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 South Asian ancestry % by census division in Canada (2021) | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
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| Regions with significant populations | |
| Southern Ontario,Southwestern BC,Central Alberta,Southern Quebec,Most urban areas | |
| Languages | |
| Religion | |
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| Related ethnic groups | |
South Asian Canadians are Canadians who were either born in or can trace theirancestry toSouth Asia or theIndian subcontinent, which includes the nations ofIndia,Pakistan,Bangladesh,Nepal,Bhutan,Sri Lanka, and theMaldives.[3] The term also includes immigrants fromSouth Asian communities inEast and South Africa,Guyana,Trinidad and Tobago,Fiji,Mauritius, and the rest of the world.[4]
The term South Asian Canadian is a subgroup ofAsian Canadian and, according toStatistics Canada, can further be divided by nationality, such asIndian Canadian,Pakistani Canadian, andBangladeshi Canadian.[5] As of 2021, South Asians (7.1 percent) comprise the second largestpan-ethnic group in Canada afterEuropeans (69.8 percent).[1][6]
According to the2021 Canadian census, 2,571,400 Canadians had South Asian geographical origins, constituting approximately 7.1 percent of the total population and 35.1 percent of the totalAsian Canadian population.[1] This makes them the largestvisible minority group in Canada comprising 26.7 percent of the visible minority population, followed byChinese andBlack Canadians respectively.[1]
The largest South Asian Canadian communities are found in the provinces ofOntario,British Columbia andAlberta, whilemetropolitan areas with large populations includeToronto (1,182,485),Vancouver (369,295),Calgary (153,200),Edmonton (123,340), andMontréal (121,260).[1] Over half (60.3 percent) of South Asian Canadians live in two metropolitan areas as of 2021; Greater Toronto and Metro Vancouver.[1]
The term "Asian" inCanadian English refers to people from East and Southeast Asia. This differs from theBritish English definition of "Asian," which includes South Asia but excludes East and Southeast Asians describing them instead asOrientals orEast Asian. Thus, the term "South Asian" has come into common usage referring toAsians from theIndian subcontinent.[7][better source needed] This includes countries such as India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives. It does not include nations such as Myanmar, which is considered South Asian in some other connotations of the term.[8][9][10]
Canadians from South Asia may also be identified by their country of origin, such as "Indian" or "Pakistani." They may also be identified by their specific cultural backgrounds, for examplePunjabi orTamil. The term "East Indian" was a historical term used widely in Canada to refer to people from India as opposed toAboriginal peoples who have also been referred to as "Indian". This term has been made less common after the introduction of the general term "South Asian" in areas with significantIndian Canadian populations likeToronto.[citation needed]
Brown[11][12][13][14][15] andDesi are also terms used to refer to Canadians from South Asia. However, these are avoided in more formal contexts due to their ambiguity and the possibility of being perceived as derogatory.[citation needed]
Statistics Canada lists both cultural backgrounds likeBengali,Gujarati,Tamil,Malayali, andGoan in addition to categories like East Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Pakistani.[16][17][18]
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The first well-known record of Canadians from South Asia dates back to 1897, whenPunjabiSikh soldiers were invited to British Columbia, en route from India to Britain, as a part of Queen Victoria’sDiamond Jubilee.[a][b][c] However, a 2025 study revealed that South Asians were present in Eastern Canada since thecountry’s founding,[22] as the1871 census identified 11 people of South Asian origin, with 8 persons from Ontario, and the remaining 3 from Nova Scotia.[d][23][22] The early presence in Ontario and Nova Scotia demonstrates that South Asians were part of Canadian society decades earlier than previously recognized, and in regions outside the well-known Pacific migration routes to British Columbia, with the largest concentration residing in what is nowLakeshore, Ontario.[22]
With an estimated population of 100 by 1900,[e] further South Asian settlement waves to Canada occurred in the few years after the turn of the 20th century; after hearing stories about the high wages being paid in British Columbia, some PunjabiBritish Indian soldiers stationed inBritish Malaya,British Hong Kong, and other British-controlled Chinese cities emigrated to Canada and settled in the western province.[f][g][h][i] Attracted by these wages, more Sikh men began immigrating into British Columbia, working mainly in industries such as mining, logging and railroads.[j][k] Many of these men, who arrived without their families, settled in theBritish Columbia Interior,Greater Vancouver,Vancouver Island, and theFraser Valley in what is nowAbbotsford, British Columbia.[25][l][m][n][o]
Punjabi Sikh settlers first arrived inGolden, British Columbia to work at the Columbia River Lumber Company in 1902.[28] A notable moment in early South Asian Canadian history, these early settlers built the firstGurdwara (Sikh temple) in Canada and North America in 1905,[29][30] which would later be destroyed by fire in 1926.[31] During this formative era of migration fromthe subcontinent to Canada, South Asian settlers did not receive much attention from all levels of government or the press; by many accounts, their new homes in British Columbia were relatively welcoming and inclusive, given their status as fellow British subjects.[p][q]
The government in British Columbia enacted laws limiting the rights and privileges of Canadians from South Asian countries in 1907, preventing them from voting and denying them access to political office, public sector employment, and other professions.[32] As a result, many migrated south from Vancouver across the border to the United States, where some became the victims of the1907 Bellingham riots.[33] At the same time, by 1907–08, many South Asian Canadians faceddiscrimination andxenophobia from those ofEuropean (Anglo-British) background, similar to that experienced byEast Asian Canadians, such as theJapanese andChinese communities.[r][s] European settlers viewedAsian settlers, and included the Indians, as a threat to the European nature of Canada.[t] In addition, many Asian migrants worked for lower wages, which at the time agitated the European (Anglo-British) majority.[35]
In an effort to prevent South Asians from immigrating to Canada, thecontinuous journey regulation was enacted on January 8, 1908.[u] The law prohibited any immigrants from landing in Canada "unless they came from the country of their birth or citizenship by a continuous journey, and on through tickets purchased before leaving the country of their birth or citizenship".[20]: 138 As there was no direct steamship route fromBritish India to Canada, this effectively barred immigration fromthe subcontinent, while the regulation also prevented Indian soldiers stationed inBritish Hong Kong andJapan from immigrating to Canada.[v] Annual immigration figures between 1907–08 and 1908–09 reflected the enactment of the continuous journey regulation: 2,623persons of Indian origin arrived in Canada during the former fiscal year, declining to six persons during the latter.[36][20]: 15 Year-end statistics in 1908 indicated that the South Asian Canadian population stood at 5,179 persons or 0.08 percent of the national population,[36] primarily Punjabi settlers concentrated in British Columbia. Many later migrated south to theUnited States, returned toBritish India orBritish Hong Kong, and the1911 Canadian census later recorded a population decline to 2,342 persons or 0.03 percent of the national population.[37]
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The second Gurdwara to be built in Canada was in 1908 inKitsilano (Vancouver) to serve a growing number of Punjabi Sikh settlers who worked at nearby sawmills alongFalse Creek.[38] By 1911, theGur Sikh Temple opened inAbbotsford, British Columbia becoming the third Gurdwara built in Canada. Designated as anational historic site of Canada in 2002, it is presently the oldest existing Gurdwara in the country, as the first temple built in Golden was destroyed by fire in 1926, while the second built in Kitsilano was closed and demolished in 1970, when thetemple society relocated to the newly built Gurdwara on Ross Street in theSunset neighbourhood of South Vancouver. By 1912, a year after the construction of the Gur Sikh Temple in Abbotsford, the fourth Gurdwara was established inVictoria, British Columbia on Topaz Avenue,[39] while a fifth soon followed at theFraser Mills (Coquitlam) settlement later that year.[40]
Later in the decade, most Punjabi Sikhs continued to seek employment in the forestry industry at various sawmills across British Columbia, more Gurdwaras were built, including at theQueensborough (New Westminster) settlement in 1919.[41][42][43] This was soon followed by another at thePaldi (Vancouver Island) settlement, also in 1919.[44][45][46][47]
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As a result of thecontinuous journey regulation enacted in 1908, a notable example of earlyanti-South Asian sentiment in Canada was theKomagata Maru incident, which occurred in 1914.Baba Gurdit Singh, a successful Punjabi businessman living inBritish Singapore, attempted to circumnavigate the regulation and chartered a Japanesesteamship known as theSS Komagata Maru to travel fromKolkata,India toVancouver, British Columbia, Canada.[w] The ship made stops in Hong Kong,Shanghai andYokohama, where it picked up more would-be settlers.[x] In total the ship carried 376 passengers, all originating from thePunjab Province (British India) and registered as British subjects; of whom 337 werePunjabi Sikhs, 27 werePunjabi Muslims and 12 werePunjabi Hindus. Upon arriving in Vancouver though the ship was not permitted to dock with several British Columbian politicians such as Conservative MPHenry Herbert Stevens campaigning against its right to dock.[48][49][27]
With the ship held atCoal Harbour inBurrard Inlet in April 1914, some South Asian Canadians already settled in Canada began launching "shore committees" led by Husain Rahim (Gujarati Canadian),[50] Muhammad Akbar (Punjabi Canadian),[50] and Sohan Lal Pathak. These were to protest against the decision not to allow the settlers on the Komagata Maru no to enter Canada. Passengers threatened to start a rebellion, orghadar, if they were forced back to India. The shore committee raised $22,000 and launched a test case legal battle in theBritish Columbia Court of Appeal. On July 6, the court unanimously decided they had no authority to interfere with theDepartment of Immigration and Colonization and had ordered the harbor tugSea Lion to pull the ship out to sea on July 19.[y] This resulted inrioting between the settlers on board and police officers.[z] The ship was ultimately forced back to India on July 23, 1914, with only 20 of the settlers being allowed to stay in Canada.[27]: 140 & 169
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1871 | 11 | — |
