Immigration, settlement, and integration are vital issues in the twenty-first century—they propel economic development, transform cities and towns, shape political debate, and challenge established national identities. This original collection provides the first comprehensive introduction to the contemporary immigrant experience in both the United States and Canada by exploring national, regional, and metropolitan contexts.With essays by an interdisciplinary team of American and Canadian scholars, this volume explores major themes such as immigration policy; labour markets and the economy; gender; demographic and settlement patterns; health, well-being, and food security; education; and media. Each chapter includes instructive case examples, recommended further readings, links to web-based resources, and questions for critical thought.Engaging and accessible, Immigrant Experiences in North America will appeal to students and instructors across the social sciences, including geography, political science, sociology, policy studies, and urban and regional planning.

Harald Bauder is the Academic Director of the Ryerson Centre of Immigration and Settlement (RCIS) and Professor in Immigration and Settlement Studies (ISS) and Geography at Ryerson University.

Harald Bauder's profile page

Born in NY City, Shields holds a Masters Degree in theology from St. Paul’s College in Washington, DC, where he worked with Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. He went on to teach popular theology in Canada and the US. He left the church and moved to British Columbia in 1969. An interest in social justice led him to the labour movement where he was a champion for women’s equality work. He was President of the BC Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU) for fourteen years. A deep interest in spirituality led him to contemporary cosmology, which is illuminating a deeper understanding of the universe. For the past twenty years he has explored the connection between science and spirituality. He now lives in Victoria, B.C., and has been teaching Labour Relations and Negotiations at Vancouver Island University.

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"Students studying immigration are always interested in comparative analysis. . . . Because all the topics are central to any debate over immigration (they range from skilled migration, labour market incorporation, security, illegality, gender, schooling, and health), the text will draw in readers from across the social sciences."
—Richard A. Wright, Department of Geography, Dartmouth College

"Whether in the classroom or as an on-the-shelf resource, Immigrant Experiences in North America is a welcome addition to the settlement and integration literature, providing a wide range of ‘state of the art’ chapters that will be informative for students and faculty, as well as practitioners in the field, alike. . . . With a multidisciplinary approach that moves beyond national perspectives to incorporate both local and sectional policy responses, the text encourages us to challenge the intellectual and experiential barriers that often affect those who study and work in the fields of settlement and integration."— “Chris Anderson, Department of Political Science, Wilfrid Laurier University