From: The Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples/Swiss/Art Grenke
The Swiss community in Canada has always been essentially an immigrant one, in part because of the nature of Swiss settlement. After World War II especially, many of the Swiss who came to Canada left again when the job situation in this country deteriorated. Since the Swiss are composed primarily of three linguistic communities, immigrants have tended to settle with and be integrated into the larger French, German, or Italian groups in Canada and to have become members of churches that share their linguistic background. However, Swiss clubs have served to celebrate and perpetuate the traditions of the different language communities in Switzerland, and they have also cooperated in observing common traditions. These events are essentially of a nostalgic nature, serving to reconstruct events and activities that the new arrivals recall fondly.
The children of Swiss immigrants, although they may remain aware of their roots, are likely to be integrated into either of Canada’s two predominant linguistic communities, depending on their own origins or where they settle. French-speaking Swiss tend to be absorbed into the larger French-speaking society, in particular if they live in Quebec. Other Swiss generally lose their mother tongue by the second generation and are assimilated into English-speaking Canadian society. The immigrant generation, while associating with the larger language communities of their background, whether German, French, or Italian, nevertheless remain aware of their Swiss origins. But their children as a rule learn only the language of the immediate community into which they assimilate. Shame or a wish to rid themselves of their heritage is seldom a motivating factor. Rather, integration is seen as a natural part of a process that began with emigration.
Coming from a multilingual society and often speaking several languages themselves, Swiss immigrants do not draw the same close link between language and community that tends to exist among some other groups, in particular those who see their culture threatened in the homeland. Thus a major factor that motivates many European communities in Canada to preserve their heritage has little influence among the Swiss. For Canadian-born Swiss, finding a marriage partner or a job in the broader community is easier than maintaining a lifestyle based on the parental heritage brought from the homeland.
An increasing number of Swiss immigrants, in particular those who came to Canada to employ their business or technical skills, view their stay in this country as simply a part of their career. Emigration statistics indicate that such individuals do not establish deep roots in Canada. Instead, when economic circumstances alter, they readily return to the homeland. Switzerland’s educational system, with its emphasis on language acquisition, means that many are able to function effectively in this country in both official languages. Moreover, generally favourable conditions in the homeland since World War II have made it easy for them to leave and return. This process is abetted by the industrial branch plants established by the Swiss in Canada, which provide the opportunity of mobility for individuals pursuing a career.
Transatlantic migration is likely to increase rather than decrease as new technologies lessen travel time and costs between Canada and Europe and as this country becomes ever more integrated into the international economy. The Swiss-Canadian community as such will more and more consist of migrants who may spend some time in Canada and perhaps in the United States but will retain their most meaningful ties with the homeland. The Swiss government, through links with its citizens abroad, encourages this trend. Other Swiss, again, will choose to leave Europe behind and become fully assimilated into Canadian society, a pattern that serves to strengthen what has always been an essentially immigrant community in Canada.
