Swedish Canadians

Last updated

Swedish Canadians
Svenskkanadensare (Swedish)
Suédo-canadiens (French)
Flag of Sweden.svg Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg
Total population
349,640 (by ancestry, 2016 Census ) [1]
1.0% of Canada's population
Regions with significant populations
Languages
Related ethnic groups

Swedish Canadians (Swedish : Svenskkanadensare) are Canadian citizens of Swedish ancestry or Swedes who emigrated to and reside in Canada. The Swedish Canadian community in Canada numbered 349,640 in the 2016 population census. The vast majority of them reside west of Lake Superior, primarily in Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Toronto is the most popular settlement spot for newcomers. [2] Despite having an influential presence and distinctive cultural bond, only 14,000 Canadian persons of Swedish descent speak Swedish. [3]

Contents

History

Swedish Canadian
Population History
YearPop.±%
192161,503    
193181,306+32.2%
194185,396+5.0%
195197,780+14.5%
1961121,757+24.5%
1971101,870−16.3%
198178,360−23.1%
1986203,875+160.2%
1991236,660+16.1%
1996278,975+17.9%
2001282,760+1.4%
2006334,765+18.4%
2011341,845+2.1%
2016349,640+2.3%
Source: Statistics Canada
[4] :17 [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]
Note: 1981 Canadian census did not include multiple ethnic origin responses, thus population is an undercount.

A few Swedes immigrated into Canada before it became a country in 1867, but the first real wave of immigration began in the late 1890s and ended with the onset of the First World War in 1914. Included in this group were a significant number[ quantify ] of farmers who had settled first in the United States.

The first Swede, Jacob Fahlström, arrived in Canada in 1809, as an employee of the Hudson's Bay Company. He was succeeded in 1812 by another Swedish man, who was accompanied by two other men from Norway and Ireland to populate the Red River Colony in lower Manitoba. A much more substantive wave of Swedish settlers immigrated to Canada from the United States between 1868 and 1914, as land for farming became more and more scarce in America. Crop failures in their home country between 1866 and 1868 encouraged a similar exodus from Sweden.[ citation needed ]

The second and largest wave, which came during the 1920s, endured both the depression of the 1930s and the Second World War 1939–45. The third wave, although not as numerous, has been steady since the 1950s. [2]

The immigrant pattern in Canada differs slightly from their counterpart in the United States. Whereas the majority of the earlier Swedish immigrants in America are from south-central Sweden, a significant portion of the Swedish immigrants in Canada are from the Stockholm region and Northern Sweden. [17]

As the economic situation improved after the Second World War, the overall emigration rate of Sweden slowed considerably. Very much like recent Swedish emigrants found in other parts of the world, many of the newcomers are connected with Swedish companies, and do not intend to remain in the country permanently.[ citation needed ]

Spatial distribution

Most Swedes settled in western Canada, from Northern Ontario to British Columbia. There were only a handful of strictly Swedish communities, the earliest being Scandinavia, Manitoba, in 1885 and Stockholm, Saskatchewan, in 1886. The Census of Canada shows that Swedish immigrants could be found scattered throughout every province and territory, with pockets in rural areas and in some towns and cities.

Winnipeg acted as the Swedish capital of Canada until the 1940s when Vancouver took over this title. A significant number[ quantify ] of Swedes live in Calgary and Edmonton and their environs, but the Toronto area is home to the largest concentration of newcomers, where it has one of the largest concentration of Swedish business in North America. [18]

More than 175 places' names in Canada are of Swedish origin, [19] which include Uppsala (Ontario), Stockholm (Saskatchewan) and Thorsby (Alberta).

