Tamil Canadians
தமிழர் | |
---|---|
Total population | |
237,890[1][nb 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 | |
Majority
Minority Sri Lankan Tamils |
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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
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][nb 1]
History
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).[5] 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.[6]
Year[7] | 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 |
Geographic distribution
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][8][9][10][11][12][13]: 184 |
Provinces & territories
Province/ territory |
2021[1] | 2016[8] | 2011[9] | 2006[10] | 2001[11] | 1996[12] | 1991[13] | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
Federal electoral districts
Based on Census 2016[14]
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)
Media
Much of the Tamil language media in Canada is based in
Social and political activity
Various political, social and religious organizations exists among the Tamil Canadian community. One such organization is
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]
Tamil Heritage Month in Canada
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.".[22][23][24]
Sports and literature
Canada has attracted a number of internationally renowned writers from Sri Lanka, including
Laws
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.[25] 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.[26]
Cuisines
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.
See also
- List of Eelam Tamils
- Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America
- List of Tamil-language radio stations
- In Our Translated World
References
- ^ a b c d Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-08-17). "Knowledge of languages by age and gender: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
- ^ a b c
Cheran, R (2000). "Changing Formations: Tamil Nationalism and National Liberation in Sri Lanka and the Diaspora". Ph.D. dissertation. Department of Sociology, York University.
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(help) - ^ a b
Jennifer Hyndman (2000). "Aid, conflict and migration: the Canada Sri Lanka connection" (PDF). Department of Geography, Simon Fraser University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ a b Sriskandarajah, Dhananjayan (2005). "Diaspora politics". Springer US. Retrieved 2007-08-31.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Immigration overview:Permanent and temporary residents". Archived from the original on 2012-08-19. Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ "2012 UNHCR country operations profile - Sri Lanka". Retrieved 2012-08-14.
- ^ "Facts and Figures 2009". Cic.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 2010-09-04. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ^ a b "Census Profile, 2016 Census Canada [Country] and Canada [Country]". 8 February 2017.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2015-11-27). "NHS Profile, Canada, 2011". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2020-05-01). "2006 Census Topic-based tabulations Various Languages Spoken (147), Age Groups (17A) 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. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Various Non-official Languages Spoken (76), Age Groups (13) and Sex (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-04). "Data tables, 1996 Census Population Able to Speak Various Non-official Languages (73), Showing Age Groups (13A) and Sex (3), for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Federal Electoral Districts (1996 Representation Order), 1996 Census (20% Sample Data)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "1991 Census: The nation Knowledge of languages". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-09-12.
- ^ "Census Canada 2016". Data products, 2016 Census. Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Battle between first-timers in Scarborough-Rouge Park ends with PC victory". thestar.com. 2018-06-07. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
- ^ "Vijay Thanigasalam | Legislative Assembly of Ontario". www.ola.org. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "Tamil Genocide Education Week Act, 2021". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
- ^ Lak, Daniel (2003-05-03). "Canada's Tamils dream of peace". BBC. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ^ "Tamil rebels 'coercing diaspora'". BBC. 2006-03-15. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ^ "globeandmail.com: National". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Archived from the original on 2008-06-22.
- ^ "List of Hindu temples in Canada". Tamil library. 2002-05-14. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
- ^ "tamil heritage month - Canadian Tamil Congress". Canadiantamilcongress.ca.
- ^ "January is Officially Declared as Tamil Heritage Month in Canada". Tamilculture.com.
- ^ "கனடாவில் ஜனவரி இனி தமிழ் மரபு மாதம்: பாராளுமன்றத்தில் மசோதா நிறைவேறியது!". Tamil.oneindia.com. 7 October 2016.
- ^ "amil Heritage Month Act, 2014". E-laws.gov.on.ca. 24 July 2014.
- ^ "Tamil Genocide Education Week Act, 2021". Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
- ^ "Babu Take-out & Catering". www.babudelivery.ca. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
- ^ "Home". Midland Winghouse. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
- ^ "South Indian Restaurant in Scarborough, Etobicoke, Markham". www.nantha.com. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
- ^ "SRI LANKAN FUSION FOOD". CONFUSED KITCHEN. Retrieved 2021-08-15.
- ^ "Fusion Sri Lankan food in Scarborough". 8 October 2020.
- ^ mother tongue, but instead as a second or third language.
Further reading
- Selvadurai, Shyam. ISBN 0-7710-7951-6
- Ratnavel, Roy. Prisoner #1056: How I Survived War and Found Peace. ISBN 9780735245730
External links
- Canadian Tamil Business Directory
- TAMIL STAR FM - Tamil radio in Canada
- Tamil Canadian Inside
- Tamils in Canada from Ravindiran Vaitheespara, The Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples
- Canadian Tamil Congress