Ethnic Groups in Canada

C

History

As early as 1753 the Irish established colonies on the Atlantic Coast of northern North America. In the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s large numbers of Irish fleeing famine in their homeland moved to British North America, then a collection of British colonies. They favored Upper Canada (now Ontario), Lower Canada (now Québec), and the Maritime provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island). The Irish continued to immigrate to Canada into the 20th century, but at reduced numbers.

After the British were defeated in the American Revolution (1775-1783), many people loyal to Britain, known as the United Empire Loyalists, moved from the United States to the British colonies. This massive immigration was followed by the arrival of thousands of people from England seeking to escape the economic upheaval caused by the Industrial Revolution. In 1871 the English were the third largest ethnic group in Canada, behind the French and the Irish, and numbered just over 706,000.

The years between 1890 and 1930, when Canada was heavily promoted to Europeans as a land of opportunity, brought the heaviest English immigration to Canada. The English initially settled in many of the same areas as the Irish. By the 1921 census the English population in Canada exceeded those of the Irish and Scottish combined.

The Scots came to Canada in three waves, each larger than its predecessor. The first wave occurred from 1763 to 1815, and the second wave occurred from 1815 to 1870. The Scots continued to immigrate in large numbers during the third wave, from 1870 to 1930. The Scottish immigrants called Nova Scotia home and like the English, they were among the United Empire Loyalists that came to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the late 1780s. Most of the Welsh came to Canada during the 20th century.

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As one of the founding groups of Canada, the British have held many of the positions of power since they first settled in the country. Anglo Canadians have formed the dominant culture throughout Canada, except in Québec. New immigrants and aboriginal groups have had to adjust to the Anglo Canadian culture. Anglo Canadians have distinguished themselves in every walk of life, including government, science, education, medicine, law, farming, and mining.

IV

French Canadians

A

Population

The French were the first Europeans to establish permanent military and trading settlements in what is today Canada. They founded the colony of New France in 1608. A 1666 census of New France indicated a total population of 3,215 French settlers. When Britain defeated France in the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and took over New France, the French Canadians became subordinate to the British. At the time of the 1871 census French Canadians constituted 31 percent of the population.

By 1971 the French had declined slightly, to about 29 percent of the population. During the 1980s and 1990s French Canadians, like Anglo Canadians, experienced declines in official population as growing numbers registered “Canadian” as their ethnic origin. Taking this information into account, 27 percent of the population was estimated to be of French ancestry in 2000. In the 2001 census only 15.75 percent of Canadians claimed French ethnicity.

In the 1600s the French began settling along the Atlantic Coast of northern North America and in the St. Lawrence River Valley. By 1749 the French were well established in what is now eastern Ontario. In the early 19th century the French also settled in what is today Manitoba. Since their early immigration, French Canadians have been concentrated in Québec and parts of New Brunswick.

B

Culture

The French language and culture were firmly established in New France and continued to be dominant even after the British achieved political control in 1763. French immigrants hailed from all parts of France, and no one regional dialect took hold. In time the dialects fused together to form a single dialect, Canadian French, which is distinct from the French spoken in France.

French Canadians are almost entirely Roman Catholic, with more than 95 percent reporting it as their religion in both 1871 and 1971. (The 1971 census was the last census to record religion and ethnic information together.)

C

History

After Britain took over New France in 1763, immigration from France slowed considerably and has been insignificant since. The French Canadian population continued to grow because of a high birth rate. During the last half of the 20th century, however, the birth rate lagged and the population shrank. As a result, the biggest issue for Francophones is preserving their culture and language. Québec’s provincial government has enacted laws that promote the use of French over other languages, and the provincial government has also sought special status as a “distinct society” in the constitution (see Meech Lake Accord and Charlottetown Accord). The Québec government sponsored referenda on independence from Canada in 1980 and 1995. Both measures failed.

French Canadians can be found in most occupations, especially in Québec. French Canadian politicians, including prime ministers Sir Wilfred Laurier, Pierre Trudeau, and Jean Chrétien, have played a prominent role in the development of Canada. Many French Canadians are educators, scientists, newspaper editors, and artists. French Canadian singer Céline Dion has won international popularity in the entertainment world.

V

Other European Canadians

A

Population

Canadians who reported European origins other than French or British constituted 13 percent of Canada’s 1996 population. In the 2001 census 2.7 million people reported German origins; 1.3 million, Italian; 1.1 million, Ukrainian; 923,000, Dutch; 817,000, Polish; 349,000, Jewish; and 364,000, Norwegian. Many of the Germans, Ukrainians, Dutch, Poles, Norwegians, and Jews live in the Prairie provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta), as well as in Canada’s major cities of Toronto, Ontario; Montréal, Québec; and Vancouver, British Columbia. The Italians are concentrated in those cities, and also in Alberta and northern Ontario.

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