Swedish Canadians by province or territory

Swedish Canadian population by province and territory in Canada in 2011:

Province or territory Swedish CanadiansPercentage
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 341,8451.1%
Flag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia 106,0852.45%
Flag of Alberta.svg  Alberta 96,8902.72%
Flag of Ontario.svg  Ontario 67,7950.54%
Flag of Saskatchewan.svg  Saskatchewan 32,7053.24%
Flag of Manitoba.svg  Manitoba 22,5751.92%
Flag of Quebec.svg  Quebec 6,2650.08%
Flag of Nova Scotia.svg  Nova Scotia 3,8150.42%
Flag of New Brunswick.svg  New Brunswick 2,6400.36%
Flag of Newfoundland and Labrador.svg  Newfoundland and Labrador 9550.18%
Flag of Yukon.svg  Yukon 9452.84%
Flag of Prince Edward Island.svg  Prince Edward Island 6000.44%
Flag of the Northwest Territories.svg  Northwest Territories 5101.25%
Flag of Nunavut.svg  Nunavut 650.21%

Assimilation

Assimilation was considered by most Swedes as a primary goal to succeed.[ citation needed ] Early immigrants made every effort to master the English language[ citation needed ] while supporting a fairly large number of Swedish-language newspapers, including two weeklies. The only Swedish magazine in North America today, the Swedish Press, is published in Vancouver.

Swedes are accustomed to four distinct seasons. Although Sweden is located quite far north (in the Western Hemisphere it would lie in the middle of Hudson Bay), the Gulf Stream keeps Sweden significantly more temperate than would be expected. The reason that so many Swedes settled on the prairies, despite the very different landscape and significantly colder winters, was the availability of land.

Notable Swedish Canadians

Noteworthy Canadians of Swedish origin include former NHL Hockey star Daniel Alfredsson, who is originally from Sweden but has lived in Canada since playing 19 years for the Ottawa Senators, and he eventually acquired Canadian citizenship in September 2016; Canadian Senator Pamela Wallin; Judge Tom Berger, who headed the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline inquiry; architect Arthur Erickson, who designed Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto and the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.; singer-songwriter and recording artist Michael Saxell; Harry Strom, who was the premier of Alberta (1968–1971); naturalist Louise de Kiriline Lawrence, who was the most prolific contributor to the Audubon; and Ralph Gustafson, who won the Governor General's Award for poetry in 1974.


See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Canada</span>

Statistics Canada conducts a country-wide census that collects demographic data every five years on the first and sixth year of each decade. The 2021 Canadian census enumerated a total population of 36,991,981, an increase of around 5.2 percent over the 2016 figure. It is estimated that Canada's population surpassed 40 million in 2023 and 41 million in 2024. Between 1990 and 2008, the population increased by 5.6 million, equivalent to 20.4 percent overall growth. The main driver of population growth is immigration, with 6.2% of the country's population being made up of temporary residents as of 2023, or about 2.5 million people. Between 2011 and May 2016, Canada's population grew by 1.7 million people, with immigrants accounting for two-thirds of the increase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polish Canadians</span> Canadians with Polish ancestry

Polish Canadians are citizens of Canada with Polish ancestry, and Poles who immigrated to Canada from abroad. At the 2016 Census, there were 1,106,585 Canadians who claimed full or partial Polish heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dutch Canadians</span> Ethnic group

Dutch Canadians are Canadians with full or partial Dutch ancestry. According to the Canada 2006 Census, there were 1,035,965 Canadians of Dutch descent, including those of full or partial ancestry. This increased to 1,111,655 or about 4.2% of the entire population of Canada in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slovene Canadians</span> Ethnic group

Slovene Canadians are Canadian citizens of Slovene descent or Slovenian-born people who reside in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finnish Canadians</span> Canadians of Finnish ancestry

Finnish Canadians are Canadian citizens of Finnish ancestry or Finns who emigrated to and reside in Canada. In 2016, 143,645 Canadians claimed Finnish ancestry. Finns started coming to Canada in the early 1880s, and in much larger numbers in the early 20th century and well into the mid-20th century. Finnish immigration to Canada was often a direct result of economic depressions and wars, or in the aftermath of major conflicts like the Finnish Civil War. Canada was often chosen as a final destination because of the similarity in climate and natural conditions, while employment in logging or homesteading attracted landless farmers in the early 20th century. Migratory movements of Finns between Canada and the United States was very common as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Icelandic Canadians</span> Canadians with Icelandic ancestry or were born in Iceland

Icelandic Canadians are Canadian citizens of Icelandic ancestry, or Iceland-born people who reside in Canada.

