A couple of weeks ago I had a very interesting chat with another realtor while we were both holding an open house at the new Sahalee tower in Port Moody. As realtors do we talk about the market, recent success stories and observations of life in general. “Keith” as I’ll call him is a proud Canadian. Moved here 20-some-odd years ago from Iran. He rebuilt his life from scratch and is very appreciative for the opportunities his adopted country has provided him. But he is worried. Worried about what is happening in Metro Vancouver. He would like to see new immigrants embrace Canadian culture, learn English or French and be familiar with Canadian customs. Keith thinks it’s wonderful that Canada, especially the large urban areas of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto are such a mixing pot of cultures. The heritage and tradition they bring is something that is important and should be held onto and appreciated and understood by others. 
What is happening though is some ethnic groups have such a large population in some areas of the city that newcomers can live, work and play just as they had done “back in the old country”.
Most would agree that the ethnic diversity has made Vancouver a better city, a world class city. Some, like Keith, wonder though if we are losing our own identity.
But can you blame the newcomers? You are comfortable with what you know. Often buyers and sellers prefer to deal with people with the same background. I know if I moved to a different country that spoke something other than English, chances are I would hang out at the pub that is showing hockey games, buy my coffee from a Tim Horton’s and talk and laugh with others who spoke English.
Its not that we don’t get along – in fact, we like each other – a lot! Vancouver is one of the most integrated cities in the world. In total, 7.2 per cent of married and common-law couples in Greater Vancouver are interracial – double the Canadian average of 3.2 per cent.
Stats show 74.7 percent of new immigrants are choosing to live in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, or Richmond. Richmond’s foreign-born population now outnumbers its Canadian-born one; in Burnaby, 50.8 percent of its population is foreign-born; and Surrey now boasts the fastest growing number of foreign-born residents, placing it second in total to the City of Vancouver.
Greater Vancouver’s population was to 2.1 million by 2006, up 6.5 per cent from 2001. Of that, 47.1%- are members of visible minority groups. Over the period of 1986 to 2001, the number of immigrants living in Vancouver increased by 346,700.
And they all have to live somewhere…
-Allan
