Refugee claims are made at Canadian border points or airports.  Many Somali refugees have arrived in Canada via Fort Erie, United States. Also, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver airports have been major ports of entry.   

The history of  the Somali community in Canada goes back to the late 1970's. However, it was not until the early 1980's when the community started to grow. Until then Somalis were able to organize themselves informally.  

As the community grew, it become apparent that there was a need for a kind of community organization to help with the settlement of the growing number of refugees and newcomers from Somalia. For this reason, many community organizations started as a working group to facilitate awareness of refugee needs, promote understanding of the impact of domestic law, practice of refugee relief and encourage direct services to Somali refugees.  In March 1987, a series of meetings were held in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and in many other cities to discuss the needs of the community. Out of these meetings many Somali community organizations were created.  
  
Until 1990 there were fewer than 25,000 Somalis in Canada, the great majority of them in the greater Toronto area and the majority of these had arrived in the 1980s.   

Somalis are one of the largest immigrant communities in Canada, with the majority living in the Metropolitan Toronto area. Currently the approximate number of Somalis is estimated to be 80,000 across Canada, of  which  60,000  are living in Ontario, with the majority in the  Metropolitan Toronto area, as confirmed by a number of agencies and organizations serving this community.  It is estimated that 80% of this number are refugees. 

Table 1. Landing in Metro Toronto of persons born in Somalia by Immigrant class 1  

	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	Total
Total	1127	2114	1586	685	1026	424	6962
Family	6.3%	12.2%	34.2%	59.9%	47.1%	52.4%	28.5%
Refugee	92.7%	84.0%	62.5%	37.4%	51.3%	38.7%	68.3%
Independent	1.0%	3.9%	3.2%	2.8%	1.5%	6.4%	2.9%
Other	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.2%	2.6%	0.2%

        Whereas refugees clearly accounted for the majority of entrants in the early part of period, on average, it is clear that the overall numbers declined substantially over the period, and that shifts to family reunification had began by 1993-94. The negligible proportions in the classes of independent and other immigrants speak to the reality that few Somalis were either interested in or qualified for those classes.  

Table 2. Landings in Metro Toronto of persons born in Somalia by Education  

	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	Total
Total	1127	2114	1586	685	1026	424	6962
Secondary School or less	78.3%	80.8%	87.4%	87.4%	90.0%	90.1%	84.5%
Some post-Secondary	13.4%	12.2%	7.9%	8.2%	6.2%	6.4%	9.8%
One or more Graduate degree	8.3%	7.0%	4.6%	4.4%	5.7%	3.5%	5.7%

  
        Similarly, this data confirm the impressions of key members in the community, who have a sense of the more recent immigration, both of refugees and of family class to Canadian society.  Moreover, in each year, a significant minority of entrants will have had no formal education.  

        As expected, immigrants landing at Toronto are much more likely to speak English than French.  It should also be noted that, although nearly half or more claim some fluency throughout the period, this may be limited to a year or two of English language training at the primary or secondary school level.  However, among those with one or more graduate degree are individuals who have had all or most of their post-secondary training in Europe or North America --frequently the US, Italy or Scandinavian countries, and who will have scientific publications in English on their curriculum vitae. The other observation that should be made from this data in the increasing  proportion who have no capacity in either official language.  

        In the early 1990s, the majority of Somalis who have arrived in Canada are in the early working years of their lives.   This is consistent with observations of some of our key community leaders of much more significant issues relating to the accommodation of seniors. The social isolation to which the older generation will inevitably be subject, given limitations on language training, and their lack of independent income, raises very significant concerns for family members who already live under incredible pressures in maintaining their immediate families.  Moreover, the relatively high rates of unemployment for this immigrant group, seem to be particularly marked in the 41 to 60 age group. 

Table 3 Landings in Metro Toronto of persons born in Somalia by Official Language Capacity  

	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	Total
Total	1127	2114	1586	685	1026	424	6962
English	72%	80.0%	62.7%	41.6%	54.8%	46.9%	65.3%
French	0.3%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.1%	0.0%	0.1%
Bilingual	0.3%	0.4%	0.3%	0.1%	0.0%	0.0%	0.2%
No official Language Capacity	27.4%	19.5%	36.9%	58.2%	45.0%	53.1%	34.4%

        

 Table 4. Landings in Metro Toronto of persons born in Somalia by Age Group   

	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	Total
Total	1127	2114	1586	685	1026	424	6962
0-20 years	22.0%	33.7%	47.0%	65.1%	44.2%	47.9%	38.9%
21-40 years	70.9%	60.5%	44.2%	23.8%	41.8%	37.7%	52.1%
41-60 years	6.7%	4.6%	6.0%	8.5%	9.8%	9.7%	6.7%
61+ years	70	60.5%	44.2%	23.8%	41.8%	37.7%	52.1%

         
   Finally, the preponderance of males in the early years of the immigration, and among those designated as convention refugees, is consistent with the observations of key informants, as well as with trends in refugee inflows from elsewhere in the world. Toward the end of the period, it should be noted that the proportions have levelled off, consistent both with the entry of more family class immigrants, and the reunification of families from other refugee intake points elsewhere in the world.  

        In sum, it seems fair to describe the Somali immigration over the past 10 years as one of predominantly younger working age population. While their language capacity and educational attainments leave many of them at some disadvantage in Canadian society, the great majority of the population is eager, resourceful, and with minimal support, are making a remarkably successful transition to urban Canadian life.  
  

Table 5. Landings in Metro Toronto of persons born in Somalia by Gender 5.  

	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	Total
Total	1127	2114	1586	685	1026	424	6962
Male	64.3%	57.5%	45.1%	48.5%	47.2%	47.9%	52.8%
Female	37.5%	42.5%	54.9%	51.5%	52.8%	52.1%	47.2%

      
     A number of social trends suggest that, whereas the character of the early newcomers was relatively homogeneous and generally required less in the way of settlement support, more recent arrivals have more diverse backgrounds, and are much more likely to be less fluent in English or French and to have less formal educational qualifications than those who arrived even five years earlier. 

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Compiled from data prepared by Research & Data Group, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship, Culture & Recreation. All of this material is printed in the "Needs Assessment for the Somali Immigrant Aid Organization" document, September 21, 1997