Danish Canadians are Canadian citizens of Danish ancestry. According to the 2006 Census, there were 200,035 Canadians with Danish background, 17,650 of whom were born in Denmark.

The demographics of Metro Vancouver indicate a multicultural and multiracial region. Metro Vancouver is a metropolitan area, with its major urban centre being Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Vancouver census metropolitan area, as defined by Statistics Canada, encompasses roughly the same territory as the Metro Vancouver Regional District, a regional district in British Columbia. The regional district includes 23 local authorities. Figures provided here are for the Vancouver census metropolitan area and not for the City of Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Ontario</span>

Ontario, one of the 13 provinces and territories of Canada, is located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province by a large margin, accounting for nearly 40 percent of all Canadians, and is the second-largest province in total area. Ontario is fourth-largest in total area when the territories of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut are included. It is home to the nation's capital city, Ottawa, and the nation's most populous city, Toronto.

Norwegian Canadians refer to Canadian citizens who identify themselves as being of full or partial Norwegian ancestry, or people who emigrated from Norway and reside in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh Canadians</span> Canadians of Welsh ancestry or Wales-born people who reside in Canada

Welsh Canadians are Canadian citizens of Welsh descent or Wales-born people who reside in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Alberta</span>

Alberta has experienced a relatively high rate of growth in recent years, due in large part to its economy. Between 2003 and 2004, the province saw high birthrates, relatively high immigration, and a high rate of interprovincial migration when compared to other provinces. Approximately 81% of the population live in urban areas and only about 19% live in rural areas. The Calgary–Edmonton Corridor is the most urbanized area in Alberta and is one of Canada's four most urban regions. Many of Alberta's cities and towns have also experienced high rates of growth in recent history. From a population of 73,022 in 1901, Alberta has grown to 4,262,635 in 2021 and in the process has gone from less than 1.5% of Canada's population to 11.5%. It is the fourth most populated province in Canada. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, the Alberta population grew by 4.8%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Prince Edward Island</span> Demographics of region

Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province. According to the 2011 National Household Survey, the largest ethnic group consists of people of Scottish descent (39.2%), followed by English (31.1%), Irish (30.4%), French (21.1%), German (5.2%), and Dutch (3.1%) descent. Prince Edward Island is mostly a white community and there are few visible minorities. Chinese people are the largest visible minority group of Prince Edward Island, comprising 1.3% of the province's population. Almost half of respondents identified their ethnicity as "Canadian." Prince Edward Island is by a strong margin the most Celtic and specifically the most Scottish province in Canada and perhaps the most Scottish place (ethnically) in the world, outside Scotland. 38% of islanders claim Scottish ancestry, but this is an underestimate and it is thought that almost 50% of islanders have Scottish roots. When combined with Irish and Welsh, almost 80% of islanders are of some Celtic stock, albeit most families have resided in PEI for at least two centuries. Few places outside Europe can claim such a homogeneous Celtic ethnic background. The only other jurisdiction in North America with such a high percentage of British Isles heritage is Newfoundland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Saskatchewan</span>

Saskatchewan is the middle province of Canada's three Prairie provinces. It has an area of 651,900 km2 (251,700 mi2) and a population of 1,132,505 (Saskatchewanians) as of 2021. Saskatchewan's population is made of 50.3% women and 49.7% men. Most of its population lives in the Southern half of the province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Newfoundland and Labrador</span>

Newfoundland and Labrador is a province of Canada on the country's Atlantic coast in northeastern North America. The province has an area of 405,212 square kilometres and a population in 2024 of 545,247, with approximately 95% of the provincial population residing on the Island of Newfoundland, with more than half of the population residing on the Avalon Peninsula. People from Newfoundland and Labrador are called "Newfoundlanders," "Labradorians", or "Newfoundlanders and Labradorians".

