Creating a Sense of Place for Iranian Immigrants in Canada

Abstract

Immigration is a life-changing decision accompanied by new experiences for individuals. Depending on background, this experience can be varied from one to another and can influence the experience of sense of place in the new environment. This thesis contributes to this area of inquiry by applying a case study approach to examine Iranian immigrants’ lived experiences and their sense of place in Toronto, Canada and to find out how Iranian community organizations play a role in the making of a sense of place for these immigrants. The research conducted in-depth interviews with Iranian immigrants who moved to Canada between 2005 and 2015 and found that factors such as age, prior experiences in the home country, personal traits, and family relations are all involved in how one settles in and the inclination to join a community organization. This work also found that these organizations need to perform better to satisfy their community.