| 1901 | 100 | +809.1% |
| 1908 | 5,179 | +5079.0% |
| 1911 | 2,342 | −54.8% |
| 1921 | 1,016 | −56.6% |
| 1931 | 1,400 | +37.8% |
| 1941 | 1,465 | +4.6% |
| 1951 | 2,148 | +46.6% |
| 1961 | 6,774 | +215.4% |
| 1971 | 67,925 | +902.7% |
| 1981 | 223,235 | +228.6% |
| 1986 | 314,305 | +40.8% |
| 1991 | 505,515 | +60.8% |
| 1996 | 723,345 | +43.1% |
| 2001 | 963,190 | +33.2% |
| 2006 | 1,316,770 | +36.7% |
| 2011 | 1,615,925 | +22.7% |
| 2016 | 1,963,330 | +21.5% |
| 2021 | 2,571,400 | +31.0% |
| Source:Statistics Canada [23][36][21]: 35 [20]: 15 [34]: 16 [37][51]: 353 [52]: 225 [53]: 236 [54]: 503 [55]: 272 [56]: 2 [57]: 484 [58]: 5 [59]: 2 [60]: 26 [61]: 31&68 [62]: 34 [63]: 47 [64]: 68 [65]: 11 [66][67][68][69][70][1] | ||
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Thecontinuous journey regulation remained in effect until 1947, as did most other anti-South Asian laws.[aa] However, pressure from the community resulted in the Canadian government allowing the wife and children of a Canadian husband or father to immigrate.[ab] The South Asian population in Canada remained stagnant; by the mid-1920s, it was just over 1,000 persons.[ac] Despite their declining numbers, Canadians from South Asia grew wealthier; some began to acquire their ownlumber mills which were used to produce wood and sawdust for consumer purchase.[ad] During theGreat Depression the tight-knit nature of the South Asian community mitigated many of the economic effects the depression had on other communities in Canada.[ae][af][71]
South Asian Canadians were granted the right to vote in 1947.[ag][ah] Following the independence of India, Pakistan andCeylon (now Sri Lanka), the Canadian government created annualimmigration quotas which allowed 150 Indians, 100 Pakistanis, and 50 Sri Lankans to immigrate to Canada each year.[ai][aj][ak][71]
In 1950, 25 years after settling in Canada and nine years after moving to British Columbia from Toronto, Naranjan "Giani" Singh Grewall became the first individual of South Asian ancestry in Canada and North America to be elected to public office after successfully running for a position on the board of commissioners inMission, British Columbia against six other candidates.[72][73][74][75][76] Grewall was re-elected to the board of commissioners in 1952 and by 1954, was elected to become mayor of Mission.[72][75][76]
"Thank you all citizens of Mission City [...] It is a credit to this community to elect the first East Indian to public office in the history of our great dominion. It shows your broad-mindedness, tolerance and consideration."[74]
— Notice by Naranjan Singh Grewall in the local Mission newspaper following his election to public office, 1950
Amillwright and union official, and known as a sportsman and humanitarian philanthropist as well as a lumberman, Grewall eventually established himself as one of the largest employers and most influential business leaders in the northern Fraser Valley. He owned six sawmills, was active in community affairs (serving on the boards or as chairman of a variety of organizations), and was instrumental in helping create Mission's municipal tree farm.[72][74][75][76][77] With strong pro-labour beliefs despite his role as a mill-owner, and following a scandal involving the provincial Ministry of Forestry under theSocial Credit-led government, he referred to holders of forest management licenses across British Columbia asTimber Maharajahs, cautioning that within a decade, three or four giant corporations would predominantly control the entire industry in the province, echoing similarities to the archaiczamindar system in South Asia.[75][77] He later ran unsuccessfully for theCo-operative Commonwealth Federation (the precursor of today'sNew Democratic Party) in theDewdney riding in the1956 provincial election.[76][77]
While by the 1950s, South Asian Canadians had gained respect in business in British Columbia primarily for their work in owning sawmills and aiding the development of the provincial forestry industry, racism still existed especially in the upper echelons of society.[75][78] As such, during the campaign period and in the aftermath of running for MLA in 1956, Grewall received personal threats, while the six mills he owned along with his house were all set ablaze by arsonists.[78][al] One year later, on July 17, 1957, while on a business trip, he was suspiciously found dead in a Seattle motel, having been shot in the head.[al][am][78][79] Grewall Street in Mission was named in his honour.[80]
"Every kid in the North Fraser, who thinks he or she is being discriminated against, should read the Grewall story and the challenges he faced."[al]
— Former BC premierDave Barrett on Naranjan Singh Grewall
Beginning in the 1950s, gradual removals of racial and national restrictions from Canada's immigration policies occurred, which would continue into the 1960s.[an][ao][ap] With a population numbering 2,158 persons in 1951,[57]: 484 an increase in the number of native-born South Asian Canadians during thebaby boom era[81]: 430 alongside annual immigrant arrivals rising from hundreds to thousands resulted in the rapid growth of the community to 6,774 in 1961,[58]: 5 and finally to 67,925 by 1971.[aq][ar][59]: 2
Many of the South Asians arriving during the 1970s came fromEast Africa.[as][71] Discrimination in many African Great Lakes nations like Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania against Indians was growing as a result of their status as a market-dominant minority.[at] This is when a minority group controls a disproportionately large segment of the economy due to their over representation in business and above average education. One notable incident of this wasUgandan dictatorIdi Amin's expulsion of 80,000 Ugandan Indians as part of his economic war to allow indigenous Ugandans to regain control of the countries economy.[au] As a result, nearly 20,000 Indians fled to Canada, some directly others after temperately settling in other nations in Africa; they eventually grew to be the first sizable non-Sikh South Asian community in Canada.[av] Shenaaz Nanji's Governor General's Award-nominated novelChild of Dandelions deals with the expulsion of Indians from Uganda and their immigration to Canada.[82]
Around the same time, during the 1970s,Indo-Caribbeans (mainly fromGuyana andTrinidad and Tobago, as well as some fromSuriname,Jamaica, and otherCaribbean nations)Indo-Fijians,Indian South Africans, andIndo-Mauritians began immigrating to Canada as well, settling in major urban centres across the country including Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton.[aw][ax] Many of these South Asians were the descendants of indentured laborers were brought by the colonial British government to replace the slaves on plantations; after completing their work terms the majority remained in these countries.[aw] Many of the immigrants who arrived from the Caribbean, the African Great Lakes, Mauritius, South Africa, and Fiji were educated professionals who upon arriving in Canada worked in the service sector or began their own businesses, as opposed to the industrial sector which mainly early Sikhs worked in.[aw][ax]
Prior to the wide-scaleurbanization of the South Asian Canadian community, the most statistically significant populations existed across rural British Columbia; a legacy of previous waves of immigration and settlement patterns that existed earlier in the 20th century through until the latter quarter of the century, as Punjabi Canadians continued to seek employment in the provincial forestry sector at sawmills throughoutVancouver Island andthe interior. During the period between 1981 and 1996, small towns includingFort St. James (South Asians formed 22 percent of the total population),Quesnel (14 percent),Lake Cowichan (13 percent),Merritt (13 percent),Williams Lake (12 percent),Tahsis (10 percent),Golden (10 percent),100 Mile House (10 percent),Squamish (9 percent), andLillooet (9 percent) had the largest South Asian concentrations in Canada.[83][84][85][86][87][88]
Starting in the 1980s South Asians arriving directly from the Indian subcontinent began to increase noticeably as well. In 1985 around 15,000 immigrants arrived from South Asia annually in 2012 that number was at 46,000 annually. In addition to the South Asians still arriving from other parts of the world like the Persian Gulf, the Caribbean, the African Great Lakes, and Fiji. As a result, the South Asian community began forming growing enclaves particularly in the Vancouver and Toronto area. Some notable areas are Gerrard Street, Brampton and several neighborhoods inMississauga,Scarborough,Markham, andEtobicoke in the Greater Toronto Area. In British Columbia notable South Asian districts includeSouth Vancouver,Surrey,Delta, andAbbotsford.
In 1986, following the British Columbia provincial election,Moe Sihota became the first Canadian of South Asian ancestry to be elected to provincial parliament. Sihota, who was born inDuncan, British Columbia in 1955, ran as the NDP candidate in the riding ofEsquimalt-Port Renfrew two years after being involved in municipal politics, as he was elected as anAlderman for the city ofEsquimalt in 1984.
The rise of theKhalistan movement, the secessionist movement that sought to make the Indian state of Punjab a separate nation for Sikhs. As a result, during the 1980s many Sikhs living in Canada began to involve themselves in the Khalistan movement by organizing protests in Canada and sending money to fund separatist groups back in India. These protests reached their peak in 1984 when theIndian Army raided the Golden Temple, which was followed by theassassination of then–Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards and finally byanti-Sikh riots throughout North India. Several major anti-Indian protests occurred in Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto with angry protesters forcing their way into the Indian consulate in Toronto carrying knives and smashing photos of Indira Gandhi. On June 23, 1985, several Canadian Sikhs led by Talwinder Singh Parmar were arrested for theAir India Flight 182 bombing, which killed 329 people. It is considered the worst terrorist attack to ever be carried out by Canadians.
With the outbreak of theSri Lankan Civil War in 1983 manySri Lankan Tamils were forced to flee persecution and violence and see refuge in Canada. This made Sri Lankan Canadians the fifth largest source of immigrants during the 1990s. It also made Canada home to One of the largest Tamil population in the Western World with 140,000 Tamils living in Canada, primarily Toronto and Montreal. TheLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or Tamil Tigers, though officially recognized as terrorist group in Canada still receives widespread support among the Sri Lankan Tamil Canadian community.
In 1990,Baltej Singh Dhillon, a Canadian Sikh challenged the traditional dress code of the RCMP in order to accommodate histurban, a mandatory article of clothing worn by many Sikh men. The caused controversy with opponents arguing that the uniform of the RCMP was a national icon to be preserved, while proponents pointed out that Sikh soldiers served in the British army duringWorld War I andWorld War II and also served in many Canadian police forces. On March 16, 1990, the policy was amended to include Sikhs to serve while wearing a turban.
