This book is the first of two volumes that not only delves into a broad array of critical theories in contemporary social work education but also offers practical social work practice steps of applying these theories to practice with diverse populations.

There has been a steady increase in immigration to Canada which has necessitated advanced ways of working with the complex issues faced by these immigrants. The situations have become more urgent after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's reports and its findings that heavily indicts social work in Canada. In addition, the murder of George Floyd in the United States heightened racial tensions in Canada and the US. These events as well as the increasing presence of racialized immigrants in Canada have increased demands on social work education to offer critical theoretical and practical insights about the most effective ways to work with diverse populations. This book uniquely meets this need.

Vol. 1, with a focus on theoretical foundations, presents chapters discussing theories on immigration, diversity, white supremacy, cultural competency, identity, antiracism, decolonization, Indigenous knowledge, linguistic minority and queer populations. The chapters encourage students and practitioners to critically think beyond conventional understanding of multiculturalism, diversity, inclusion and Indigeneity and bring new perspectives in analyzing and unpacking the dominant narratives on them. Undergraduate and graduate social work programs as well as other post-secondary programs that have components of working with multicultural populations will benefit by the understanding of these theoretical foundations for practice.

Critical Multicultural Social Work in Canada, Vol. 1: Theoretical Foundations presents a critical theory that applies to social work, with examples and references to the Canadian context, and which advances the discussion of social work with diverse communities from conventional approaches to radical and critical paradigms. It significantly contributes to the theoretical understanding of critical social work theories and diversity. This textbook is intended for undergraduate and graduate social work programs and intercultural studies programs in Canada. It also serves students in social sciences and humanities programs such as nursing, correctional services, management, public health, and child and youth work. Furthermore, the volume would be of interest to social work practitioners and other helping professionals in Canada.

Baiju P. Vareed, PhD, MSW, RSW (he/his), is an Associate Professor and Director of the School of Social Work at MacEwan University, Edmonton, Canada. Before joining MacEwan, he taught social work at Red Deer College, Alberta and at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, India. Baiju holds a doctorate in social work and a master’s in social work, sociology, and economics. He has over twenty-five years of experience in social work practice and teaching in Canada and India. Baiju published a book titled NGOs and Participatory Development in India. He has published several peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and presented at various national and international conferences. Baiju’s scholarly works focus on critical social work, immigration, community engagement and post-colonialism.

Paul Banahene Adjei, PhD, MSW, RSW, is a Professor and the Interim Associate Vice-President (Indigenous Research) at Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada. He was previously the Dean of the School of Social Work, Memorial University. Paul received his undergraduate degree in Social Work from the University of Ghana, and his Master's and PhD degrees from the University of Toronto, specializing in Social Justice Education. Dr. Adjei has secured several funding and published over 37 refereed essays in scholarly journals and book chapters, and co-edited book publications. He has presented over 90 papers at national and international conferences; featured in several newspapers, radio and television programs in Canada. He has demonstrated the ability to teach across the social work curricula, having taught a total of 11 different social work courses 44 times at BSW, MSW, and PhD levels. He has supervised and mentored to completion of five PhD dissertations and nine master's theses. In 2021, Dr Adjei was offered the Carnegie Diaspora Fellow/Visiting Scholar award at the University of Ghana. In 2022, he was honoured as one of the Most Inspiring Immigrants in Atlantic Canada, and in 2023 was awarded the Black Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement by the Coalition of Black Communities in Newfoundland and Labrador, and in 2024 was awarded the Carnegie Diaspora Fellow for the University of Ghana.

Hellen Gateri, PhD, MSW, RSW, is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her research centers on the experiences of immigrants and refugees, reflecting her commitment to enhancing their well-being and facilitating their economic integration into Canadian society. By focusing on health care equity and the relevant policy dimensions affecting these populations, she advocates for a more inclusive society. Dr. Gateri aspires to engage in interdisciplinary scholarship aimed at improving access to health care and social services for women, children, and families throughout Canada. Her scholarly contributions are evidenced by her numerous academic peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and reports, which collectively underscore the significant impact of her work in this field.