கனேடிய தமிழர் | |
---|---|
Total population | |
237,890 [1] [lower-alpha 1] 0.7% of the total Canadian population (2021) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Greater Toronto, Greater Montreal, Greater Vancouver, Calgary Region, Edmonton Region, National Capital Region | |
Languages | |
Tamil, Canadian English, Canadian French | |
Religion | |
Predominantly: Hinduism (75.8%) Minorities: Christianity (17.4%) Irreligion (5.5%) Islam (1.0%) Buddhism (0.13%) Sikhism (0.04%) Judaism (0.02%) Indigenous (0.01%) Others (0.1%) [2] [lower-alpha 2] | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Indian Tamils, Sri Lankan Tamils |
Part of a series on |
Tamils |
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Tamilportal |
Tamil Canadians, or Canadian Tamils, are Canadians of Tamil ethno-linguistic origin. Much of Canada's Tamil diaspora from India and Sri Lanka then majority consist of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who sought to flee the ethnic tensions during the Sri Lankan Civil War between the 1970s and 2000s, while economic Tamil migrants also originate from India, Singapore and other parts of South Asia.
Canada's Tamil population is among the largest in the Western world, with Toronto being home to one of the largest Tamil-speaking populations outside of Asia.
From a population of fewer than 150 in 1983, Tamils have become one of the largest ethnic groups within the Greater Toronto Area, and form an increasing share of the overall Canadian population. As per the 2021 Canadian census, Tamil Canadians number approximately 240,000 and account for roughly 0.7% of Canada's population. [1] [lower-alpha 1]
With the outbreak of riots and eventual civil war in Sri Lanka in 1983, Tamil migration to Canada increased significantly. In 2000, Sri Lanka was the sixth largest source country of immigrants to Canada, sending 5,841 people or 2.57% of Canada's immigrant total. Between 1991 and 2001, Sri Lanka was the fifth largest source country of immigrants to Canada, after China, India, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. [3]
Between 2001 and 2010 Sri Lanka's rank dropped to 17 in the list of immigrant source countries to Canada. Well behind the major source countries China (327,317), India (277,819) and Philippines (191,121). [4] In 2010 immigrants from Sri Lanka consisted of only 1.4% of Canada's immigrant total of 280,681.
Most permanent residents from Sri Lanka came as either independent immigrants, refugees, or family class sponsored immigrants.
Refugee claimants are an independent category of Tamils from Sri Lanka who arrived in Canada and are claiming protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. After 2001 there have been no Government of Canada or private sponsored Tamil refugees to Canada. There are 141,074 UNHCR recognized Tamil refugees in non-signatory countries. There are a total of 589,639 refugees from Sri Lanka in 2011 who have registered with the UNHCR in non-signatory countries. [5]
Year [6] | Permanent residents | Refugee claimants | Government/private sponsored refugees |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | 4,728 | 2,802 | 3 |
2000 | 5,849 | 2,898 | 7 |
2001 | 5,520 | 2,824 | 0 |
2002 | 4,968 | 1,589 | 0 |
2003 | 4,448 | 1,239 | 0 |
2004 | 4,135 | 1,134 | 0 |
2005 | 4,690 | 854 | 0 |
2006 | 4,490 | 862 | 0 |
2007 | 3,934 | 779 | 0 |
2008 | 4,509 | 1,013 | 0 |
2009 | 4,269 | 2,758 | 0 |
2010 | 4,181 | 2,778 | 0 |
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1991 | 37,330 | — |
1996 | 80,635 | +116.0% |
2001 | 111,580 | +38.4% |
2006 | 138,675 | +24.3% |
2011 | 179,465 | +29.4% |
2016 | 189,860 | +5.8% |
2021 | 237,890 | +25.3% |
Source: Statistics Canada [1] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] : 184 |
Religious group | 2021 [2] [lower-alpha 2] | |
---|---|---|
Pop. | % | |
Hinduism | 77,440 | 75.79% |
Christianity | 17,775 | 17.4% |
Irreligion | 5,610 | 5.49% |
Islam | 1,050 | 1.03% |
Buddhism | 135 | 0.13% |
Sikhism | 40 | 0.04% |
Judaism | 20 | 0.02% |
Indigenous spirituality | 10 | 0.01% |
Other | 100 | 0.1% |
Total Tamil Canadian responses | 102,175 [lower-alpha 2] | 42.95% |
Total Tamil Canadian population | 237,890 [lower-alpha 1] | 100% |
Province/ territory | 2021 [1] | 2016 [7] | 2011 [8] | 2006 [9] | 2001 [10] | 1996 [11] | 1991 [12] | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
Ontario | 192,890 | 1.37% | 157,700 | 1.19% | 149,030 | 1.17% | 117,390 | 0.98% | 92,465 | 0.82% | 67,085 | 0.63% | 29,270 | 0.29% |