Beginning in the 21st century the makeup of Canadians from South Asia had changed greatly.Sikhs had gone from making up nearly 90% of Canadian South Asians during much of the early−mid 20th century to just 28% in 2001. This is as a result of a more diverse background of South Asians immigrating to Canada as opposed to the primarily Sikh andPunjabi immigrants of the early 20th century. In 2006 total South Asian Canadians outnumbered the specific numbers ofChinese Canadians as the largest visible minority group in Canada with 25% ofvisible minorities. On February 24, 2000Ujjal Dosanjh became the first Canadian of South Asian origin to become a provincial premier when he becamepremier of British Columbia as leader ofNew Democratic Party.
During the first decade of the 21st century, India remained the second largest source of invited immigrants behindChina but ahead of thePhilippines. Pakistan was also among the top ten sources of invited immigrants to Canada. In addition, India is also the second largest source of foreign students in Canada with 28,939 invited Indian students studying in Canada in 2012 compared with 1,747 in 2000. In 2007,BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Toronto opened in Toronto, making it the largest Hindu temple in Canada. TheAga Khan Museum, built and run byIsmaili Muslims, was opened in 2014. Several other notable places of worship have been built by Canadians from South Asia including the Khalsa Darbar Gurdwara andBaitul Islam mosque.
South Asian Canadian culture also began to move into the Canadian mainstream in the 21st century.Bhangra music, a genre of music from India that combines traditional Punjabi music withpop andhip hop and other Western musical styles has grown increasingly popular throughout Canada.Punjabi Canadian hip hop experienced a surge of popularity with audiences in Canada and internationally beginning in the 2010s. Canadians of all backgrounds enjoy and are also familiar withBollywood. In 2011 the12th International Indian Film Academy Awards were hosted inToronto, which was home to nearly 832,000 Canadians of South Asian ancestry, one of the largest in the Western World.How to Be Indie, a Canadian children'stelevision program produced byYTV, revolves around the daughter ofHinduIndian immigrants living in Toronto, and has since been syndicated in theUnited States,United Kingdom,Israel,Latin America and elsewhere. TheIndian Canadian comedianRussell Peters has used his heritage as material for many of his jokes.
In the2015 Canadian federal election, 16 South Asian Members of Parliament (MPs) were elected from Ontario alone, which is the most in Canadian history.[89] Four South Asian ministers have been appointed to the Canadian cabinet, which includes theMinister of National Defence,Harjit Sajjan.[90]
The Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada, numbering 75,425 in 2021 (2.93% of South Asian Canadians), contributes to local economies and community leadership.[91]
Canadian cricket, which declined in the late 19th century, has largely been revived by members of theCommonwealth diaspora such as South Asian Canadians.[92] This had led to the AmericanMajor League Cricket considering including a team from one of the Canadian cities with a substantial South Asian population.[93]
In 2013, theQuebec Soccer Federation had banned Sikh players in turbans from participating in matches, citing that turbans were a health hazard, though it is practised in India;[94] this move created controversy among the Sikh community in Canada, was condemned byFIFA, and ultimately reversed.[95]
| Year | Population | % of total population |
|---|---|---|
| 1871 [23][22][d] | 11 | 0.0003% |
| 1901 [19] | >100 | 0.002% |
| 1908 [34][36][20] | 5,179 | 0.078% |
| 1911 [51]: 354 [34] | 2,342 | 0.032% |
| 1921 [51]: 356 [34] | 1,016 | 0.012% |
| 1931 [54]: 503 [34] | 1,400 | 0.013% |
| 1941 [55]: 272 [56]: 2 [34] | 1,465 | 0.013% |
| 1951 [57]: 484 [34] | 2,148 | 0.015% |
| 1961 [58]: 5 [34] | 6,774 | 0.037% |
| 1971 [59]: 2 [34] | 67,925 | 0.315% |
| 1981 [60]: 7 [61]: 68 | 223,235 | 0.927% |
| 1986 [62]: 34 [61]: 31 | 314,305 | 1.256% |
| 1991 [64]: 68 [65]: 11 | 505,515 | 1.873% |
| 1996 [66] | 723,345 | 2.536% |
| 2001 [67] | 963,190 | 3.25% |
| 2006 [68] | 1,316,770 | 4.215% |
| 2011 [69] | 1,615,925 | 4.919% |
| 2016 [70] | 1,963,330 | 5.697% |
| 2021 [1] | 2,571,400 | 7.078% |
Reports on Canadians from India in 1908 indicated the East-Indian Canadian population was 5,179.[36][20] The overwhelming majority of whom were Sikh, male, and settled in British Columbia. However, as a result of laws which restricted the immigration the community had declined to only 1,100 by the mid-1920s. By 1961, right beforeracial restriction were respectfully removed from Canada's immigration policy, Canadians of South Asian descent rose to 6,774. With racial quotas being removed (invitations extended) during the 1960s the number of Canadians of South Asian ancestry created the diverse population we see into the present day.
According to the2021 census, 2,322,895 Canadians had South Asian origins and 2,571,400 other Canadians were classified as belonging to thevisible minority group, generally termed, South Asian.[1][96] The growth of the population is mainly attributed to sustained invitations of immigration from South Asian nations. According to a 2022 study conducted byStatistics Canada, Canadians with South Asian ancestry will grow to between 4.7 and 6.5 million by 2041 or 11.0 to 12.5 percent of the Canadian population overall.[97][98]
| National origin | 2021[1][96] | 2016[70] | 2011[69] | 2006[68] | 2001[67] | 1996[66] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | ||||||||
| India[ay] | 1,858,755 | 72.29% | 1,582,215 | 80.59% | 1,321,360 | 81.77% | 1,072,380 | 81.44% | 813,730 | 84.48% | 638,345 | 88.25% | |||||||
| Pakistan | 303,260 | 11.79% | 215,560 | 10.98% | 155,310 | 9.61% | 124,730 | 9.47% | 74,015 | 7.68% | 38,655 | 5.34% | |||||||
| Sri Lanka | 144,490 | 5.62% | 152,595 | 7.77% | 139,415 | 8.63% | 103,625 | 7.87% | 61,315 | 6.37% | 46,585 | 6.44% | |||||||
| Bangladesh | 75,425 | 2.93% | 45,940 | 2.34% | 34,205 | 2.12% | 24,595 | 1.87% | 13,080 | 1.36% | 6,955 | 0.96% | |||||||
| Nepal | 21,975 | 0.85% | 17,140 | 0.87% | 9,780 | 0.61% | 3,780 | 0.29% | 1,170 | 0.12% | — | — | |||||||
| Bhutan | 3,215 | 0.13% | 3,600 | 0.18% | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||
| Total South Asian Canadian population | 2,571,400 | 100% | 1,963,330 | 100% | 1,615,925 | 100% | 1,316,770 | 100% | 963,190 | 100% | 723,345 | 100% | |||||||
| Note: Totals greater than 100% due to multiple origin responses | |||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | 29.9% | |||
| Sikhism | 29.6% | |||
| Islam | 23.1% | |||
| Christianity | 9.5% | |||
| Irreligious | 6.1% | |||
| Buddhism | 1.1% | |||
| Jainism | 0.3% | |||
| Other | 0.3% | |||
Until the 1950s, Sikhs formed up to 95% of the entire South Asian Canadian population.[24][az] The2011 Canadian census marked the first time incensus records where Hindus formed the largest religious group amongst Canadians of South Asian ancestry.[99]
A report detailing the religious proportion breakdown of the South Asian Canadian community was done between 2005 and 2007 byStatistics Canada, with results derived from the2001 Canadian census and a following survey[5][100][101] which found that Canadians of South Asian ancestry were 28% Sikh, 28% Hindu, 22% Muslim and 16% Christian, and 4%irreligious.[ba] Other religious such asJainism,Buddhism, andZoroastrianism practiced by Canadians of South Asian heritage formed the remaining 2%. The irreligious proportion of 4% among South Asian Canadians is statistically significant, as this figure climbs to approximately 17% when surveying all Canadians.[ba]
Religious affiliation in the South Asian Canadian community varies greatly based on national background. Based on a 2007 report,Indo-Canadians are split betweenSikhs (34%) and Hindus (27%), Muslims (17%), Christians (16%), Irreligious (4%), with Jains, Buddhists, and Zoroastrians forming the remaining 2%.[102] The majority ofPakistani Canadians (90%) andBangladeshi Canadians (87%) profess to followIslam,[bb] while the majority ofSri Lankan Canadians areHindu (64%)[bc] with a significant minority followingChristianity.Nepalese Canadians tend to mostly followHinduism with few of them followingBuddhism. Additionally, religious distributions among certain South Asian Canadian ethnic groups also vary; 80% ofTamil Canadians are adherents of Hinduism,[bc] a large majority ofPunjabi Canadians (86%) are Sikh,[bd] while most Bengali Canadians (74%) are Muslim.[bb]
| Religious group | 2021[2] | 2011[99] | 2001[103][104] | 1991[105]: 209 | 1981[106]: 40 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Hinduism | 768,785 | 29.9% | 455,840 | 29.1% | 260,535 | 28.4% | 120,585 | 28.7% | 53,490 | 27.2% |
| Sikhism | 761,960 | 29.6% | 447,330 | 28.5% | 272,220 | 29.7% | 134,790 | 32.1% | 61,785 | 31.5% |
| Islam | 595,085 | 23.1% | 383,365 | 24.5% | 212,805 | 23.2% | 90,890 | 21.6% | 41,310 | 21% |
| Christianity | 245,035 | 9.5% | 185,345 | 11.8% | 124,320 | 13.6% | 54,960 | 13.1% | 29,760 | 15.2% |
| Irreligion | 156,855 | 6.1% | 67,405 | 4.3% | 30,610 | 3.3% | 12,095 | 2.9% | 6,045 | 3.1% |
| Buddhism | 27,885 | 1.1% | 17,685 | 1.1% | 8,630 | 0.9% | 2,960 | 0.7% | 1,020 | 0.5% |
| Jainism | 8,100 | 0.3% | — | — | 2,385 | 0.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Zoroastrianism | 3,630 | 0.1% | — | — | 2,900 | 0.3% | — | — | — | — |
| Judaism | 1,270 | 0.05% | 1,105 | 0.07% | 660 | 0.07% | 70 | 0.02% | 100 | 0.05% |
| Baháʼí | 440 | 0.02% | — | — | 400 | 0.04% | 80 | 0.02% | 15 | 0.01% |
| Indigenous | 115 | 0.004% | — | — | 585 | 0.1% | — | — | — | — |
| Other | 2,240 | 0.1% | 9,325 | 0.6% | 1,025 | 0.1% | 3,865 | 0.9% | 105 | 0.1% |
| Total responses | 2,571,400 | 100% | 1,567,400 | 97% | 917,075 | 95.2% | 420,295 | 83.1% | 196,395 | 88% |
| Total South Asian Canadian population | 2,571,400 | 100% | 1,615,920 | 100% | 963,190 | 100% | 505,515 | 100% | 223,235 | 100% |
Religious affiliation amongst Canadians of South Asian ancestry varies greatly by province and territory. For example, in British Columbia, adherents of Sikhism are the largest religious group amongst the South Asian community, a legacy of chain migration stemming from nearly 130 years of settlement and immigration to the western province. Conversely, in Ontario, adherents of Hinduism and Islam are more prevalent amongst the South Asian community, reflecting the religious diversity of South Asia through more recent settlement and immigration waves.
