Dr. Lori Wilkinson

Professor of Sociology, University of Manitoba

Professor of Sociology, specializing in immigration and refugee studies and survey methods

Media

[2014 Shanghai Forum] Lori Wilkinson "Immigrants and Integration in the Canadian Metropolis"

2014 Shanghai Forum - Politics & Policy : Policy Guidance for International Metropolis Development: Innovation and Wisdom Session 주제 : Population and Urbanization I 발표주제 : Immigrants and Integration in the Canadian Metropolis Lori Wilkinson (University of Manitoba)

What are the challenges refugees to Manitoba Face?

CBC Winnipeg, October 17, 2016Television

This interview discusses the settlement and services available to refugees in Manitoba.

Refugees: What do we know?

CTV News Morning Live, February 3, 2016Television

URL: http://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=800640&binId=1.1206882&playlistPageNum=1

A short interview examining life in refugee camps and dispelling myths about refugees in Canada.

Immigration in Western Canada

Radio Canada, October 22, 2016Television

A short news clip examining the challenges refugees face when arriving to Canada (in English)

CBC Radio-Winnipeg, October 17, 2016Radio/Podcast

This short interview provides information about how refugees settle in Canada.

Radio Canada-Edmonton, October 21, 2015Radio/Podcast

URL: http://ici.radio-canada.ca/regions/alberta/2015/10/21/014-francophone-immigrants-alberta-ouest.shtml

An interview about the unique settlement needs of French speaking immigrants in Canada's western region

Roundhouse Radio, July 11, 2016Radio/Podcast

A short interview about racism, police and the Black Lives Matter movement in the US

Winnipeg a diverse city of cultural change

MetroNews Canada, September 17, 2015Online

URL: http://www.metronews.ca/news/winnipeg/2015/09/17/winnipeg-a-diverse-city-of-cultural-change.html

There’s a deep history behind every cultural group in Winnipeg that contributes to the city’s cultural diversity. Twenty-two per cent of Winnipeg residents were born outside of Canada. It’s a number that’s hovering at the national average, says Lori Wilkinson, a professor in the department of sociology at the University of Manitoba, who specializes in immigration and race relations.

Winnipeg cops saddened by Dallas tragedy

Winnipeg Sun, July 8, 2016Online

URL: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/07/08/winnipeg-cops-saddened-by-dallas-tragedy

Race issues are clearly a factor in the shootings but it is the particular circumstances of the shooter or shooters that are most relevant, said Lori Wilkinson, a University of Manitoba sociology professor and race relations expert. “With any kind of incident like this you have to look at the individual and their mindset,” Wilkinson said. “To actually murder somebody is a step that even the most angry people on both sides wouldn’t take.”

Winnipeggers positive about immigration: poll

Winnipeg Free Press, July 1, 2016Online

URL: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/winnipeggers-positive-about-immigration-poll-385105641.html

A Probe Research Inc. survey conducted this spring and released in time for Canada Day found that six in 10 respondents described immigration as having a positive effect compared to just six per cent who perceived it as having a negative effect. "I’m not surprised," said Lori Wilkinson, a University of Manitoba sociology professor and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Migration and Integration. Winnipeg is similar to other Canadian cities, she said from Berlin where she's meeting with German counterparts to talk about Syrian refugees, immigration systems and conducting longitudinal surveys.

What do we need to know about academic integrity at the University of Manitoba?

University of Manitoba, October 14, 2016Online

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Ji7mCNdLU&t

This video provides information on why professors should care about academic integrity at their institutions

Trust and Academic Integrity Closely Linked

UM Today, September 21, 2016Online

URL: http://news.umanitoba.ca/trust-academic-integrity/

This Op-Ed article encourages students and professors to think about why academic integrity is important both within the university and outside the university

Sudanese refugee studying at the U of M discusses struggles and achievements

The Manitoban, November 16, 2016Online

URL: http://www.themanitoban.com/2016/11/sudanese-refugee-studying-at-u-of-m-discusses-struggles-and-achievements/29859/

This article examines the experiences of refugees in Canada and includes helpful information about the challenges refugees may face when leaving their country and when they arrive in Canada.