Quebec | 20,050 | 0.24% | 17,245 | 0.22% | 19,460 | 0.25% | 13,965 | 0.19% | 13,180 | 0.18% | 9,440 | 0.13% | 5,315 | 0.08% |
Alberta | 10,105 | 0.24% | 7,195 | 0.18% | 3,995 | 0.11% | 1,940 | 0.06% | 1,630 | 0.06% | 1,255 | 0.05% | 940 | 0.04% |
British Columbia | 9,740 | 0.2% | 5,445 | 0.12% | 5,345 | 0.12% | 4,230 | 0.1% | 3,270 | 0.08% | 1,710 | 0.05% | 865 | 0.03% |
Nova Scotia | 1,570 | 0.16% | 450 | 0.05% | 350 | 0.04% | 155 | 0.02% | 210 | 0.02% | 165 | 0.02% | 130 | 0.01% |
Saskatchewan | 1,120 | 0.1% | 635 | 0.06% | 335 | 0.03% | 390 | 0.04% | 230 | 0.02% | 300 | 0.03% | 180 | 0.02% |
Manitoba | 1,100 | 0.08% | 655 | 0.05% | 330 | 0.03% | 360 | 0.03% | 360 | 0.03% | 475 | 0.04% | 455 | 0.04% |
New Brunswick | 725 | 0.1% | 190 | 0.03% | 125 | 0.02% | 45 | 0.01% | 75 | 0.01% | 60 | 0.01% | 45 | 0.01% |
Prince Edward Island | 140 | 0.09% | 40 | 0.03% | 50 | 0.04% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.01% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 80 | 0.02% | 245 | 0.05% | 150 | 0.03% | 175 | 0.03% | 130 | 0.03% | 135 | 0.02% | 105 | 0.02% |
Northwest Territories | 80 | 0.2% | 20 | 0.05% | 25 | 0.06% | 10 | 0.02% | 15 | 0.04% | 20 | 0.03% | 15 | 0.03% |
Yukon | 40 | 0.1% | 45 | 0.13% | 20 | 0.06% | 15 | 0.05% | 10 | 0.04% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% |
Nunavut | 25 | 0.07% | 20 | 0.06% | 10 | 0.03% | 0 | 0% | 0 | 0% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Canada | 237,890 | 0.65% | 189,860 | 0.55% | 179,465 | 0.54% | 138,675 | 0.44% | 111,580 | 0.38% | 80,635 | 0.28% | 37,330 | 0.14% |
Based on Census 2016 [13]
1. Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON - 13.94% (14,255)
2. Scarborough North, ON - 12.23% (12,080)
3. Markham—Thornhill, ON - 10.61% (10,515)
4. Scarborough-Guildwood, ON - 9.45% (9,680)
5. Scarborough Centre, ON - 9.40% (10,590)
6. Markham—Stouffville, ON - 6.71% (8,460)
7. Scarborough—Agincourt, ON - 5.18% (5,465)
8. Ajax, ON - 5.12% (6,125)
9. Brampton East, ON - 5.08% (6,195)
10. Mississauga—Malton, ON - 3.95% (4,675)
11. Scarborough Southwest, ON - 3.65% (4,025)
12. Brampton West, ON - 3.35% (4,360)
13. Mississauga East—Cooksville, ON - 2.41% (2,895)
14. Humber River—Black Creek, ON - 2.36% (2,555)
15. Mississauga Centre, ON - 2.34% (2,925)
16. Etobicoke North, ON - 2.31% (2,730)
17. Brampton North, ON - 2.22% (2,620)
18. Toronto Centre, ON - 2.21% (2,295)
19. Brampton South, ON - 2.18% (2,645)
20. Markham—Unionville, ON - 2.14% (2,645)
21. Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC - 2.08% (2,255)
22. Saint-Laurent, QC - 2.03% (2,010)
Much of the Tamil language media in Canada is based in Toronto, while some centres operate in Montreal. A community magazine, Thamizhar Mathiyil (Amidst Tamils), has been published since 1990 and has grown to several hundred pages in length. Ten alternative weekly Tamil language newspapers are distributed primarily in Toronto and Montreal. The Monsoon Journal and the Tamil Mirror are English language newspapers created and targeted at Tamils. Four Tamil language radio stations broadcast out of Toronto and Montreal as well. Three Tamil language online News Thetamiljournal.com (The Tamil Journal தமிழ் இதழ்), television stations (Tamil Vision International, Tamil One, and Tamil Entertainment Television) are based in Toronto. [14]
Various political, social and religious organizations exists among the Tamil Canadian community. One such organization is Canadian Tamil Congress, which works as a community and lobby group to communicate on behalf of some Tamil Canadians at the municipal, provincial, federal, and international levels.[ citation needed ] The Canadian Tamil Congress is the largest of these organizations with 11 chapters in the country.[ citation needed ] The smaller organizations are geared towards organizing kin and village groups from Sri Lanka, as well as supporting various political parties such as the Liberal Party of Canada, New Democratic Party and Conservative Party of Canada. Tamil candidates have participated in the political process representing various parties at municipal, provincial and federal level. In 2011, Rathika Sitsabaiesan was elected as the first Tamil-Canadian Member of Parliament, as a New Democrat in Scarborough-Rouge River. In 2018, Vijay Thanigasalam was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario [15] and currently represents Scarborough-Rouge River as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. [16] During his time as a member, he has taken upon numerous