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| Province/territory | Hinduism | Sikhism | Islam | Christianity | Irreligion | Buddhism | Jainism | Others[be] | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Ontario | 529,200 | 34.92% | 296,215 | 19.55% | 412,500 | 27.22% | 169,100 | 11.16% | 81,200 | 5.36% | 16,045 | 1.06% | 6,050 | 0.4% | 4,990 | 0.33% | 1,515,295 | 58.93% |
| British Columbia | 75,935 | 16.02% | 287,940 | 60.75% | 44,690 | 9.43% | 21,740 | 4.59% | 38,560 | 8.14% | 3,100 | 0.65% | 720 | 0.15% | 1,275 | 0.27% | 473,970 | 18.43% |
| Alberta | 74,420 | 25% | 102,520 | 34.44% | 72,005 | 24.19% | 25,020 | 8.41% | 17,820 | 5.99% | 4,510 | 1.52% | 570 | 0.19% | 780 | 0.26% | 297,650 | 11.58% |
| Quebec | 43,755 | 34.18% | 22,510 | 17.59% | 35,880 | 28.03% | 13,705 | 10.71% | 9,860 | 7.7% | 1,680 | 1.31% | 260 | 0.2% | 340 | 0.27% | 127,995 | 4.98% |
| Manitoba | 17,510 | 24.59% | 35,125 | 49.32% | 8,630 | 12.12% | 4,815 | 6.76% | 3,685 | 5.17% | 1,185 | 1.66% | 195 | 0.27% | 80 | 0.11% | 71,215 | 2.77% |
| Saskatchewan | 13,795 | 30.84% | 8,860 | 19.81% | 15,040 | 33.63% | 4,050 | 9.06% | 2,025 | 4.53% | 745 | 1.67% | 160 | 0.36% | 50 | 0.11% | 44,725 | 1.74% |
| Nova Scotia | 8,145 | 37.62% | 4,605 | 21.27% | 2,755 | 12.73% | 3,625 | 16.74% | 2,015 | 9.31% | 345 | 1.59% | 95 | 0.44% | 70 | 0.32% | 21,650 | 0.84% |
| New Brunswick | 3,180 | 36.85% | 1,725 | 19.99% | 1,605 | 18.6% | 1,175 | 13.62% | 760 | 8.81% | 90 | 1.04% | 20 | 0.23% | 80 | 0.93% | 8,630 | 0.34% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1,150 | 25.27% | 845 | 18.57% | 1,240 | 27.25% | 755 | 16.59% | 435 | 9.56% | 100 | 2.2% | 10 | 0.22% | 10 | 0.22% | 4,550 | 0.18% |
| Prince Edward Island | 1,190 | 31.82% | 1,130 | 30.21% | 320 | 8.56% | 750 | 20.05% | 265 | 7.09% | 65 | 1.74% | 15 | 0.4% | 10 | 0.27% | 3,740 | 0.15% |
| Yukon | 260 | 25.12% | 385 | 37.2% | 130 | 12.56% | 150 | 14.49% | 105 | 10.14% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1,035 | 0.04% |
| Northwest Territories | 195 | 25.16% | 110 | 14.19% | 225 | 29.03% | 130 | 16.77% | 95 | 12.26% | 10 | 1.29% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 1.29% | 775 | 0.03% |
| Nunavut | 55 | 30.56% | 10 | 5.56% | 65 | 36.11% | 20 | 11.11% | 30 | 16.67% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 180 | 0.01% |
| Canada | 768,785 | 29.9% | 761,960 | 29.63% | 595,085 | 23.14% | 245,035 | 9.53% | 156,855 | 6.1% | 27,885 | 1.08% | 8,100 | 0.32% | 7,695 | 0.3% | 2,571,400 | 100% |
With the diversity in religious affiliation across the provinces and territories of Canada amongst individuals of South Asian descent, metropolitan areas follow a similar trend.
| Metropolitan area | Hinduism | Sikhism | Islam | Christianity | Irreligion | Buddhism | Jainism | Others[be] | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Toronto | 420,020 | 35.52% | 241,160 | 20.39% | 322,510 | 27.27% | 123,905 | 10.48% | 55,035 | 4.65% | 11,020 | 0.93% | 4,870 | 0.41% | 3,965 | 0.34% | 1,182,485 | 45.99% |
| Vancouver | 62,065 | 16.81% | 219,960 | 59.56% | 39,475 | 10.69% | 15,830 | 4.29% | 27,665 | 7.49% | 2,690 | 0.73% | 620 | 0.17% | 990 | 0.27% | 369,290 | 14.36% |
| Calgary | 33,340 | 21.76% | 55,500 | 36.23% | 43,355 | 28.3% | 9,705 | 6.33% | 8,940 | 5.84% | 1,700 | 1.11% | 270 | 0.18% | 385 | 0.25% | 153,205 | 5.96% |
| Edmonton | 33,710 | 27.33% | 44,020 | 35.69% | 24,310 | 19.71% | 11,720 | 9.5% | 6,880 | 5.58% | 2,230 | 1.81% | 240 | 0.19% | 225 | 0.18% | 123,335 | 4.8% |
| Montreal | 42,285 | 34.87% | 22,185 | 18.3% | 34,670 | 28.59% | 11,875 | 9.79% | 8,160 | 6.73% | 1,540 | 1.27% | 260 | 0.21% | 280 | 0.23% | 121,260 | 4.72% |
| Winnipeg | 14,160 | 22.19% | 33,105 | 51.88% | 8,070 | 12.65% | 3,815 | 5.98% | 3,275 | 5.13% | 1,165 | 1.83% | 155 | 0.24% | 65 | 0.1% | 63,810 | 2.48% |
| Ottawa–Gatineau | 20,480 | 33.7% | 6,520 | 10.73% | 17,790 | 29.27% | 7,645 | 12.58% | 6,400 | 10.53% | 1,385 | 2.28% | 280 | 0.46% | 295 | 0.49% | 60,780 | 2.36% |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 18,180 | 32.87% | 12,095 | 21.87% | 15,615 | 28.23% | 5,180 | 9.37% | 3,275 | 5.92% | 605 | 1.09% | 220 | 0.4% | 130 | 0.24% | 55,305 | 2.15% |
| Abbotsford–Mission | 3,860 | 7.74% | 41,325 | 82.92% | 1,105 | 2.22% | 1,205 | 2.42% | 2,290 | 4.59% | 40 | 0.08% | 0 | 0% | 20 | 0.04% | 49,840 | 1.94% |
| Hamilton | 13,895 | 29.17% | 9,400 | 19.73% | 14,125 | 29.65% | 5,685 | 11.93% | 3,450 | 7.24% | 730 | 1.53% | 210 | 0.44% | 135 | 0.28% | 47,635 | 1.85% |
| Oshawa | 14,680 | 39.07% | 1,510 | 4.02% | 12,665 | 33.71% | 5,945 | 15.82% | 2,185 | 5.82% | 440 | 1.17% | 80 | 0.21% | 65 | 0.17% | 37,570 | 1.46% |
| London | 8,765 | 30.99% | 4,195 | 14.83% | 6,535 | 23.1% | 6,000 | 21.21% | 1,925 | 6.81% | 630 | 2.23% | 115 | 0.41% | 120 | 0.42% | 28,285 | 1.1% |
| Windsor | 7,045 | 34.22% | 4,325 | 21.01% | 6,235 | 30.29% | 1,605 | 7.8% | 1,125 | 5.47% | 195 | 0.95% | 35 | 0.17% | 20 | 0.1% | 20,585 | 0.8% |
| Regina | 6,435 | 33.02% | 4,380 | 22.47% | 6,010 | 30.84% | 1,480 | 7.59% | 785 | 4.03% | 255 | 1.31% | 115 | 0.59% | 20 | 0.1% | 19,490 | 0.76% |
| Saskatoon | 5,165 | 26.66% | 3,275 | 16.9% | 8,100 | 41.81% | 1,510 | 7.79% | 845 | 4.36% | 435 | 2.25% | 30 | 0.15% | 15 | 0.08% | 19,375 | 0.75% |
| Halifax | 6,620 | 39.29% | 3,480 | 20.65% | 2,465 | 14.63% | 2,440 | 14.48% | 1,440 | 8.55% | 265 | 1.57% | 90 | 0.53% | 45 | 0.27% | 16,850 | 0.66% |
| Victoria | 2,965 | 21.61% | 5,135 | 37.43% | 1,270 | 9.26% | 1,330 | 9.69% | 2,700 | 19.68% | 170 | 1.24% | 50 | 0.36% | 95 | 0.69% | 13,720 | 0.53% |
| St. Catharines–Niagara | 3,245 | 25.42% | 2,110 | 16.53% | 3,580 | 28.05% | 2,250 | 17.63% | 1,285 | 10.07% | 170 | 1.33% | 100 | 0.78% | 20 | 0.16% | 12,765 | 0.5% |
| Guelph | 3,830 | 33.55% | 2,460 | 21.55% | 2,785 | 24.4% | 1,230 | 10.78% | 740 | 6.48% | 255 | 2.23% | 55 | 0.48% | 55 | 0.48% | 11,415 | 0.44% |
| Barrie | 2,535 | 32.17% | 1,260 | 15.99% | 2,060 | 26.14% | 1,380 | 17.51% | 10 | 6.92% | 75 | 0.95% | 10 | 0.13% | 10 | 0.13% | 7,880 | 0.31% |
| Canada | 768,785 | 29.9% | 761,960 | 29.63% | 595,085 | 23.14% | 245,035 | 9.53% | 156,855 | 6.1% | 27,885 | 1.08% | 8,100 | 0.32% | 7,695 | 0.3% | 2,571,400 | 100% |
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Many South Asian Canadians speakCanadian English orCanadian French as a first language, as manymulti-generational individuals do not speak South Asian languages as amother tongue, but instead may speak one or multiple[bf] as asecond orthird language.
