Video: Yvonne Bobb
Video
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Video
Audio
Activities
LOOK
Look closely at this video excerpt. What are some of the push and pull factors that caused women to migrate from the Caribbean?
THINK
Think about the young Caribbean women who were planning to live in a new country. What supports do you think they might have benefited from upon arrival to Canada to help them transition to a new country?
DO
Read the following newspaper article. List five ways women connected to the domestic scheme experienced racism and other barriers to their success.
Black women have arrived in Canada from numerous other countries at different times in recent history. For example, Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. What are some of the other immigration influxes you can find and explore?
Details
Date 2023
Materials - Film
Historical Context
Choose one of the three levels below to match your needs.
- This is a video excerpt about the West Indian Domestic Scheme.
Between 1955 and 1967, a government program encouraged young Caribbean women to migrate to Canada and take jobs as domestic workers. - After a year in the program, the women could look for jobs in other fields and apply to bring family members to Canada.
- Often the women worked long hours, were underpaid, and had little independence.
- To deal with the loneliness and create a sense of community, they would often meet with other young women in the program on their days off.
This is a video excerpt about the West Indian Domestic Scheme.
Between 1955 and 1967, the West Indian Domestic Scheme brought approximately 3,000 women to Canada from English-speaking Caribbean countries to help meet the demand for domestic labour.
After a year of employment as a domestic worker, women who successfully completed the program could look for jobs in other fields and sponsor family members to immigrate to Canada.
Many of the women were highly educated and committed to creating a better life for themselves, but many were exploited under the scheme. They worked long hours, had little independence, and were often underpaid.
To deal with the loneliness and culture shock, they created a sense of community by spending their days off with other young women in the program.
This is a video excerpt about the West Indian Domestic Scheme.
Between 1955 and 1967, the West Indian Domestic Scheme brought approximately 3,000 women to Canada from English-speaking Caribbean countries to help meet the demand for domestic labour.
After one year of employment as a domestic worker, women who successfully completed the program — many of whom were highly educated and committed to creating a better life for themselves — were permitted to look for jobs in other fields and sponsor family members to immigrate to Canada. After five years in Canada, the women were eligible for Canadian citizenship.
Many women were exploited under this scheme. The scope of work included living in the employer’s house, cleaning, and taking care of children. They had little independence, worked long hours, were often underpaid, and always faced the threat of deportation.
To deal with the loneliness and culture shock, these women looked for ways to create community and share resources. They often spent their days off with other young Black women in the program. With little money to spend on leisure, these women would hang out on days off and sometimes go to a movie as a treat.
- This is a video excerpt about the West Indian Domestic Scheme.
Between 1955 and 1967, a government program encouraged young Caribbean women to migrate to Canada and take jobs as domestic workers. - After a year in the program, the women could look for jobs in other fields and apply to bring family members to Canada.
- Often the women worked long hours, were underpaid, and had little independence.
- To deal with the loneliness and create a sense of community, they would often meet with other young women in the program on their days off.
This is a video excerpt about the West Indian Domestic Scheme.
Between 1955 and 1967, the West Indian Domestic Scheme brought approximately 3,000 women to Canada from English-speaking Caribbean countries to help meet the demand for domestic labour.
After a year of employment as a domestic worker, women who successfully completed the program could look for jobs in other fields and sponsor family members to immigrate to Canada.
Many of the women were highly educated and committed to creating a better life for themselves, but many were exploited under the scheme. They worked long hours, had little independence, and were often underpaid.
To deal with the loneliness and culture shock, they created a sense of community by spending their days off with other young women in the program.
This is a video excerpt about the West Indian Domestic Scheme.
Between 1955 and 1967, the West Indian Domestic Scheme brought approximately 3,000 women to Canada from English-speaking Caribbean countries to help meet the demand for domestic labour.
After one year of employment as a domestic worker, women who successfully completed the program — many of whom were highly educated and committed to creating a better life for themselves — were permitted to look for jobs in other fields and sponsor family members to immigrate to Canada. After five years in Canada, the women were eligible for Canadian citizenship.
Many women were exploited under this scheme. The scope of work included living in the employer’s house, cleaning, and taking care of children. They had little independence, worked long hours, were often underpaid, and always faced the threat of deportation.
To deal with the loneliness and culture shock, these women looked for ways to create community and share resources. They often spent their days off with other young Black women in the program. With little money to spend on leisure, these women would hang out on days off and sometimes go to a movie as a treat.
Summary
- This is a video excerpt about the West Indian Domestic Scheme.
Between 1955 and 1967, a government program encouraged young Caribbean women to migrate to Canada and take jobs as domestic workers. - After a year in the program, the women could look for jobs in other fields and apply to bring family members to Canada.
- Often the women worked long hours, were underpaid, and had little independence.
- To deal with the loneliness and create a sense of community, they would often meet with other young women in the program on their days off.
Essential
This is a video excerpt about the West Indian Domestic Scheme.
Between 1955 and 1967, the West Indian Domestic Scheme brought approximately 3,000 women to Canada from English-speaking Caribbean countries to help meet the demand for domestic labour.
After a year of employment as a domestic worker, women who successfully completed the program could look for jobs in other fields and sponsor family members to immigrate to Canada.
Many of the women were highly educated and committed to creating a better life for themselves, but many were exploited under the scheme. They worked long hours, had little independence, and were often underpaid.
To deal with the loneliness and culture shock, they created a sense of community by spending their days off with other young women in the program.
In-Depth
This is a video excerpt about the West Indian Domestic Scheme.
Between 1955 and 1967, the West Indian Domestic Scheme brought approximately 3,000 women to Canada from English-speaking Caribbean countries to help meet the demand for domestic labour.
After one year of employment as a domestic worker, women who successfully completed the program — many of whom were highly educated and committed to creating a better life for themselves — were permitted to look for jobs in other fields and sponsor family members to immigrate to Canada. After five years in Canada, the women were eligible for Canadian citizenship.
Many women were exploited under this scheme. The scope of work included living in the employer’s house, cleaning, and taking care of children. They had little independence, worked long hours, were often underpaid, and always faced the threat of deportation.
To deal with the loneliness and culture shock, these women looked for ways to create community and share resources. They often spent their days off with other young Black women in the program. With little money to spend on leisure, these women would hang out on days off and sometimes go to a movie as a treat.