Lake Cowichan is a town located near the eastern end of Cowichan Lake and, by highway, is a little over one hour northwest of Victoria, British Columbia. The town of Lake Cowichan was incorporated in 1944 and serves as the focal point of the Cowichan Lake Area, home to the indigenous c̓uubaʕsaʔtx̣ people. The Cowichan River flows through the middle of the town. The Cowichan River is designated as a Heritage River, and is also a popular location for tubing.

Nordic and Scandinavian Canadians are Canadian citizens with ancestral roots in the Nordic countries and/or Scandinavia

Belgian Canadians are Canadian citizens of Belgian ancestry or Belgium-born people who reside in Canada. According to the 2011 census there were 176,615 Canadians who claimed full or partial Belgian ancestry. It encompasses immigrants from both French and Dutch-speaking parts of Belgium.

Austrian Canadians are Canadian citizens who are of Austrian ancestry or Austrian-born people who reside in Canada. According to the 2021 Census, there were 189,535 Canadians who claimed either full or partial Austrian ancestry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yugoslav Canadians</span> Ethnic group

Yugoslav Canadians are Canadians of full or partial Yugoslav ancestry. At the 2016 Census, the total number of Canadians whose origins lie in former Yugoslavia, majority of whom indicated specific ethnic origin, was 386,340 or 1.12% of the total population.

References

  1. "Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity Highlight Tables". statcan.gc.ca. October 25, 2017. Archived from the original on October 27, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Swedish". Library and Archives Canada. September 25, 2020. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  3. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (May 8, 2013). "2011 National Household Survey Profile – Province/Territory". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  4. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (July 29, 1999). "Historical statistics of Canada, section A: Population and migration – ARCHIVED". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  5. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (April 3, 2013). "Ninth census of Canada, 1951 = Neuvième recensement du Canada Vol. 1. Population: general characteristics". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  6. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (April 3, 2013). "1961 Census of Canada : population : vol. I – part 2 = 1961 Recensement du Canada : population : vol. I – partie 2. Ethnic groups". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  7. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (April 3, 2013). "1971 Census of Canada : population : vol. I – part 3 = Recensement du Canada 1971 : population : vol. I – partie 3. Ethnic groups". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  8. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (April 3, 2013). "1981 Census of Canada : volume 1 – national series : population = Recensement du Canada de 1981 : volume 1 – série nationale : population. Ethnic origin". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  9. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (April 3, 2013). "Census Canada 1986 Profile of ethnic groups". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  10. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (April 3, 2013). "1986 Census of Canada: Ethnic Diversity In Canada". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 12, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  11. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (April 3, 2013). "1991 Census: The nation. Ethnic origin". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  12. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (June 4, 2019). "Data tables, 1996 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (188) and Sex (3), Showing Single and Multiple Responses (3), for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Census Metropolitan Areas, 1996 Census (20% Sample Data)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  13. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (December 23, 2013). "Ethnic Origin (232), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Responses (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census – 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  14. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (May 1, 2020). "Ethnic Origin (247), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census – 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 21, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  15. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (January 23, 2019). "Ethnic Origin (264), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  16. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (June 17, 2019). "Ethnic Origin (279), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age (12) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census – 25% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  17. "Migration | Multicultural Canada". Archived from the original on February 29, 2012. Retrieved May 25, 2012.
  18. Ruprecht, Tony. Toronto's Many Faces
  19. "Swedish people in Canada Research Project sponsored by the Lakehead Social History Institute – Home". www.swedesincanada.ca. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.

Further reading