Quote:
Originally Posted by HVGH
Say something about places on the West side of Canada...Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina.
Thanks!
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Realistically, I don't know if you are going get too much commentary about the rest of Canada simply because the Latin communities there are very small or even non-existent. Specifically, if you are hoping to find Dominicans in the cities you mentioned don't hold your breath. Montreal is the hub of the Dominican community in Canada, it's quite sizeable and visible. As well, it hosts a visible Latin population in general. Toronto has a very influential Latin population/ community as well but not Dominican per se. Toronto is home to many South Americans specifically Colombians, Ecuadoreans, Venezuelans, and Peruvians. To note also, Canada's Latino population is home to a sizeable number of Salvadoreans because in the eighties during the civil war crisis Canada opened its doors to El Salvador and now has one of the largest communities outside of the country.
If you are open to meeting Latinos and have not yet I suggest you go through your local yellow pages and start looking at the businesses and establishments. For example, under restaurants check if you find any Latino ones and if you do go there for dinner and see who else shows up. Go on a popular night such as Fridays and Saturdays when families go out. If the owner is Latino ask if s/he knows about any places where the Latin community goes or is more visible. Ask the patrons who are there. Don't be shy. I am sure they will be happy to share their experiences.
The universities are also good places to scope the presence of the Latin community locally. Major universities have a Hispanic department and host cultural events etc. Go there introduce yourself to the chair or head of the faculty and become a part of the community via the university although you are not student. Western Canada is no where near as diverse and multicultural as Toronto and Montreal. You can't expect to find Latinos and specifically Dominicans in sizeable numbers in those cities you mentioned. Proof of this is Canada's daily Latin newspaper, El Popular. It's available all over Canada however, since I have been reading it for over ten years I never see any news, events etc in Western Canada or the Maritimes. All the news local and Latino is Toronto focused and then Montreal simply because the hub of the communities are centered in the two largest cities in the country. From a cultural perspective my choice will always be narrowed down greatly because of this factor. Language, culture and good employment options are important to me which narrows my options down to Montreal and Toronto. I know everyone's situation is different but you can't expect big city options and diversity in a smaller sized less diverse part of Canada.
Some helpful links:
Diario El Popular Online - Inicio
Toronto Hispano. torontohispano.com Website de latinos y latinas en Toronto Canada
-this is a very helpful website
Toronto Dominicano
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I don't know how helpful this site as I don't read it much.
Montreal El Chasqui Latino.com* Journal Communaute Latino de Montreal-Canada
-for Latinos in Montreal
~Marianopolita.
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