Metropolis - Toronto Centre of Excellence

Annual Activities Report -- Metropolis Project
CERIS Toronto
Fiscal Year 1997-98
Submitted to SSHRC April 30, 1998

Joint Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement -- Toronto
246 Bloor Street West, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V4

Mandate and Objectives of CERIS

CERIS Activities 1997-98
Key Events and Accomplishments

Research Program
Funded Research Projects 1997
Research Competition 1998
Expansion of Research Domains
Affiliation Process
Activities of the Data Committee
Major Research Initiatives
Training Opportunities

Management Structure and Activities
Management Board
Partnership Advisory Council

Administration and Infrastructure
Executive Committee
Office Support and Communications Infrastructure

Linkages and Interactions with Academic and Community Partners
Metropolis Conferences and Activities
Public Activities in the GTA
Consultations with Community and Government Partners
Links with Toronto area Academics
Support from Universities

International Links and Dimensions
Conferences, Visits and Exchanges
Visiting Scholars
Research Collaboration

Dissemination Activities
CERIS Newsletter and Communications Committee
Monthly Research Seminar Series
Census and Data Use Consultations
Dissemination by CERIS and Metropolis Researchers
Media Relations
Resource Centre
WebSite
Public Radio Broadcasts

Contribution to Policy Development
Policy Issues in the Greater Toronto Area
Policy Relevance of CERIS Research
Fundamental Issues
Opportunities

Activities and Workplan for April, 1998 - March, 1999
Perspectives for Year Three
Core Activities
Expanded Activities and New Initiatives

Appendices
Overview of CERIS' Research Programme (1996 and 1997)
Funded Research Projects -- 1997 RFP Funding Competition
1998 Request for Proposals
1998 RFP Application Form
Modifications to the RFP Adjudication Process
CERIS Research Domains
CERIS Affiliation Categories
CERIS Affiliation -- Application and Nomination Form
Special Board Meeting with Community Partners
CERIS Director's Report, November 1997
CERIS Director's Report, January 1998
CERIS Director's Report, March 1998
Official CERIS Affiliations
Composition of Management Board
Composition of Partnership Advisory Council
Leaders of CERIS Research Domains
Members of Data Committee
Members of Communications Committee
Members of Major Research Initiatives Group
CERIS Staff and Volunteers

The Joint Centre of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement -- Toronto (CERIS), is a collaborative project governed by a Management Board that encompasses Ryerson Polytechnic University, University of Toronto, York University, the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, the Social Planning Council of Metropolitan Toronto, and the United Way of Greater Toronto. Support to the Management Board in governing CERIS is provided by a Partnership Advisory Council (PAC) consisting of representatives of immigrant service agencies, community agencies, social planning councils, education sector representatives, municipal and health planning bodies, and local representatives of the federal funding partners. The Centre was established in March of 1995 to study the settlement of immigrants into the economic, social, political and cultural life of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Along with centres in Montreal, Edmonton, and Vancouver, CERIS is a major component of Canada's participation in the international Metropolis Project. The Metropolis Project focuses on issues related to the settlement of immigrants in large metropolises, and seeks to understand related "best practices" that should inform public policy. Funding for the Metropolis project is provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), along with Health Canada, Human Resources, Heritage Canada, Status of Women Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and the Solicitor General's Office. Statistics Canada is providing in-kind support through data donations and subsidies as well as technical support.

The goals of CERIS are to promote scholarly research on the immigration and settlement of new Canadians that can provide practical insights for informing relevant public policies; to offer a new model of collaborative research between academic and community partners in order to ensure the solid grounding of such research; to provide new recruits to the ranks of scholars in immigration and settlement; and to disseminate widely its research findings to policy makers, academics, community groups, and all who may benefit thereby.

Following are the activities of CERIS that supported the implementation of these objectives in our second full year of operation, and our perspectives for the third year of operation.