According to the2021 census, South Asian languages with the largest number of speakers in Canada includeHindustani (1,176,295 persons or 3.2 percent of the national population),[bg]Punjabi (942,170 persons or 2.6 percent),Tamil (237,890 persons or 0.7 percent),Gujarati (209,410 persons or 0.6 percent),Bengali (120,605persons or 0.3 percent),Malayalam (77,910 persons or 0.2 percent),Telugu (54,685 persons or 0.2 percent),Marathi (35,230 persons or 0.1 percent), andSinhalese (33,050 persons or 0.1 percent).[107][108]
| Language | 2021[107][108] | 2016[109] | 2011[110][111] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Hindustani[bg] | 1,176,295 | 3.24% | 755,585 | 2.19% | 576,165 | 1.74% |
| Punjabi | 942,170 | 2.59% | 668,240 | 1.94% | 545,730 | 1.65% |
| Tamil | 237,890 | 0.65% | 189,860 | 0.55% | 179,465 | 0.54% |
| Gujarati | 209,410 | 0.58% | 149,045 | 0.43% | 118,950 | 0.36% |
| Bengali | 120,605 | 0.33% | 91,220 | 0.26% | 69,490 | 0.21% |
| Malayalam | 77,910 | 0.21% | 37,810 | 0.11% | 22,125 | 0.07% |
| Telugu | 54,685 | 0.15% | 23,160 | 0.07% | 12,645 | 0.04% |
| Marathi | 35,230 | 0.1% | 15,570 | 0.05% | 9,695 | 0.03% |
| Sinhalese | 33,050 | 0.09% | 27,825 | 0.08% | 23,965 | 0.07% |
| Pashto | 31,700 | 0.09% | 23,180 | 0.07% | 16,515 | 0.05% |
| Nepali | 30,660 | 0.08% | 21,380 | 0.06% | 11,450 | 0.03% |
| Kannada | 18,420 | 0.05% | 8,245 | 0.02% | 5,210 | 0.02% |
| Kacchi | 15,085 | 0.04% | — | — | — | — |
| Konkani | 8,950 | 0.02% | 6,790 | 0.02% | 5,785 | 0.02% |
| Sindhi | 8,385 | 0.02% | 20,260 | 0.06% | 15,525 | 0.05% |
| Oriya | 3,235 | 0.01% | 1,535 | 0.004% | — | — |
| Kashmiri | 1,830 | 0.01% | 905 | 0.003% | — | — |
| Tulu | 1,765 | 0.005% | — | — | — | — |
| Assamese | 1,155 | 0.003% | — | — | — | — |
| Baluchi | 985 | 0.003% | — | — | — | — |
| Rohingya | 765 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — |
| Other | 12,290 | 0.03% | 9,665 | 0.03% | 8,615 | 0.03% |
| Total Canada | 3,022,470 | 8.32% | 2,050,275 | 5.95% | 1,621,330 | 4.9% |
| Language | 2021[108][112] | 2016[109][113] | 2011[111][114] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Punjabi | 763,785 | 2.09% | 543,495 | 1.56% | 459,990 | 1.39% |
| Hindustani[bg] | 521,990 | 1.43% | 377,025 | 1.08% | 300,400 | 0.91% |
| Tamil | 184,750 | 0.5% | 157,125 | 0.45% | 143,395 | 0.43% |
| Gujarati | 168,800 | 0.46% | 122,455 | 0.35% | 101,310 | 0.31% |
| Bengali | 104,325 | 0.28% | 80,930 | 0.23% | 64,460 | 0.19% |
| Malayalam | 66,230 | 0.18% | 32,285 | 0.09% | 17,695 | 0.05% |
| Telugu | 39,685 | 0.11% | 18,750 | 0.05% | 10,670 | 0.03% |
| Nepali | 26,365 | 0.07% | 19,290 | 0.06% | 8,945 | 0.03% |
| Pashto | 23,185 | 0.06% | 18,295 | 0.05% | 13,100 | 0.04% |
| Sinhalese | 21,985 | 0.06% | 18,365 | 0.05% | 15,685 | 0.05% |
| Marathi | 19,570 | 0.05% | 9,755 | 0.03% | 6,655 | 0.02% |
| Kacchi | 9,855 | 0.03% | — | — | — | — |
| Kannada | 9,140 | 0.02% | 4,795 | 0.01% | 3,140 | 0.01% |
| Sindhi | 5,315 | 0.01% | 13,880 | 0.04% | 12,935 | 0.04% |
| Konkani | 5,225 | 0.01% | 4,255 | 0.01% | 3,535 | 0.01% |
| Oriya | 2,305 | 0.01% | 1,210 | 0.003% | — | — |
| Kashmiri | 1,015 | 0.003% | 620 | 0.002% | — | — |
| Tulu | 910 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — |
| Assamese | 715 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — |
| Baluchi | 645 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — |
| Parsi | 635 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — |
| Rohingya | 615 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — |
| Fiji Hindi | 610 | 0.002% | — | — | — | — |
| Saraiki | 505 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Hindko | 485 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Marwari | 395 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Pashai | 345 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Saurashtra | 345 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Pahari | 255 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Sylheti[bh] | 250 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Kurux | 245 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Memoni | 240 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Haryanvi | 230 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Maithili | 230 | 0.001% | — | — | — | — |
| Chakma | 180 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Romani | 180 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Bhojpuri | 145 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Pahari-Pothwari | 140 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Dogri | 120 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Garhwali | 115 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Rajasthani | 105 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Kodava | 100 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Bishnupuriya | 90 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Khowar | 75 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Oadki | 60 | 0% | — | — | — | — |
| Other | 615 | 0.002% | 6,215 | 0.02% | 6,020 | 0.02% |
| Total Canada | 1,973,525 | 5.39% | 1,428,745 | 4.11% | 1,167,935 | 3.53% |
A large minority of Canadians are first generation, numbering 9,606,600 people and forming 26.44% of the national population as of the 2021 Canadian census.[1] In comparison with the nationwide statistics, as of the 2021 Canadian census, a majority of the South Asian Canadian community was first generation, numbering 1,833,640 people and forming 71.31% of the total South Asian Canadian population.[1]
Similarly, a large minority of Canadians are second generation, numbering 6,393,310 people and forming 17.60% of the total national population as of the 2021 Canadian census.[1] In comparison with the nationwide statistics, as of the 2021 Canadian census, a large minority of the South Asian Canadian community was second generation, numbering 682,760 people or 26.55% of the total South Asian Canadian population.[1]
A narrow majority of Canadians are third or more generation, numbering 20,328,565 people and forming 55.96% of the total national population as of the 2021 Canadian census.[1] In comparison with the nationwide statistics, as of the 2021 Canadian census, a small minority of the South Asian Canadian community was third or more generation, numbering 55,000 people or 2.14% of the total South Asian Canadian population.[1]
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| Region | 2021[118] | 2016[119] | 2011[120] | 2006[121] | 2001[122][123] | 1996[124] | 1986[125]: 279 | 1961[81]: 430 | 1931[52]: 245 [126]: 813 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Southern Asia | 1,614,540 | 62.79% | 1,119,430 | 58.16% | 854,935 | 54.54% | 683,635 | 55.43% | 479,790 | 52.32% | 336,655 | 46.54% | 142,365 | 47.36% | — | — | 1,120 | 80% |
| Canada | 737,760 | 28.69% | 593,885 | 30.86% | 484,140 | 30.89% | 345,970 | 28.05% | 265,160 | 28.91% | 217,030 | 30% | 85,810 | 28.54% | 2,627 | 38.78% | 230 | 16.43% |
| Africa | 54,700 | 2.13% | 54,260 | 2.82% | 50,120 | 3.2% | 50,435 | 4.09% | 49,635 | 5.41% | 48,045 | 6.64% | 30,740 | 10.23% | — | — | — | — |
| Western Asia &Central Asia | 41,910 | 1.63% | 31,665 | 1.65% | 25,210 | 1.61% | 18,750 | 1.52% | 13,345 | 1.46% | 5,525 | 0.76% | 1,160 | 0.39% | — | — | — | — |
| Central America &South America | 27,420 | 1.07% | 33,730 | 1.75% | 36,095 | 2.3% | 36,175 | 2.93% | 29,880 | 3.26% | 39,600 | 5.47% | 15,020 | 5% | — | — | — | — |
| Northern Europe &Western Europe | 24,815 | 0.97% | 21,345 | 1.11% | 16,860 | 1.08% | 14,640 | 1.19% | 13,160 | 1.43% | 13,290 | 1.84% | 8,745 | 2.91% | — | — | — | — |
| Oceania | 19,180 | 0.75% | 23,480 | 1.22% | 22,305 | 1.42% | 21,410 | 1.74% | 20,990 | 2.29% | 15,775 | 2.18% | 5,700 | 1.9% | — | — | — | — |
| North America | 18,980 | 0.74% | 12,725 | 0.66% | 7,825 | 0.5% | 5,245 | 0.43% | 3,040 | 0.33% | 1,645 | 0.23% | 865 | 0.29% | — | — | — | — |
| Caribbean | 13,800 | 0.54% | 20,060 | 1.04% | 21,750 | 1.39% | 22,810 | 1.85% | 14,425 | 1.57% | 24,165 | 3.34% | 7,165 | 2.38% | — | — | — | — |
| Southeast Asia | 12,585 | 0.49% | 10,440 | 0.54% | 9,165 | 0.58% | 7,890 | 0.64% | 7,175 | 0.78% | 4,670 | 0.65% | 2,015 | 0.67% | — | — | — | — |
| Southern Europe | 2,505 | 0.1% | 1,150 | 0.06% | 275 | 0.02% | 345 | 0.03% | 290 | 0.03% | 200 | 0.03% | 80 | 0.03% | — | — | — | — |
| Eastern Asia | 2,405 | 0.09% | 2,035 | 0.11% | 1,710 | 0.11% | 1,075 | 0.09% | 1,185 | 0.13% | 865 | 0.12% | 425 | 0.14% | — | — | 16 | 1.14% |
| Eastern Europe | 810 | 0.03% | 415 | 0.02% | 335 | 0.02% | 185 | 0.02% | 170 | 0.02% | 75 | 0.01% | 40 | 0.01% | — | — | 11 | 0.79% |
| Other or Unspecified | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 36,615 | 2.34% | 24,700 | 2% | 18,825 | 2.05% | 15,810 | 2.19% | 495 | 0.16% | 4,147 | 61.22% | 23 | 1.64% |
| Native born | 737,760 | 28.69% | 593,885 | 30.86% | 484,140 | 30.89% | 345,970 | 28.05% | 265,160 | 28.91% | 217,030 | 30% | 85,810 | 28.54% | 2,627 | 38.78% | 230 | 16.43% |
| Foreign born | 1,833,640 | 71.31% | 1,330,750 | 69.14% | 1,083,265 | 69.11% | 887,305 | 71.95% | 651,910 | 71.09% | 506,320 | 70% | 214,820 | 71.46% | 4,147 | 61.22% | 1,170 | 83.57% |
| Total responses | 2,571,400 | 100% | 1,924,635 | 98.03% | 1,567,405 | 97% | 1,233,275 | 93.66% | 917,075 | 95.21% | 723,345 | 100% | 300,630 | 95.65% | 6,774 | 100% | 1,400 | 100% |
| Total population | 2,571,400 | 100% | 1,963,330 | 100% | 1,615,925 | 100% | 1,316,770 | 100% | 963,190 | 100% | 723,345 | 100% | 314,305 | 100% | 6,774 | 100% | 1,400 | 100% |
According to the 2021 census provinces with the largest South Asian Canadian populations include Ontario (1,515,295 persons or 10.8 percent of the total population), British Columbia (473,970 persons or 9.6 percent), Alberta (297,650 persons or 7.1 percent), Quebec (127,995 persons or 1.5 percent) and Manitoba (71,215 persons or 5.5 percent).[1]
Canadian provinces and territories by their ethnic South Asian population as per the2001 Canadian census,2006 Canadian census,2011 Canadian census,2016 Canadian census, and2021 Canadian census below.
