Civic engagement is important to a democracy because without it, the voice of the individual is silent. With such a large population of recent immigrants—many of whom face barriers to civic engagement—Canada runs the risk of not hearing from a large segment of its population. That’s where education comes in.

Maple Bamboo Initiative
One program, the Maple Bamboo Initiative, has been offering “democracy training” to new immigrants in Vancouver since 2007. The program provides newcomers with the knowledge and skills they need to become engaged in civic life, but that’s not all. It’s working on changing the makeup of organizations and decision-making groups so that newcomers are included. It benefits all Canadians when leadership reflects the population it serves.

Maple Bamboo Initiative participants in October 2010

Blanca Salvatierra came to Canada in 1988. Growing up in Nicaragua, she was always interested in not only giving her opinions, but also doing things to help “make a better world.” Now, she is doing just that as co-ordinator of the Maple Bamboo Initiative. Blanca feels strongly that it’s important for new Canadians to get involved in areas that are important to them in order to feel more a part of their adopted home.

Blanca explains that for newcomers coming from places with oppressive regimes, it can be difficult to understand that “it’s okay to speak up if I’m not happy.” She elaborates: “Many people come from parts of the world where democracy is taught in schools, but not practised.” Instead, citizens are passive and follow laws without questioning them, afraid of what might happen to them otherwise.

The Maple Bamboo Initiative exists to show people that it’s okay to speak up, and encourages them to do so, while giving them the tools they need. Above all, Blanca says, the Maple Bamboo participants “need to believe in themselves.” They can make a difference in their new home, just as she has.