Before Official Multiculturalism, Women�s Pluralism in Toronto; 1950s-1970s

Author

Iacovetta; Franca

Year

2022

Publisher

University of Toronto Press

Language

English

Pages

ISBN

978-1-48754-563-5

Link

Last Update

17-Feb-2026

Keywords

History ; Education ; Feminist & Women's Studies ; Sociology

Description

For almost two decades before Canada adopted multiculturalism as an official policy in 1971, the International Institute of Metropolitan Toronto was actively promoting pluralism as a city- and nation-building project. Both a social welfare agency and a socio-cultural organization, the Institute applied what were later called multicultural approaches in its immigrant counselling and casework. Women played key roles in the Institute as leaders, community organizers, and front-line social workers. They comprised a significant proportion of its diverse immigrant clientele and its ethnically mixed membership. During the multi-ethnic festivals that the Institute mounted with its allies and collaborators, women performed on...