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Fostering Healthy Sight in Canada: Focus on Culturally Diverse Groups

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Fostering Healthy Sight in Canada: Focus on Culturally Diverse Groups Fostering Healthy Sight in Canada: Focus on Culturally Diverse Groups CONSENSUS FROM ROUNDTABLE CONTRIBUTORS Vi Tu Banh, O.D. Trevor Ludski, B.A., M.Ed. Uxbridge, ON Markham, ON Michael Kaplan, O.D. Richard Winn, Optician Toronto, ON Yellowknife, NT Upen Kawale, O.D. Wael Yassein, Optician Toronto, ON Oshawa, ON OVERVIEW UNderStaNDING DIverSE Ethnic minorities in Canada are quickly becoming the During discussion, participants identified several PopulatIONS IN CANada The majority of South Asians live in Ontario or British majority. In fact, by the year 2031, visible minorities strategies for overcoming challenges, including treating This section overviews the content presented during 1 Columbia, specifically the Toronto and Vancouver areas. alone will make up 32 percent of all Canadians. As the each patient as a person rather than as a minority; individual presentations. face of the nation continues to change, more eyecare showing respect for individual cultures; increasing From 2001 to 2031, the South Asian population in Toronto is expected to climb from 11 to 24 percent. professionals are experiencing a culturally diverse patient cultural sensitivity through staff training; and creating FOCUS ON ASIAN CANADIANS: base with unique vision care and communication needs. a welcoming environment by hiring a multilingual Spotlight on Chinese and South Asian Populations staff or by making available multilingual or Chinese Canadians1 Chinese Canadians are a close second to the South Seeking to provide insights for eyecare professionals in-language materials. A GrowING DemoGrapHIC Asian population in terms of current numbers – but not and to help guide its multicultural efforts in Canada, Asian Canadians make up the largest demographic in growth. Today, they make up 24 percent of Canada’s Transitions Optical, Inc. brought together a panel of Participants also identified a need for all eyecare group in Canada – comprising 66 percent of the country’s visible minority population and close to 4 percent of experts for a roundtable discussion on May 3, 2010, professionals to become more “culturally aware”– taking visible minority population and 11 percent of the in Toronto, Ontario – where more than 63 percent of the time to understand the health needs and risks for each overall population.2 residents are expected to belong to a visible minority by demographic, as well as where their patients are coming % of Canada’s 1 Asian Canadian 2031. During the event, participants identified the needs from and how to improve communication. Participants In 2006, 2.5 million Canadians reported being of Asian Visible Minority Subgroups of the country’s largest ethnic minority populations, expressed a need for increased diversity among optical ethnicity. By 2031, this number is expected to reach Population and explored strategies for delivering more culturally professionals, and stressed the importance of promoting 1 a staggering 7.1 million – making targeting Asian South Asians 24.9% appropriate vision care. cultural sensitivity training in the workplace. Canadians a smart business consideration for Chinese 24.0% eyecare professionals. The roundtable featured in-depth presentations on the This consensus paper overviews the content presented Filipinos 8.1% eye- and overall-health needs, along with cultural and during the roundtable and captures subsequent Southeast Asians 4.7% linguistic considerations, for three demographic groups: discussions. After reading this consensus paper, you will Koreans 2.8% Asian Canadians (with a focus on Chinese and South have a better understanding of: Japanese 1.6% Asian populations), African Canadians and Aboriginal peoples (including First Nations, Métis and Inuit 1. The eye health- and communication-needs Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 populations). Under Canada’s Employment Equity Act, of the largest demographic groups in Canada, Asian Canadians and African Canadians are considered including Asian Canadians, African Canadians The spending power of Chinese visible minorities. While the Aboriginal population is and Aboriginal populations. not considered a visible minority, this group is large and South Asian Canadians and growing. 