| Province/territory | 2021[1] | 2016[70] | 2011[69] | 2006[68] | 2001[67] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Ontario | 1,515,295 | 10.8% | 1,182,845 | 8.93% | 1,003,180 | 7.93% | 833,315 | 6.93% | 592,500 | 5.25% |
| British Columbia | 473,970 | 9.64% | 365,705[127] | 8.02% | 313,440[128] | 7.25% | 265,595 | 6.52% | 210,420 | 5.44% |
| Alberta | 297,650 | 7.12% | 231,550 | 5.82% | 159,055 | 4.46% | 107,690 | 3.31% | 72,415 | 2.46% |
| Quebec | 127,995 | 1.54% | 95,670 | 1.2% | 91,395 | 1.18% | 76,990 | 1.04% | 62,585 | 0.88% |
| Manitoba | 71,215 | 5.45% | 43,150 | 3.48% | 26,220 | 2.23% | 17,800 | 1.57% | 14,135 | 1.28% |
| Saskatchewan | 44,725 | 4.05% | 29,960[129] | 2.8% | 12,620 | 1.25% | 5,510 | 0.58% | 4,220 | 0.44% |
| Nova Scotia | 21,650 | 2.26% | 8,495 | 0.94% | 5,935 | 0.65% | 4,830 | 0.53% | 3,515 | 0.39% |
| New Brunswick | 8,630 | 1.14% | 2,970 | 0.41% | 3,090 | 0.42% | 2,560 | 0.36% | 1,720 | 0.24% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 4,550 | 0.91% | 2,740 | 0.53% | 2,000 | 0.39% | 1,755 | 0.35% | 1,110 | 0.22% |
| Prince Edward Island | 3,740 | 2.49% | 975 | 0.7% | 500 | 0.36% | 255 | 0.19% | 140 | 0.1% |
| Northwest Territories | 775 | 1.92% | 615 | 1.5% | 200 | 0.49% | 210 | 0.51% | 200 | 0.54% |
| Yukon | 1,035 | 2.61% | 500[130] | 1.42% | 365[131] | 1.1% | 200 | 0.66% | 205 | 0.72% |
| Nunavut | 180 | 0.49% | 130 | 0.37% | 115 | 0.36% | 85[132] | 0.29% | 30 | 0.11% |
| Canada | 2,571,400 | 7.08% | 1,963,330 | 5.7% | 1,615,925 | 4.92% | 1,316,770 | 4.21% | 963,190 | 3.25% |
With immigration restrictions for non-European origin ethnocultural groups lifting during the 1960s, the South Asian Canadian population witnessed rapid growth in the mid-late 20th century, increasing from 67,925 persons or 0.3% of the total Canadian population in 1971 to 723,345 persons or 2.5% of the total Canadian population in 1996; this growth was primarily attributed to mass immigration.
Attributed to the large increase in immigration during the era, Ontario overtook British Columbia by 1971 as the province with the largest population of individuals with South Asian ancestry in Canada. The South Asian population in Ontario grew from 30,920 persons in 1971 to 427,470 persons by 1996; in British Columbia from 18,795 persons in 1971 to 165,010 persons by 1996.
During the same era, British Columbia would continue to be the province with the largest proportion of South Asian Canadians, increasing from 0.9% in 1971 to 4.5% by 1996, while the South Asian Canadian share of the total population in Ontario grew from 0.4% in 1971 to 4.0% by 1996.
Canadian provinces and territories by their ethnic South Asian population as per the1971 Canadian census,1981 Canadian census,1986 Canadian census,1991 Canadian census and1996 Canadian census below.
| Province/territory | 1996[66] | 1991[64]: 68 | 1986[62]: 34 | 1981[60]: 7 | 1971[59]: 2 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| Ontario | 427,470 | 4.02% | 285,600[133] | 2.86% | 161,395 | 1.79% | 93,990 | 1.1% | 30,920 | 0.4% |
| British Columbia | 165,010 | 4.47% | 118,200[133] | 3.64% | 78,810 | 2.77% | 56,210 | 2.07% | 18,795 | 0.86% |
| Alberta | 56,195 | 2.11% | 46,095 | 1.83% | 34,645 | 1.48% | 21,440 | 0.97% | 4,400 | 0.27% |
| Quebec | 50,645 | 0.72% | 34,305 | 0.5% | 21,485 | 0.33% | 14,150 | 0.22% | 6,510 | 0.11% |
| Manitoba | 12,905 | 1.17% | 10,870 | 1.01% | 8,855 | 0.84% | 5,055 | 0.5% | 3,205 | 0.32% |
| Saskatchewan | 3,985 | 0.41% | 3,695 | 0.38% | 4,165 | 0.42% | 2,200 | 0.23% | 1,625 | 0.18% |
| Nova Scotia | 3,810 | 0.42% | 2,790 | 0.31% | 2,450 | 0.28% | 1,685 | 0.2% | 1,345 | 0.17% |
| New Brunswick | 1,565 | 0.21% | 975 | 0.14% | 950 | 0.14% | 720 | 0.1% | 465 | 0.07% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1,060 | 0.19% | 1,090 | 0.19% | 860 | 0.15% | 725 | 0.13% | 460 | 0.09% |
| Prince Edward Island | 195 | 0.15% | 210 | 0.16% | 255 | 0.2% | 75 | 0.06% | 135 | 0.12% |
| Northwest Territories | 280[bi] | 0.44% | 220[bi] | 0.38% | 100[bi] | 0.19% | 55[bi] | 0.12% | 55[bi] | 0.16% |
| Yukon | 225 | 0.73% | 80 | 0.29% | 70 | 0.3% | 85 | 0.37% | 15 | 0.08% |
| Canada | 723,345 | 2.54% | 505,515[65]: 11 | 1.87% | 314,305[61]: 31 | 1.26% | 223,235[61]: 68 | 0.93% | 67,925 | 0.31% |
Immigration restrictions prior to the 1960s severely limited South Asian population growth in Canada. British Columbia was the only province to have notable populations during the early-to-mid 20th century, peaking in 1908 with approximately 5,209 persons, forming 1.6% of the provincial population.
Tightened immigration restrictions, heightened racial tensions, along with migration to the United States or a return to the subcontinent prompted a population decline in the following years; the 1911 census counted 2,292 persons of South Asian ancestry in British Columbia, comprising 0.6% of provincial population.
This was followed by another population decline in the ensuing 10 years with 951 persons of South Asian ancestry in British Columbia or 0.2% of the total population in 1921. During the ensuing 30 years, a population stagnation followed by a slow gradual increase in the South Asian Canadian population principally stemmed from natural growth, as immigration from the subcontinent has been essentially halted since 1908 due to theContinuous journey regulation.
In the 1950s, country quotas were introduced and permitted sponsorship of relatives, thus resulting in the first relatively major increase in the South Asian Canadian population since prior to 1908.