Research coalition to examine the experiences of refugee children

University Affairs/Affaires universitaires, December 6, 2016Online

URL: http://www.universityaffairs.ca/news/news-article/research-coalition-examine-experiences-syrian-refugee-children/

A description of the Children and Youth Refugee Research Coalition team and their research on refugees in Canada.

Op-ed: Gates to prosperity: Welcoming Syrian refugees fuels economy

Winnipeg Free Press, February 19, 2016Online

URL: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/gates-to-prosperity-369446002.html

MANY people wonder why Canada is opening its doors for Syrian refugees when there is so much poverty, inequality and injustice in our own society. Leaving aside Canada’s moral and international legal obligations, critics of the refugees argue that they are an unnecessary expense. What most don’t realize, however, is that refugees are actually an economic benefit to our country. It's true there is an initial economic cost we must bear to get them successfully settled and integrated, but over the long run, the short-term costs are overwhelmingly offset by the long-term economic benefits.

“One year after arrival: Syrian refugees continue to face employment barriers”

Globe and Mail, December 6, 2016Online

URL: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/syrian-refugees-facing-barriers-to-finding-work-one-year-after-arrival/article33204887/

Part of a series on refugee resettlement in Canada, this story from the Globe and Mail identifies the barriers to finding employment among the newly arrived refugees.

Why is immigration an issue in the provincial election?

Published by University of Manitoba Press

June 30, 2016

This short article appears in Understanding the 2016 Election in Manitoba, edited by Barry Ferguson, Royce Koop, Karine Lavasseur and Andrea Rounce. It explains why immigrants and immigration are important electoral constituencies, even in a provincial election.

URL: https://uofmpress.ca/books/detail/understanding-the-manitoba-election-2016

When it comes to migrant belonging and trust, it’s not about the Money, Money...: A comparison of Canada’s refugees and economic immigrants

Published by Canadian Diversity

December 30, 2016

This forthcoming article, co-authored with Jack Jedwab, examines the economic outcomes of refugees in Canada.

Values for Pluralistic Democratic Societies

Published by European Parliament and DG Educaton and Culture of the European Commission

February 14, 2001

This report, co-written with Yvonne Hebert, was commissioned by the European Union. In it, we describe citizenship education and curriculum in Canada. It was subsequently republished in French and Spanish

Understanding job status decline among newcomers to Canada

Published by Canadian Ethnic Studies/Études Ethniques au Canada Journal

December 22, 2016

This article uses data collected in 2013 to examine the degree to which immigrants and refugees experience a decline in their job status when they move to Canada. Many immigrants experience a decline in their labour market outcomes when they move to a new country and Canada is no exception.

Understanding job status decline among newcomers to Canada

Published by Canadian Ethnic Studies/Études Ethniques au Canada Journal

December 31, 2016

This article compares the job status decline among immigrants and refugees using their entrance class, province of residence and sex. Typically, all immigrants experience job status decline (the difference between the job they have in Canada and the job they had prior to migrating). The amount of decline is greatest for family class and refugees. There are sex and provincial differences. (article is forthcoming)

The School-to-Work Transitions of Newcomer Youth in Canada

Published by Canadian Ethnic Studies/Études Ethniques au Canada Journal

August 31, 2012

This paper examines the school to work transitions among a group of Canadians who arrived to Canada in their teens or as children. The prevailing notion is that those having acquired an education in Canada will have better labour market outcomes than those whose education comes from elsewhere. Our data shows this is not the case

The Persistence of Credentialism and Racism in Canada: The Long-Term Labour Market Experiences of Immigrant Youth

Published by Springer

June 30, 2017

Much of the research on the economic integration of immigrants focuses on the immediate and short-term experiences. This paper examines the long-term trajectories of immigrants in the Canadian labour market.

The mental health of immigrants and refugees in Canada

Published by Edward Edgar Publishers

This chapter, co-authored with David Ponka, which appears in the forthcoming (2017) book, Migration, Health and Survival: International Perspectives (edited by Frank Trovato), examines the unique mental health issues of immigrant children, refugee children, immigrant adults and refugee adults. It aims to debunk myths about refugees and mental health by using data from several sources.

