This book experience addresses this gap in the historiography of Canadian Immigration. From the tentative steps taken by the pre-confederation colonies to provide for the needs of arriving immigrants, often sick and destitute, through the provision of accommodation and free land to settlers of a century ago, to today?s multi-faceted settlement program, this book traces a fascinating history that provides an important context to today?s policies and practices. It also serves to remind us that those who preceded us did, indeed, care for immigrants and did much to make them feel welcome in Canada. The Canadian experience in integration, over the past two centuries, suggests many policy-related research themes for further exploration both in Canada and in other immigrant receiving countries.