to integrate into Québec society. 

Since the 1980s, China has experienced strong economic growth, and Québec has sought to attract a new class of Chinese immigrants: immigrant investors. Immigrants in this category, which has grown significantly since the 2000s, come in the hope of building on successful careers in China and have the means to invest in Québec society. They do so through professional partnerships with local organizations and by developing local business networks. Some also come to offer their children an alternative to the intense competition of the Chinese education system, enabling them to pursue a Western education instead; these young people, often referred to as up straddling the two cultures. Other Chinese newcomers arrive as university students and settle in Montréal with a Québec degree in hand.

Solidarity in the face of immigration challenges

Service à la famille chinoise du Grand Montréal

Chinese Family Service of Greater Montréal

for support and guidance. Its social workers help with essentials, such as finding work, housing, and schools. The organization also assists people in navigating Québec’s bureaucracy and handles cases that are complicated by the language barrier. Newcomers who speak neither French nor English are often targets for exploitation and discrimination. They may be taken to court by a landlord, bullied at work, or injured in the workplace without knowing their rights. These cases are especially complex to manage because they require coordination between the clients, the organization, the provincial government, and the place of work or residence.

The stresses of immigration can be overwhelming for families. After a few years in Québec, some find themselves in a precarious financial situation, having spent most of the savings they brought from China but lacking the language skills to access stable employment. Guiying Wang, a social worker, explains that when families experience greater financial stress in Canada than they did in China, the resulting strain can lead to family and spousal violence. In such situations, many are shocked to learn that government agencies can remove their children from their care, as family separation is unthinkable in China. Over the years, the organization has often acted as an intermediary between families and the police or youth protection services following violent incidents. It has also fought to have children at risk of family separation remain with their parents, while providing these parents with employability training and domestic violence prevention services.

Public services demystified

In China, extended family and the community are the first line of support for everyday needs. Everyone lends a hand to look after children and the elderly, guide new parents, settle disputes, and help those searching for jobs and housing. Many immigrants, finding themselves cut off from this support network, struggle to adapt to the more individualistic culture of their new country. As a result, one of the Chinese Family Service’s most popular offerings is its workshop on CLSCs and public services in Québec. Every year, hundreds of immigrants fill a large conference room to learn about these services, which they are accustomed to receiving from their families and communities in China. Some have been in Québec for decades but have lacked the language skills to learn about and access services. The positive response to this program reflects the need for support from public institutions to ensure that all immigrants can thrive in their new life in Québec.