Stereotypes / Racism
 

Hi,

I want to know if there are any stereotyping / racism,

Well I know of course there is - you are bound to get it where ever you go.

But I am British-Asian (Indian sub-continent) and was wondering how people from my part of the world are recieved in Canada

Are we considered dangerous, outcasts because of events like September 11 (9/11) or London bombings (7/7)?


Also I want to pursue a career in law enforcement one day - do you think my race will have an impace on this? or do I have to be born in Canada to be a police officer?


Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated,

Thanks

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Probably depends where you're planning on going. If you're going to one of the big cities, I doubt anyone would bat an eyelid.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

I dont think racial stereotyping is a huge issue...but then Im a white anglo so I would be the last one to notice anyway. You are right though, you find ignorant people wherever you go, but I dont think its particularly based in terrorism as Canada has not been on the recieving end like the US and UK have, save for one bomb plot that was foiled a year or two ago.

As far as policing goes, I think to join the RCMP you need to be a citizen, but for most local forces its not a requirement, PR is enough.

I think there is a whole seperate area for policing type jobs on this site, as well as a handful of contributors to the canada area who are at various stages of becoming cops over here.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Chief constable of West Vancouver Police Force ...

http://sikhchic.com/cms/articles/photo1/a-kash1.jpg

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Most if not all Canadian police Services require that you are a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident before they can appoint you.

Have a look at the "police" section on this site under the Working Abroad bit - and because I am technically crap at adding attachments and links, have a look at my reply to a thread called 'Securing Employment' which may answer some of your questions ....

As for race, for once I'm going to agree with Bazz (drum roll - very rare) and say that I don't think it would be an issue pretty much anywhere you went here ....

Good luck

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

I think I need to be arrested. :tounge_smile:

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Just wild speculation on my part, but I don't know if small-town Alberta would be as accepting as say, downtown Toronto.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

In a similar vein... Attorney-General of BC:

http://www.bcliberals.com/media/Wally%20Oppal%2035.JPG

(although I believe he was born in Canada... ?)

(yup, he was)

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

If you are speculating and dont actually know its probably better not to say anything right? You would probably think the same thing about small town ontario, but I'm not sure its as bad as all that... While you will find a fair number of ignorant hicks, most people here will give you a chance and judge you by your actions. What you are less likely to find in small town canada than the larger cities is a ready made niche to fit into.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

well there is never any shortage of speculation on this forum! This thread looks like it has the potential to turn into one of those not-to-be-missed heated debates although, sadly, I have to leave now to collect my car from the garage (had its handbrake fixed!)

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Wrong.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

And while we are on about it, Jim Chu, Chief Constable of the Vancouver Police was born in Shanghai. Ujjal Dosanjh, the former Premier of BC was born in India. Of course, there are bigots and racists in Canada, but you can still achieve what you want to achieve regardless of your skin colour or place of birth.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

I dont need to speculate I know as my MIL lives in small town Ontario and they are all rascist / homophobic / sexist bigots trust me!!! however in Toronto my best freind is gay/angl white and happily walks down the street hand in hand with his asian husband!!!

To prove how non plussed ppl in TOronto really are, we plan to go out during the first snow with tea cosys on our head and see if anyone bats an eyelid, youtube link to follow!!

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Is that true? dbd33 seems to think that's impossible to run a successful convenience store in Toronto unless you're Korean.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

dbb seems to believe quite a lot of things that dont jive with my experience of life in Canada:D,

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Perhaps because you've always been in the sticks.

I do think it would be difficult to get into the Ontario Korean Businessman's Association if you weren't Korean and not being a member would put you at a competitive disadvantage to the stores buying through their co-op.

I agree with BritishVixen that rural Ontario is no place to be brown though, to be fair, the town of which speaks is outstandingly inhospitable to people who do not share the local genes.

So far as big city policing is concerned I think languages are much sought after so a British person of Indian ancestry would be at an advantage if he or she spoke Indian languages, otherwise, in Toronto, no one thinks twice about another person's background.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Does you MIL live in Parry Sound? You just descrbed my FIL to a tee! :rofl:
(he's banned from my house).

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Hmmmmmmm.

GP in Oakville - Dr Parikh
Dentist in Oakville - Croatian
Cop who stopped and searched me in Oakville - Sub-continent extraction
Souvette's comanding officer in Toronto - Lt. Col. Sharma
Dentist in Gatineau - Moroccan
GP's seen in Ottawa - one Middle Eastern extraction; the other SE Asian
Canada's current Governor General - from Haiti
Canada's last Governor General - from China

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Now I'm just an old fat white man, but my friends in the office are from all over the world, over 11 languages are spoken amongst 65 of us. We are also diverse in Religions or lack there of, and sexual preferences.

That is also pretty representative of Winnipeg, look on the streets and the whole worlds there. :thumbsup:

As we are nearly all Immigrants (or children of Immigrants) we all have that as a common bond. Plus it is a well known fact that people who emigrate are on average of higher intelligence. So........ You should be alright.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

I live and go to college in medium town ontario and work in small town ontario. I'm anglo saxon so havent experienced any racism but my impression is that the people I have met are less racist than the people I met in England. Thats not saying much tho.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

I think there are a lot of different experiences of Canada that you can have depending on where you go.