Canadian provinces and territories by their ethnic South Asian population as per the1871 Canadian census,1911 Canadian census,1921 Canadian census,1931 Canadian census,1941 Canadian census,1951 Canadian census, and1961 Canadian census below.
| Province/territory | 1961[58]: 5 | 1951[57]: 484 | 1941[55]: 272 [56]: 2 | 1931[54]: 503 | 1921[51]: 356 | 1911[37][51]: 354 | 1871[23][22][d] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
| British Columbia | 4,526 | 0.28% | 1,937 | 0.17% | 1,343 | 0.16% | 1,283 | 0.18% | 951 | 0.18% | 2,292 | 0.58% | — | — |
| Ontario | 1,155 | 0.02% | 76 | 0% | 21 | 0% | 43 | 0% | 28 | 0% | 17 | 0% | 8 | 0% |
| Quebec | 483 | 0.01% | 61 | 0% | 29 | 0% | 17 | 0% | 11 | 0% | 14 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Alberta | 208 | 0.02% | 27 | 0% | 48 | 0.01% | 33 | 0% | 10 | 0% | 3 | 0% | — | — |
| Manitoba | 198 | 0.02% | 15 | 0% | 7 | 0% | 13 | 0% | 8 | 0% | 13 | 0% | — | — |
| Saskatchewan | 115 | 0.01% | 5 | 0% | 2 | 0% | 7 | 0% | 6 | 0% | 0 | 0% | — | — |
| Nova Scotia | 46 | 0.01% | 23 | 0% | 15 | 0% | 3 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 3 | 0% |
| New Brunswick | 22 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 1 | 0% | 2 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 17 | 0% | 2 | 0% | —[bj] | — | —[bj] | — | —[bj] | — | —[bj] | — | —[bj] | — |
| Northwest Territories | 2[bi] | 0.01% | 1[bi] | 0.01% | 0[bi] | 0% | 0[bi] | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | — | — |
| Prince Edward Island | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | — | — |
| Yukon | 1 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | 1 | 0.02% | 1 | 0.01% | — | — |
| Canada | 6,774 | 0.04% | 2,148 | 0.02% | 1,465 | 0.01% | 1,400 | 0.01% | 1,016 | 0.01% | 2,342 | 0.03% | 11 | 0.0003% |
According to the 2021 census,metropolitan areas with large South Asian Canadian communities includeToronto (1,182,485),Vancouver (369,295),Calgary (153,200),Edmonton (123,340),Montréal (121,260),Winnipeg (63,805), andOttawa (60,780).[1]
Canadian metropolitan areas by their ethnic South Asian population as per the2011 Canadian census,2016 Canadian census, and2021 Canadian census below.
| Metro area | Province | 2021[1] | 2016[70] | 2011[69] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | ||
| Toronto | Ontario | 1,182,485 | 19.25% | 995,125 | 16.97% | 833,080 | 15.09% |
| Vancouver | British Columbia | 369,295 | 14.17% | 291,005[134] | 11.99% | 252,400 | 11.07% |
| Calgary | Alberta | 153,200 | 10.46% | 122,900[135] | 8.94% | 84,870 | 7.08% |
| Edmonton | Alberta | 123,340 | 8.82% | 91,600 | 7.06% | 61,135 | 5.36% |
| Montreal | Quebec | 121,260 | 2.88% | 90,815 | 2.26% | 79,540 | 2.12% |
| Winnipeg | Manitoba | 63,805 | 7.78% | 38,910 | 5.11% | 23,175 | 3.24% |
| Ottawa-Gatineau | Ontario-Quebec | 60,780 | 4.15% | 42,310 | 3.25% | 34,790 | 2.86% |
| Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | Ontario | 55,305 | 9.74% | 27,525 | 5.33% | 20,910 | 4.45% |
| Abbotsford-Mission | British Columbia | 49,835 | 25.94% | 38,250[134] | 21.69% | 32,245 | 19.35% |
| Hamilton | Ontario | 47,630 | 6.16% | 32,720 | 4.45% | 23,765 | 3.36% |
According to the 2021 census, subdivisions with the largest South Asian Canadian communities includeBrampton, Ontario (52.4%);Surrey, British Columbia (37.8%);Abbotsford, British Columbia (30.2%);Milton, Ontario (28.2%);Ajax, Ontario (26.2%);Delta, British Columbia (26.1%);Mississauga, Ontario (25.4%);Caledon, Ontario (21.4%);Pickering, Ontario (21.2%); andChestermere, Alberta (20.3%).[136] As of the 2021 census, Brampton is the first (and only) South Asian–majority city in Canada.
Source:2021 Canadian census[136]
National average:7.1%[bk]
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For much of the early 20th century restrictions such as thecontinuous journey regulation and quotas were placed on people immigrating from the countries of South Asia to prevent them fromimmigrating to Canada. When these restrictions were removed in the 1960s immigration from theIndian subcontinent and other places like the African Great Lakes, the Caribbean and Fiji gradually increased. As of 2012, India was the third largest source of immigrants for Canada behind thePhilippines andChina respectively. Pakistan was the fourth, Sri Lanka the seventeenth,Bangladesh the nineteenth andNepal the thirty-eighth. In addition immigrants to Canada arrive from regions such as theArab States of the Persian Gulf, the Caribbean and the African Great Lakes (as well as European countries). Historically, British Columbia was the traditional destination for Punjabi immigrants. Beginning in the 1970s, however, Ontario grew to become the top destination due to its job availability. In recent years migration to Alberta has also increased due to its comparatively stronger economy and better job market.
| Year | India | Pakistan | Bangladesh | Sri Lanka | Nepal | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 8 880 | 978 | 83 | 185 | 1 | 10 127 |
| 1981 | 8 670 | 972 | 84 | 371 | 1 | 10 098 |
| 1982 | 8 148 | 1 201 | 86 | 290 | 6 | 9 731 |
| 1983 | 7 338 | 900 | 81 | 197 | 1 | 8 517 |
| 1984 | 5 704 | 668 | 98 | 1 086 | 2 | 7 558 |
| 1985 | 4 211 | 514 | 92 | 845 | 4 | 5 666 |
| 1986 | 7 151 | 691 | 486 | 1 838 | 13 | 10 179 |
| 1987 | 10 189 | 1 072 | 503 | 4 447 | 6 | 16 217 |
| 1988 | 11 522 | 1 334 | 476 | 2 779 | 13 | 16 124 |
| 1989 | 10 343 | 2 261 | 387 | 2 758 | 4 | 15 753 |
| 1990 | 12 041 | 2 470 | 611 | 3 525 | 23 | 18 670 |
| 1991 | 13 733 | 3 079 | 1 115 | 7 266 | 29 | 25 222 |
| 1992 | 13 673 | 4 071 | 1 655 | 13 102 | 32 | 32 533 |
| 1993 | 21 496 | 4 777 | 1 280 | 9 563 | 40 | 37 156 |
| 1994 | 18 620 | 4 666 | 1 361 | 7 150 | 31 | 31 828 |
| 1995 | 18 488 | 4 994 | 2 042 | 9 368 | 66 | 34 958 |
| 1996 | 23 859 | 9 125 | 2 824 | 6 484 | 132 | 42 424 |
| 1997 | 22 268 | 13 073 | 3 378 | 5 415 | 155 | 44 289 |
| 1998 | 17 241 | 9 068 | 2 202 | 3 566 | 104 | 32 181 |
| 1999 | 18 974 | 9 979 | 2 064 | 4 982 | 157 | 36 156 |
| 2000 | 28 535 | 15 395 | 3 117 | 6 077 | 236 | 53 360 |
| 2001 | 31 204 | 16 705 | 3 832 | 5 860 | 272 | 57 873 |
| 2002 | 31 894 | 15 092 | 2 944 | 5 272 | 363 | 55 565 |
| 2003 | 27 135 | 13 204 | 2 138 | 4 886 | 312 | 47 675 |
| 2004 | 28 199 | 13 399 | 2 660 | 4 489 | 403 | 49 150 |
| 2005 | 36 179 | 14 314 | 4 171 | 4 918 | 607 | 60 189 |
| 2006 | 33 773 | 13 128 | 4 012 | 4 651 | 540 | 56 104 |
| 2007 | 28 731 | 10 123 | 2 897 | 4 097 | 511 | 46 359 |
| 2008 | 28 257 | 8 984 | 2 939 | 4 751 | 581 | 45 512 |
| 2009 | 29 452 | 7 215 | 2 106 | 4 543 | 561 | 43 877 |
| 2010 | 34 226 | 6 812 | 4 721 | 4 420 | 1 392 | 51 571 |
| 2011 | 27 488 | 7 467 | 2 694 | 3 310 | 1 129 | 42 088 |
| 2012 | 30 920 | 11 208 | 2 634 | 3 338 | 1 185 | 49 285 |
| 2013 | 33 078 | 12 611 | 3 792 | 2 394 | 1 308 | 53 183 |
| 2014 | 38 330 | 9 113 | 2 233 | 2 604 | 1 219 | 53 499 |
| 2015 | 39 340 | 11 295 | 3 305 | 1 785 | 1 525 | 57 250 |
| 2016 | 39 705 | 11 350 | 3 230 | 1 535 | 755 | 56 575 |
| 2017 | 51 590 | 7 655 | 3 190 | 2 150 | 1 110 | 65 695 |
| 2018 | 69 980 | 9 490 | 3 205 | 2 165 | 1 400 | 86 240 |
| 2019 | 85 585 | 10 790 | 3 395 | 2 235 | 1 410 | 103 415 |
| 2020 | 42 885 | 6 230 | 1 615 | 1 010 | 570 | 52 310 |
| Total | 1,059,035 | 307,473 | 85,738 | 161,707 | 18,209 | 1,632,162 |
In 2021, just over 25 million people reported being White in the census, representing close to 70% of the total Canadian population. The vast majority reported being White only, while 2.4% also reported one or more other racialized groups.
The first Sikhs came to Golden about 1902, arriving to work in the sawmill of the Columbia River Lumber Company. When the Sikhs arrived in Golden the community was in its infancy and the sawmill had recently opened. The Columbia River Lumber Company recognized the value of these tall strong men and had no problem with the men. They hired them to work in the lumberyard, planer, and sawmill. The first documented proof that we have of South Asians of the Sikh faith being residents of Golden is a copy of a telegram sent to G.T. Bradshaw, Chief of Police, New Westminster from Colin Cameron, Chief of Police, Golden, BC on July 20, 1902. It was sent collect and reads: Geha Singh of Golden sent a telegram to Santa Singh care of Small and Bucklin for one thousand dollars.
