Mandate and Objectives of CERIS

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 1996 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 support through data donations and subsidies as well as technical support and the three partner universities contribute substantial in-kind 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 fourth year of operation, and our perspectives and plans for the fifth year of activities.

CERIS Activities 1999-2000

CERIS had a very busy and productive year. Major highlights of the past year include the following:

• the completion of a successful 1999 RFP funding competition
• expansion of our research domains
• lively discussions at our annual research retreat shaping the themes of the 2000 RFP
• continued development of our program of Major Research Initiatives
• expansion of the range and scope of our Special Research Projects
• growth of training activities and formal affiliations
• a dramatic increase in the scope of our dissemination activities and public liaison
• the outstanding success of the Fourth National Metropolis Conference
• continued development of our international liaison activities
• a successful SSHRC Midterm Review