And not just Korean, but they if it is a "Korean Businessman's Association" you would probably have to be a man, and in business as well as being Korean.



As for Vancouver, Asians (Chinese / Japanese??) are probably equal if not in the majority, especially in certain areas, such as China town and Richmond.

Barely ever see a black person here though. I didn't realise until I went to Montreal and saw black people again.

As for me, I'm not bothered whether you are black, white, brown, pink, green or purple, so long as you are a nice, hard working, caring person.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

I never knew this but apparently there is a big stereotype by those this side of the pond, of the Brits having bad teeth.

Hence Austin Powers.

When it was announced at work that I would be starting, there were apparently some comments about teeth, and everyone was really disappointed that I have naturally straight, white teeth. It does explain why a few people mentioned that I had good teeth when I started.......

You learn something new everyday

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

It's a bit of an indictment on us all that you even have to ask such a question. I hope you don't get too many negative answers - I suppose there will be one or two - and I do wish you all the best in Canada if you do get here. I have to admit that I have heard some racist comments here in Canada that I haven't heard in Europe for many years fortunately but mostly from, dare I say, my (old) generation!

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Old Chinese proverb: better to be loved for your teeth than not loved at all.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Obviously, I can't do it, but if I posted the family names of my students, you might notice that about 5% are vaguely Anglo. Sri Lankan, Indian, Pakistani, Iranian, Chinese, Russian (or former Soviet Union anyway) all are more common than Smith and Jones.

All that said, police are police: not the most progressive folk in the world.

<sits back and awaits arrest>

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Not a problem with Police. I know loads of coppers, and i've never seen racism be an issue. I have never seen anything like the problems they have in the UK. If you speak another language, that can hep a lot. Police prefer post secondary education, so a couple of A levels will be the minimum, but the more the better. Testing is very in depth including a Polygraph.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Must admit this was not on our list of concerns about moving. I've always had the attitude that if you're prepared to integrate into a community / culture then aside from a possible minority you should be OK living day to day life. However, a little nervous about the comments about rural Ontario.

What about BC, specifically places like Campbell River, Powell River ? Should we worry about racism in places like that ?

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Rural Ontario is no different to rural anywhere.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

I've heard more racist comments in Canada than I ever did in the UK, all of them against first nations in Winnipeg, and even one time (socially) from an RCMP officer. It's not all love and kumbaya you know...

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

got to say the biggest policeman ive ever seen was a mountie in saskatoon
he was in his own words scots/canadian+ indian.
must be a citizen to be a mountie.
james;)

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Not sure how relevant this is, though? By its very nature, a convenience store exists for the convenience of its patrons rather than because it's cheap.

You may have a point in some low-income neighbourhoods, where every last cent is counted carefully - but I don't think it holds city-wide and certainly not across the wider GTA.

The marginal pricing difference between buying through the OKBA co-op and any other wholesaler is surely outweighed by the laziness of most reasonably-well-off Torontonians who would rather pay an extra few cents for their chips and chocolate than walk (or drive) the extra 3 blocks to the next store?

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

I'm not suggesting that the convenience stores are cheap, just that stores with access to cheaper supplies will make more money than others. They have a competitive advantage. A cute feature of living in the country is that the convenience stores are run by Indians, you don't see that in the city anymore, I find it charmingly nostalgic.

Whoever above suggested that the police are not generally racist wants to give his head a shake, they don't dump druken white people out in the snow to freeze to death very often.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

If you are looking to settle in a progressive and forward thinking, non judgemental, anti racist utopia - then avoid rural northen Alberta at all costs. Really nice people but the vast majority are white anglo saxons like myself with outdated views. I have pulled up several friends on their racist comments and following discussions they realise that nobody has ever questioned them on their attitudes which they acknowledge as being stupid at best (lots and lots of racist jokes, mostly from 70's Europe/U.S.)). My kids have been horrified at the prevailing racist and extremely sexist attitude of very many of kids at their high school.
I am not including their attitude towards the Natives which is a whole different ballgame, just towards any non-white except possibly the Chinese. The irony is of course that the majority of non-white people up here are professionals with high earning white collar occupations.
Stuarty

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

How dare you talk about our Brave Boys in Blue like that. I'm shocked. Shocked and appalled.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Boys in Blue? I thought the mounties all went round in those smart red coats and funny hats and trousers with a stripe down the side, like that guy in Due South. You're telling me this isn't their working uniform? Better not tell the wife, she'll be most disappointed - she was wondering why we hadn't seen any galloping down the streets...

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

They dont do it to native people very often either, and its rather churlish to paint the whole organisation with the same brush as the people who did this in Edmonton or wherever it was.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Saskatoon.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

Slight outsider syndrome, so you'd need to put a bit of a bit of effort in to start with.

Although I've never lived in CP or PR

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

I lived up on the Alaska Highway a couple of years ago. We had to regularly call the police to remove drunken aboriginals from our garden. We had observed that they were being supplied with booze but not by their own folk. They would crawl into our garden in the snow in the winter and pass out. We have many times observed them being picked up by the police. I have never seen them treated, and I am talking about frequent occasions, by anything but the utmost consideration.

Re: Stereotypes / Racism
 

<snigger> I get a sense of some wierd reversed deja vu :lol: