Research Report: Immigrant Experiences in Leeds and Grenville

Brockville – The St. Lawrence Rideau Immigration Partnership has released their research report “Immigrant Experiences in Leeds and Grenville: Examining Social, Economic, and Cultural Inclusion, 2025.”

This report presents the findings of a 2024-2025 community-based research project conducted to better understand immigrant experiences in Leeds and Grenville, identify gaps and barriers to services and programs, and learn what makes Leeds and Grenville attractive to newcomers. The research results are intended to guide and improve services and the living experiences of immigrants in the region.

The research project involved an immigrant survey as well as a survey of local employers. The survey questions were adopted from a 2023 project with 12 Local Immigration Partnerships across Canada who partnered with the Research Shop, part of the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute at the University of Guelph. The survey questions were modified for distribution in Leeds and Grenville and approved by the Algonquin College Research Ethics Board. Survey responses were supplemented by a series of 90-minute focus groups to provide participants with an opportunity for in-depth discussion of their experiences of moving to and settling in Leeds and Grenville.

Drawing on Statistics Canada Census data, the Community Data Program’s Immigration Profiles, community surveys and focus groups of local immigrants and businesses, this report sheds light on the social, economic, and cultural inclusion experiences of Leeds and Grenville’s immigrant population. The report can be used to guide further research and inform policy and service provision and other planning efforts within the St. Lawrence Rideau Local Immigration Partnership catchment area.

Information gathered from the immigrant survey and focus groups speaks to the diversity of the experiences of Leeds and Grenville’s immigrant population. Many of the findings were positive. The majority of respondents felt a sense of belonging and felt safe in their communities; would recommend Leeds and Grenville as a place to live for immigrants; and felt they were likely to stay in Leeds and Grenville into the future. Yet, the survey also shed light on difficulties immigrants face.

Leeds and Grenville has many attributes that make it a potentially attractive destination for immigrants, compared to large urban centres, including a slower pace of life, peace and quiet, a proximity to nature, a sense of safety, and a lower cost of living. Yet, for immigrants to stay in the region long term, they must feel included, welcomed, and have a sense of belonging in their communities.

-Loretta Corbeil, BA and Matthew Corbeil, PhD, “Immigrant Experience in Leeds and Grenville: Examining Social, Economic, and Cultural Inclusion, Research Report, 2025“