CitySpaces Consulting (in partnership with the Mustel Group and Kari Huhtala + Associates) was commissioned by the City of Surrey, on behalf of the Surrey Local Immigration Partnership (LIP), to undertake community research and consultations to assess newcomers’ and long-term residents’ perceptions related to immigration to Surrey, and Surrey as an inclusive community. This project is part of a larger research and consultation initiative led by the Surrey LIP, and serves as a foundational study to inform the strategic community planning process in Surrey.
To meet the objectives set for this project, the approach used a mixed methodology of literature review of selected studies and reports, a random telephone survey, focus groups, and public consultation. Additionally, a youth engagement advisory team was hired to help gain the perspectives of Surrey’s youth.
This project was conducted between November 2014 and March 2015.
Key Project Components
Literature Review. A literature review was conducted to provide a baseline understanding of how Surrey is doing with respect to being a welcoming community, and facilitating successful integration of newcomers. In total, 21 source documents were reviewed, covering a variety of topics, from settlement experiences for newcomers and barriers to integration, to Canadian policy and attributes of welcoming communities.
Random Telephone Survey. This survey was conducted by the Mustel Group between December 17, 2014 and January 4, 2015, with a total sample size of 301 participants. The final sample was weighted to match City of Surrey 2011 census demographics on the basis of age, gender, and neighbourhood.
Focus Groups. Seven focus groups were conducted, between February 18 and March 5, 2015, at a variety of locations throughout Surrey. A total of 67 people participated in these groups, which were held with the following groups:
● Immigrant Surrey Residents (in Canada 10+ years)
● Canadian-born Surrey Residents
● Recent Immigrant Surrey Residents (in Canada 0-10 years)
● Immigrant Youth (16-24 years old) Surrey Residents
● Canadian-born Youth (16-24 years old) Surrey Residents
Public Consultation. Three public consultation events were held to get input from the public on the project’s key research questions. One event targeted Surrey’s youth, while the other two engaged the general public. Each event used a questionnaire and a comments board to collect input. Over the course of the three events, 112 questionnaires were completed, and 193 individual comments were received.
PROJECT TEAM:
Noha Sedky Shelley Gadsden Palmer