initiatives in the Tamil Community and the Scarborough-Rouge River Riding as a whole. Some of his achievements include introducing Bill 104, An Act to proclaim Tamil Genocide Education Week in Ontario. [17] Previously, Logan Kanapathi was the first Tamil Canadian candidate to win election to large municipal government. [18] [14] [19] [20] He currently serves his second term as Ward 7 councilor in the town of Markham. Many Hindu Temples have been built by the community to cater to its religious needs. Hindu Youth Network, an organization founded by Sri Lankan Tamils, is currently the largest Hindu youth movement in Canada with thousands of Hindu Tamil students and over 80% of the Hindu student groups in the country under its umbrella. [21] There are also Christian churches that cater particularly to the Tamil community in Canada. [22]
Tamil Canadians have run multiple campaigns encouraging the donation of blood to the Canadian Blood Services organized by various Canadian Tamil organizations. [ citation needed ] The community also undertook a recent campaign to help SickKids Hospital, which treats 100,000 children every year. These campaigns were organized by the Canadian Tamil Congress, with the support of many social and community organizations. [ citation needed ]
A unanimous decision was made at the House of Commons on October 5, 2016 declaring the month of January as Tamil Heritage Month under M-24. The motion will "recognize the contributions that Tamil-Canadians have made to Canadian society, the richness of the Tamil language and culture, and the importance of educating and reflecting upon Tamil heritage for future generations by declaring January, every year, Tamil Heritage Month.". [23] [24] [25]
Canada has attracted a number of internationally renowned writers from Sri Lanka, including Shyam Selvadurai. Despite his family's relative privilege and urban base, his family left Sri Lanka because of the 1983 riots. Canadian Tamils have also contributed to the sports fields such as the formerly ranked Canadian tennis player Sonya Jeyaseelan and cricketer Sanjayan Thuraisingam. Pradeeban Peter-Paul multiple Guinness World Records holder Suresh Joachim Tamil Canadian table tennis player has been part of the Canadian National Team for the past 12 years. He was one of two Canadians who qualified to represent Canada at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Soccer and cricket are two of the main sports played by the Tamil population in Canada.
A law named "Tamil Heritage Month Act, 2014" was passed by the Ontario government to proclaim January as Tamil heritage month. This law is for remembering, celebrating and educating future generations about the inspirational roles that Tamil Canadians have played. [26] Bill 104 passed in January 2021 and establishes the week of May 18 as the Tamil Genocide Education Week in Ontario. This Bill was passed to encourage Ontario to learn more about the Tamil Genocide that occurred in Sri Lanka. [27]
Tamil cuisine in Canada has been represented through several take-out, fast-food, and catering restaurants that have been operated by the Tamil diaspora since the 1980s, particularly in Toronto and Montreal. [28] Karaikudi Chettinad Restaurant, [29] and Nantha Caters. [30] Dishes originating from all Tamil-speaking nations, including kothu roti, mutton rolls, idiyappam with coconut sambal, are popular among Tamil restaurants. [31] Tamil cuisine is also represented by Indian restaurants in Canada which feature Tamil-origin dishes, such as idly, dosa, vada, and various vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries that originate from Tamil Nadu. Tamil flavours are also represented in Tamil fusion restaurants that serve dishes such as Jaffna French fries, mac and cheese rolls, and chilli chicken kothu roti. [32]
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.
The Golden Horseshoe is a secondary region of Southern Ontario, Canada, which lies at the western end of Lake Ontario, with outer boundaries stretching south to Lake Erie and north to Lake Scugog, Lake Simcoe and Georgian Bay of Lake Huron. The region is the most densely populated and industrialized in Canada. Based on the 2021 census, with a population of 7,759,635 people in its core and 9,765,188 in its greater area, the Golden Horseshoe accounts for over 20 percent of the population of Canada and more than 54 percent of Ontario's population. It is part of the Quebec City–Windsor Corridor, itself part of the Great Lakes megalopolis.
