| Summary: | === The Maple Bamboo Initiative is a pilot project initiated by the Multicultural Helping House in Vancouver,
BC. In the spring, summer and fall of 2007, the two-part initiative focused on training new immigrants
about Canadian public processes and increasing local host agencies’ capacities to create volunteer
opportunities for trainees in host organizations. Building Canadian immigrant capacity is central to
increasing immigrants’ representation on local boards, advisory councils, at public forums and in
mainstream public processes. At the same time, mainstream organizations must increase their capacity to
include active immigrant involvement in order to achieve a more diverse and representative
organizational composition. This research report draws on Canadian federal, provincial and local
multicultural policy to situate the Maple Bamboo Initiative as a study of active multiculturalism in which a
locally based pilot project strengthens immigrant participation on civic issues important to them. The
research investigates two case studies, abcGTA in Toronto and Community Visions in Vancouver, and
applies lessons in good practice to the Maple Bamboo Initiative. Qualitative interview findings of
participants’ experiences of the pilot project form the basis of program and policy recommendations that
conclude the report. Tools such as questionnaires to measure outcomes for sustainable program
development are included in the report’s appendices for use by MHHS and other interested agencies.
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