The Citizenship Debates: Conceptual, Policy, Experiential and Educational Issues

Published by University of Toronto PRess

September 26, 2003

In this research, Dr Hebert and I explore how education can and does contribute to the development of citizenship and participation among youth in Canada.

Second generation youth in Canada, their mobilities and identifications: Relevance to citizenship education

Published by Brock Education Journal

2008 Based on narrative data recently collected from youth's in three Canadian cities, our paper focuses on second generation perceptions of youth's identifications in a society increasingly influenced by the forces of globalization and how these perceptions may or ...

URL: http://brock.scholarsportal.info/journals/brocked/home/article/view/101

Recent Trends in Migration to Third-Tier Centres in the Prairies

Published by Our Diverse Cities

July 19, 2006

Together with my graduate student, Alison Kalischuk, we explore the demographic trends of migration to Canada's smaller rural centres.

Meeting the Challenges of the New Century: Creating Common Values as Fundamental to Citizenship

Published by Canadian Issues-Thèmes Canadiens

April 29, 2011

This article questions how schools create curriculum to enhance values and citizenship education in Canada

Mainstream Adaptation or Underclass Absorption? The Integration Experiences of Refugee Youth in Canada

Published by International Cultural Research Network Press

July 17, 2002

This research examines aspects and markers of social integration among refugee youth in Canada.

Labor Market Transitions of Immigrant‐Born, Refugee‐Born, and Canadian‐Born Youth

Published by Canadian Review of Sociology

2008 This paper examines the labor market experiences of immigrant-born, refugee-born, and Canadian-born youth using two data sets, the 1998 Survey on Labour and Income Dynamics and the 1998 Refugee Resettlement to Alberta Survey. Its main objective is to understand their job experiences as they are crucial to their integration and transition to adulthood. On a practical level, the findings help front-line service providers by providing additional information about the employment-related needs of newcomer youth...

URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-618X.2008.00008.x/full

Immigration, Diversity and Minority Communities

Published by Oxford University Press

November 25, 1999

Co-authored with Morton Weinfeld, this chapter examines the social institutions and their work in integrating immigrants into the Canadian economy, culture and society.

Immigrant youth and employment: Lessons learned from the analysis of LSIC and 82 lived stories

Published by Journal of International Migration and Integration

January 31, 2012

This paper examines the lived experiences of 82 former immigrant and refugee adults currently living in Canada with a focus on their labour market histories. All have worked in Canada for decades and reflect on their experiences finding work, getting promoted and other aspects related to being an immigrant in the labour market.

Identity and Belonging in the Second Generation

Published by Oxford University Press

June 30, 2017

This paper uses data from the 2013 General Social Survey to examine generation status on experiences of discrimination and well-being among youth in Canada. It finds an interesting connection: youth who experience discrimination actually have higher rates of belonging to Canada... a connection I'm continuing to follow in my current research.

How does sociology help us understand and combat racism in Canada?

Published by Oxford University Press

June 30, 2017

This chapter is part of a book entitled Reading Sociology, edited by Patrizia Albanese and Lorne Tepperman. Here, I explore some of the most salient features of racism in Canada today.

How do migrants become Canadian citizens?

Published by Oxford University Press

June 30, 2017

This chapter is part of a forthcoming book called Questioning Sociology, edited by George Pavlich and Myra Hird. In it, I examine various aspects of the integration process.

Factors influencing the academic success of refugee youth in Canada

Published by Journal of Youth Studies

2002 This study examines the education experiences of refugee youth in Canada. Using data obtained from a random sample of 91 refugee youths between the ages of 15 and 21, plus data from 123 of their parents, the purpose of this study is to identify the factors influencing ...

URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13676260220134430

Examining Youth’s Perceptions of Safety, Fear, Inclusion and Exclusion in a Canadian City

Published by Nova Sciences

January 2, 2013

This chapter, co-written with Yvonne Hebert and Mehrunissa Ali, appears in Adolescent Behaviour. It uses photoscape to measure the feelings of inclusion and fear among first-, second- and third-generation high school students living in Calgary, Toronto and Winnipeg.