The original temple in Golden sat on a corner of a lot, in the south western area of town at the end of the street looking toward where Rona is now. The largest influx of men came from South Asia around 1905, which would be the time period that the temple in Golden would have begun services. In 1926, a fire burned the timber limits of the Columbia River Lumber Company, where the South Asian men worked.
We acknowledge the Gurdwara in Golden as the first in BC, and quite likely the first in North America," said Pyara Lotay, on behalf of the local Sikh community. "We thank the BC government for recognizing Golden's Sikh pioneers and their place of worship with this Stop of Interest.
The original temple sat on the corner of a lot, which is now owned by Gurmit Manhas, at the end of the street past the School Board Office looking towards the Rona. Plans are being put together to erect a kiosk there that would share information about the original building, the first South Asian people to Canada, the importance of the Gurdwara to the Sikh people and the history of why they left and what brought them back. The largest influx of men came from South Asia in about 1905-06, which would be the time period that the Temple would have begun services. In 1926 a fire burned the timber limits of the Columbia River Lumber Company, where all the South Asian men worked and the men left for the coast having no work to do. When the forest started to grow back the men came back and soon it was necessary to build the present Gurdwara on 13th Street South.
[...]On Oct. 6, 1912, Teja Singh led a historic procession celebrating the dedication of the Khalsa Diwan temple in Victoria[...]
Long since torn down with the rest of the Millside homes, descriptions of the Fraser Mills gurdwara, built in 1912, are the only visual references found, so far, of the building's interior. Ossi Thandi was born at Fraser Mills and her grandfather, Jewen Singh, is listed as the "priest" there in a 1923 publication by Rajani Kanta Das, "The Hindustanee Workers on the Pacific Coast." Ironically, a good description of the temple's interior comes from one of the French Canadians hired to supplant Sikh labour at Fraser Mills. Though his understanding of what he saw is riddled with inaccurate terms, he nevertheless provides us with a description of the interior.
The Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar is one of the oldest Sikh temples in the country and its members are celebrating the milestone anniversary by reflecting on its historic significance to the local Sikh community. The temple was actually founded more than 100 years ago when a pioneering Sikh named Bhai Bishan Singh bought a house next door to where the building is now. Singh paid $250 for the house, which served as a place of worship until the congregation grew too large. In 1919, Singh bought the neighbouring lot at 347 Wood Street and the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar was born.
The Khalsa Diwan Society New Westminster is inviting community members to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Gurdwara Sahib Sukh Sagar in Queensborough. Since opening in 1919, the temple has become an integral part of the Queensborough and New Westminster communities, and has provided a place for Sikhs from New Westminster and the Lower Mainland to gather and to worship. "It is starting up on Thursday and it will be four days, with the main event on Sunday. It's open to anyone within the community – in Queensborough and in New West. It's to show support, learn about each other and the heritage," said Jag Sall, a member of the committee that's organizing the celebration. "I don't think a lot of people know that the Sikh community has been in Queensborough for over 100 years, and/or the gurdwara itself has been there that long. Not just the Sikh community, but other communities in Queensborough have been living there for a century."
Every Sunday in 1919, the Sikhs of Queensborough on the Fraser River would stroll over to the house of Bhai Bishan Singh for worship. Singh, like many Punjabi immigrants, settled in the New Westminster neighbourhood because he worked upriver at a sawmill. A devout Sikh, he had the holy scripture installed in his home, the Guru Granth Sahib. Singh was a bachelor and gave much of his earnings to the local Khalsa Diwan Society, which in 1908 had built BC's first gurdwara, the Sikh place of worship, in Vancouver. In March 1919, Singh helped the Sikhs of New Westminster start a gurdwara of their own. For $250, Singh bought the property next door and donated it to the society. Later, he would donate his house as well.
The town's cultural centres were the Japanese community hall and the Sikh Temple, which officially opened July 1, 1919, to coincide with Dominion Day.
Paldi's Gurdwara was built in 1919 and soon became one of the most important fixtures of the community, even surviving several town fires.
In 1919, Mayo built a Sikh temple, or a gurdwara.
Wherever there are five or more Sikh's there will be Sikh Temple even just a spare room in some ones house. Therefore it was only that once the natural that once the mill and bunkhouses were erected the next building should be a Temple. The first official Temple in Paldi was built in 1919. On the same spot where the present Temple is located.
NRI Naranjan Singh Grewall was the first (Indo Canadian) Mayor of Mission, BC, Canada and the first Indo Canadian mayor within any city in Canada, in 1954. He was elected Canada's first Sikh city councilor, to a public office in Mission, not only in Canada, but all of North America in 1950. In 1941, he came to Mission, BC from Toronto, Ontario. He purchased and became the operator of six lumber companies across the Fraser Valley. Referring to holders of forest management licenses as 'Timber Maharajahs', he warned that within 10 years 3 or 4 giant corporations would effectively control the industry in BC. Mr. Grewall became a voice for the growing industry and openly critiqued the then government's policies of granting licenses to their friends. Throughout his life, Naranjan Grewall remained incredibly charitable.
Known as "Giani" to his friends, Naranjan Grewall is believed to be the first Indian ever elected to political office in North America. Grewall was born in East Punjab. He came to BC in 1925 and in 1941 moved to Mission City, a small mill town in the Fraser Valley. Grewall worked as a millwright at Fraser Mills and was elected a union official. He came to own and operate six sawmill companies and established himself as one of the largest employers and most influential business leaders in the area. After being in Mission for almost a decade, Grewall decided to run for political office in 1950. He competed against six other candidates in Mission's board of commissioners election.
Already a popular and well-respected man, he topped the polls, beating out seven candidates in a historic victory, especially given that Indo-Canadians had only been given the right to vote three years before. While Indo-Canadians had gained respect in business, racism still existed, especially regarding elite positions in society. The Vancouver Daily Province newspaper ran an article with the headline, "First in BC and believed first East Indian in Canada to hold public office." He was re-elected in 1952, and again in 1954. The same year the Board unanimously voted to name him Chairman of the Board, which gave him similar duties and influence to that of a Mayor. During his years in public office, he continued his community involvement and large-scale business ventures. He also fought for the building of a new Mission bridge as well as against prohibitive diking taxes [...] Naranjan Singh Grewall was even more passionate about the Forestry industry. At that time, the SoCred government in provincial power was embroiled in a corruption scandal. The Minister of Forestry was suspected of giving away significant amounts of timber rights to previously declined lumber corporations, often his personal friends. Worse, the premier W.A.C. Bennet seemed to be purposefully looking the other way. This infuriated Mr. Grewall, who termed the present holders of forest management licenses "timber maharajas", believing that the current system could revert to a form of feudalism he had left behind in India.
In 1950, Naranjan Grewall became the first Hindu (as it was phrased at that time) in Canada to be elected to public office, after the voting franchise was extended to visible minority groups in 1947. In 1954, he was appointed to the position of mayor of Mission City by the board and later ran for the CCF in the Dewdney riding in 1956 [...] The two most legendary personalities from the Sikh community who graced Mission, and both employed hundreds of people, owning several large mills in the area, were Herman Braich Sr. and Naranjan Grewall.
He was later nominated as a provincial candidate for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in 1956, making him also the first visible minority to run as a candidate in Canada. He was narrowly defeated by Socred Labour Minister Lyle Wicks. [...] And one of those legacies he left behind was the Mission Tree Farm. In 1958, Mission was the first municipality to be given responsibility to monitor their own forest called Tree Farm License #26. [...] During the much-heated 1956 provincial election, Grewall, as a CCF candidate, commonly addressed the issues of taxes, bridges, farmers and the forestry industry, which he claimed were being "monopolized" by a handful of large companies in the province. Grewall referred to these stakeholders as "timber maharajahs," and said the system would revert to a "form of feudalism, which I left 30 years ago."
[...] Naranjan Grewall was a polarizing figure. He was a wealthy man who gave freely and generously to worthy causes yet fought against many of the practices that were responsible for the wealth of many of the businessmen whom he rubbed shoulders with every day. He was well respected in the community of Mission and beyond – yet there were 14 suspicious fires in sawmills he was part owner of and his own house was set ablaze by an unknown arsonist. His wife was well aware of the dangers he faced although he kept his suspicions as to who was behind the threats to himself. True to his self-reliant and honorable reputation, he refused to name anyone or make any official complaints without proof. Naranjan Grewall's death which occurred on a business trip to Seattle was officially labelled a suicide. Some of his close friends went to Seattle to try and make sense of the tragedy. What they discovered only raised more questions and indicated that the police investigation was certainly very limited in scope. There were reports of a loud quarrel in his room at the Star Motel and later that same night he moved to a different motel. There was alcohol found in the same room as his body and Grewall was never known to have drank alcohol, yet the police insist that he was alone in the room at all times.
"It's murder!" Those words of Helen Grewall were echoed by many friends of her late husband – former Mission Mayor Naranjan Singh Grewall – after his suspicious death in a Seattle hotel in the summer of 1957.
Fifteen-year-old Sabine is living a comfortable and privileged live in Uganda — until General Idi Amin, the military president, declares that all Indians living in the country have 90 days to leave... or else. The declaration turns the country, and Sabine's world, upside down, as she learns just how different she is from many of her friends. When her uncle goes missing, her parents must flee — and she is left to protect herself and her brother. A gripping and engaging story about seeing the ugliness in the world, and finding inner strength in the face of it.
The majority of Canadians of East Indian origin are either Sikh or Hindu. In 2001, 34% said they were Sikh, while 27% said they were Hindu. Another 17% were Muslim, 9% were Catholic and 7% belonged to a mainline Protestant denomination or other Christian grouping. On the other hand, relatively few Canadians of East Indian origin have no religious affiliation. That year, just 4% of people who reported East Indian origin said they had no religious affiliation, compared with 17% of the overall population.
In 1991, the largest visible minority groups in Ontario were Blacks (311,000 or 3.1% of the provincial population), Chinese (290,400 or 2.9%), and South Asians (285,600 or 2.9%) [...] In 1991, the predominant visible minority group in British Columbia was Chinese (192,300 or 5.9% of the provincial population), followed by South Asians (118,200 or 3.6%) [...]