Scarborough is a district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is situated atop the Scarborough Bluffs in the eastern part of the city. Its borders are Victoria Park Avenue to the west, Steeles Avenue and the city of Markham to the north, Rouge River and the city of Pickering to the east, and Lake Ontario to the south. Scarborough was named after the English town of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, inspired by its cliffs.
Filipino Canadians are Canadians of Filipino descent. Filipino Canadians are the second largest subgroup of the overseas Filipinos, surpassed only by the United States, and one of the fastest-growing groups in Canada.
A visible minority is defined by the Government of Canada as "persons, other than aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour". The term is used primarily as a demographic category by Statistics Canada, in connection with that country's Employment Equity policies. The qualifier "visible" was chosen by the Canadian authorities as a way to single out newer immigrant minorities from both Aboriginal Canadians and other "older" minorities distinguishable by language and religion, which are "invisible" traits.
Scarborough—Guildwood is a federal electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 2004.
South Asian Canadians are Canadians who were either born in or can trace their ancestry to South Asia or the Indian subcontinent, which includes the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. The term also includes immigrants from South Asian communities in East and South Africa, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Fiji, Mauritius, and the rest of the world.
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.
The demographics of Toronto, Ontario, Canada make Toronto one of the most multicultural and multiracial cities in the world. In 2021, 57.0 percent of the residents of the metropolitan area belonged to a visible minority group, compared with 51.4 percent in 2016, and 13.6 percent in 1981. Toronto also has established ethnic neighbourhoods such as the multiple Chinatowns, Corso Italia, Little Italy, Little India, Greektown, Koreatown, Little Tokyo, Little Jamaica, Little Portugal, Little Malta, Roncesvalles (Polish), and Bloor West Village (Ukrainian), all of which celebrate the city's multiculturalism. Data from the suburban municipalities are also included for some metrics as most of these municipalities are part of the Toronto CMA.
Hinduism is the third-largest religion in Canada, with approximately 2.3% of the nation's total population identifying as Hindu in the 2021 census. As of 2021, there are over 828,000 Canadians of the Hindu faith.
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.
Sri Lankan Canadians refers to people from Sri Lanka who have arrived and settled in Canada. Among these immigrants include members from the Tamil, Moor, Malay, Sinhalese and Burgher ethnicities. According to the 2021 census there are 136,240 Sri Lankan-born persons in Canada.
Asian Canadians are Canadians who were either born in or can trace their ancestry to the continent of Asia. Canadians with Asian ancestry comprise both the largest and fastest growing group in Canada, after European Canadians, forming approximately 20.2 percent of the Canadian population as of 2021, making up the majority of Canada’s visible minority population. Most Asian Canadians are concentrated in the urban areas of Southern Ontario, Southwestern British Columbia, Central Alberta, and other large Canadian cities.
Indo-Canadians, or Indian Canadians, are Canadians who have ancestry from India. The term East Indian is sometimes used to avoid confusion with the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Categorically, Indo-Canadians comprise a subgroup of South Asian Canadians which is a further subgroup of Asian Canadians. According to Statistics Canada, Indians are one of the fastest growing communities in Canada and one of the largest non-European ethnic groups.
Springdale is a large suburban district in Brampton, Ontario, Canada covering 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) in the northern part of the city. It is generally bounded by Countryside Drive to the north, Bovaird Drive to the south, Heart Lake Road to the west, and Airport Road to the east. Springdale is sometimes jocularly referred to as Singhdale due to its large population of Sikh Canadians, who make up 39.6% of the community's population and often have the last name Singh.
Pakistani Canadian refers to the community in Canada of Pakistani heritage or descent. It can also refer to people who hold dual Pakistani and Canadian citizenship. Categorically, Pakistani Canadians comprise a subgroup of South Asian Canadians which is a further subgroup of Asian Canadians.
Brampton East is a federal electoral district in Ontario. It encompasses a portion of Ontario previously included in the electoral districts of Bramalea—Gore—Malton and Brampton—Springdale.
South Asian Canadians in the Greater Toronto Area form 19% of the region's population, numbering 1.2 million as of 2021. Comprising the largest visible minority group in the region, Toronto is the destination of over half of the immigrants coming from India to Canada, and India is the single largest source of immigrants in the Greater Toronto Area. South Asian Canadians in the region also include significant Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, and Nepalis, all representing several different ethnolinguistic backgrounds.
Vijay Thanigasalam is a Canadian politician who has been the Ontario associate minister of housing since 2024 and the member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Scarborough—Rouge Park since 2018, representing the Ontario Progressive Conservative (PC) Party. He was previously the Ontario associate minister of transportation. Thanigasalam is the first Tamil-Canadian to sit in the provincial cabinet in Ontario.
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