Educated and underemployed: Refugee integration into the Canadian labour market

Published by Journal of International Migration and Integration

2000 This study explores issues of access to high-status occupations in the Canadian labour market, with particular emphasis on refugees who were in professional or managerial positions prior to their arrival in Canada. The study is based on interviews with a sample of 525 adult refugees who were initially resettled in the province of Alberta between 1992 and 1997...

URL: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12134-000-1008-2

Does language, employment status and region of origin influence access to settlement services

Published by Canadian Diversity

October 31, 2016

This article, co-authored with four graduate students, identifies the factors that influence access to settlement services among immigrants and refugees in Canada.

Diversity and Democratic Values: Implications for Public Policy

Published by Peter Lang Publishing

July 13, 2006

This chapter, co-authored with Yvonne Hebert, looks at the link between social science curriculum and public policy on citizenship rights.

Are Human Rights Jeopardized in 21st Century Canada? A Sociological Examination of Immigration Policies Post- 9/11

Published by Fernwood

August 28, 2009

This research appears in Sandra Rollings-Magnusson's book Between Terrorism and Human Rights. In it, I examine the fine line between human rights and social cohesion.

Are Canadian-trained PhDs Disadvantaged in the Canadian Academic Labour Market? A Research Note

Published by Canadian Review of Sociology

October 31, 2013

This note examines the country of origin among sociology professors in Canadian universities in Canada.

Approaching Intersection: Individual Lives, Multiple Inequalities

Published by Fernwood

August 7, 2009

This chapter appears in Sean Hier, Daniel Lett and B. Singh Bolaria's book Racism, Identity and Justice: Dialogue on the Politics of Inequality and Change. It overviews the use of intersectional theory on understanding racism and identity formation in Canada.

A Matter of Need: Immigrants and use of Settlement Services in Western Canada

Published by Canadian Diversity

This article, co-authored with Jill Bucklaschuk and Janine Bramadat, explores the use of settlement services among immigrants and refugees living in western Canada.

Advancing a perspective on the intersections of diversity: Challenges for research and social policy

Published by Canadian Ethnic Studies Journal

2003 The influence of intersecting identity markers on the life chances of individuals has become a central concern to policymakers and academics. Governing bodies and various social institutions have a vested interest in accommodating ...

URL: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA116860849&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=fulltext&issn=00083496&p=AONE&sw=w

Biography

Lori Wilkinson's research agenda focuses on the integration and resettlement of refugees and immigrants. Her latest projects focus on refugees and their long-term labour market outcomes, along with the educational trajectories of refugee children and youth. She has also examined how immigrants use settlement services and in identifying the newcomers who need but cannot access services. Another project focuses on the long-term labour market trajectories of those arriving to Canada as children or teens. The rationale is that although we know much about the arrival experiences of adults in the labour market, very little is known about long-term labour market outcomes among those who have had some exposure to the Canadian education system. Other areas of interest include the health outcomes of newcomer children and youth and labour market transitions of immigrant women. Wilkinson has good statistical and qualitative training and has assisted in a variety of projects, including a study of the non-fracture needs of hospitalized Winnipeggers, bullying and victimization experiences of newcomer youth.

Recognition/Reconnaissance

Visiting Research Fellow | Professional

Visiting Research Fellow, Refugee Studies Centre, The University of Oxford, Oxford UK January to May 2004

Shastri Indo-Canadian Fellowship | Professional

Shastri Indo-Canadian Fellowship, Visiting Professor Department of Sociology, Jadavpur University, India January to May 2015

Professor of the Year | Professional

Professor of the Year, Faculty of Arts, U of M September 2008

Additional Titles and Affiliations

Editor Journal of International Migration and Integration

Director Immigration Research West

Expertise

  • Youth and School-To-Work Transitions
  • Settlement
  • Refugees and resettlement
  • Race and Ethnic Relations
  • Multiculturalism and integration
  • Integration
  • Immigration and Ethnicity
  • Academic Integrity
  • Research Methods

Education/Éducation

  • University of Saskatchewan
    Sociology
    M.A., 1996
  • University of Saskatchewan
    Sociology
    B.A., 1994
  • University of Alberta
    Sociology
    Ph.D., 2001