Immigration and the Racialization of Work | 

Lesson 6

87

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Intermediate ETFO Resource

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Learning from Labour

Task Component

Instruction

Assessment Focus 
Look Fors

Notes for Teachers

Differentiation

(Modifications/ 
Extensions)

During

Groups of three can all be assigned 
the same immigrant group instead 
of working on separate groups. 
Students in these modified 
groupings would therefore only 
be responsible for completing a 
third of the Life of the Immigrant 
Worker comparison worksheet.

Individual Practice

Students can be asked to write 
a limited number of workplace 
concerns and corresponding 
workplace improvements.. 
Alternatively, they can be 
prompted by the teacher to 
formulate demands in specific 
categories: (i.e. housing, health 
benefits, pay, etc.)

Reflection

Ask students to answer the following questions in their journals: “Is there evidence that the racialization of 
work still exists in present-day Canadian workplaces?” and “Are some ethnic and racial groups still over- or 
under-represented in some types of work?”

The racialization of work will most likely be a new expression for most students, however the notion that 
certain ethnic or racial groups were suitable or unsuitable for certain types of work was widespread in Canada 
during this period in history. As a result immigrants were relegated to lowest status jobs and faced the 
harshest conditions.

Next Steps

Research the work that unions are doing today to combat racism and discrimination by visiting websites such 
as The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists: http://cbtu.ca/ or the Aboriginal Iron Workers website: http://
www.aboriginalironworkers.ca/.

POST-LESSON TEACHER REFLECTION

*

 Please jot down notes throughout the observation.