2. Strategies for promoting culturally appropriate vision care within your own practice. exceeds $40 billion per year. Presentations were delivered by eyecare professionals with experience serving these three demographics in Canada’s overall population. The Chinese subgroup is expected to grow in size from 1.2 million to between 2.4 their practice. The roundtable was also attended by an By 2031… education consultant and former school superintendent, and 3.0 million by 2031 – making up - Visible minority groups will comprise 63% who provided insights into educational priorities and 21 percent of the visible minority of the population in Toronto; 59% in Vancouver; strategies for reaching ethnic children and their parents population. and 31% in Montreal. about the importance of regular vision care and the - Half of Canada’s visible minority population proper eyewear options to protect and enhance The term “Asian Canadian” is broad, and encompasses This anticipated decline will be Asian Canadian. their vision. several different subgroups. The two largest are the from 24 to 21 percent is - The African Canadian population will South Asians and Chinese. Other groups include Filipinos, attributed to low fertility double in size. Participants addressed the numerous challenges faced Southeast Asians (including Vietnamese, Cambodian, rates among Chinese - Nearly half of Canadians 15 and older will by specific groups to receive quality vision care and Malaysian and Laotian), Koreans and Japanese. women, along with be foreign-born, or will have at least one vision wear. The most significant and consistent challenge higher emigration foreign-born parent. 1 identified was the higher incidence of eye and systemic South Asians rates. Despite this, the - Up to 32% of Canadians will have a mother diseases among these groups, paired with their lower South Asians – including East Indian, Pakistani and Sri Chinese population tongue other than English or French. awareness of the need for preventative care. Unique Lankan populations – make up 25 percent of Canada’s will remain large over cultural characteristics and barriers to receiving adequate visible minority population and 4 percent of Canada’s the next several decades care were also addressed for each population. overall population. In 2006, this group numbered 1.3 and will continue million, and by 2031, it will number between 3.2 and 4.1 to make up a million – or 28 percent of the visible minority population. significant 2 3 OVERVIEW UNderStaNDING DIverSE Ethnic minorities in Canada are quickly becoming the During discussion, participants identified several PopulatIONS IN CANada The majority of South Asians live in Ontario or British majority. In fact, by the year 2031, visible minorities strategies for overcoming challenges, including treating This section overviews the content presented during 1 Columbia, specifically the Toronto and Vancouver areas. alone will make up 32 percent of all Canadians. As the each patient as a person rather than as a minority; individual presentations. face of the nation continues to change, more eyecare showing respect for individual cultures; increasing From 2001 to 2031, the South Asian population in Toronto is expected to climb from 11 to 24 percent. professionals are experiencing a culturally diverse patient cultural sensitivity through staff training; and creating FOCUS ON ASIAN CANADIANS: base with unique vision care and communication needs. a welcoming environment by hiring a multilingual Spotlight on Chinese and South Asian Populations staff or by making available multilingual or Chinese Canadians1 Chinese Canadians are a close second to the South Seeking to provide insights for eyecare professionals in-language materials. A GrowING DemoGrapHIC Asian population in terms of current numbers – but not and to help guide its multicultural efforts in Canada, Asian Canadians make up the largest demographic in growth. Today, they make up 24 percent of Canada’s Transitions Optical, Inc. brought together a panel of Participants also identified a need for all eyecare group in Canada – comprising 66 percent of the country’s visible minority population and close to 4 percent of experts for a roundtable discussion on May 3, 2010, professionals to become more “culturally aware”– taking visible minority population and 11 percent of the in Toronto, Ontario – where more than 63 percent of the time to understand the health needs and risks for each overall population.2 residents are expected to belong to a visible minority by demographic, as well as where their patients are coming % of Canada’s 1 Asian Canadian 2031. During the event, participants identified the needs from and how to improve communication. Participants In 2006, 2.5 million Canadians reported being of Asian Visible Minority Subgroups of the country’s largest ethnic minority populations, expressed a need for increased diversity among optical ethnicity. By 2031, this number is expected to reach Population and explored strategies for delivering more culturally professionals, and stressed the importance of promoting 1 a staggering 7.1 million – making targeting Asian South Asians 24.9% appropriate vision care. cultural sensitivity training in the workplace. Canadians a smart business consideration for Chinese 24.0% eyecare professionals. The roundtable featured in-depth
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