Canadians of Latin American descent
Latin American Canadians Est. 1.2 million (all,
2023 Census estimates )
[1] 3.3% of Canadian population
Toronto and
Leamington •
Brampton •
Montreal and
Longueuil ,
Quebec • increasing populations in
Ottawa–Gatineau ,
Metro Vancouver ,
Vancouver Island ,
Calgary and
Edmonton
Canadian English ,
Canadian French ,
Spanish ,
Portuguese ,
Spanglish ,
Frespañol ,
Porglish Predominantly
Christianity (
Roman Catholicism ; minority
Protestantism )
Latin Americans , Hispanic and Latino Americans,
Spanish Canadians ,
Portuguese Canadians ,
Native Americans
Latin American Canadians (
French : Canadiens d'Amérique latine ;
Portuguese : Canadenses da América Latina ;
Spanish : Canadienses de América Latina ) are
Canadians who are descendants of people from countries of
Latin America . The majority of Latin American Canadians are
multilingual , primarily speaking
Spanish ,
Portuguese ,
French and
English . Most are fluent in one or both of Canada's two official languages,
English and
French . Spanish and Portuguese are
Romance languages and share similarities in
morphology and
syntax with French.
Latin American Canadians have made distinguished contributions to Canada in all major fields, including
politics , the
military ,
diplomacy ,
music ,
philosophy ,
sports ,
business and
economy , and
science .
The largest Latin American groups represented in Canada are
Mexican Canadians , Colombian Canadians and Salvadoran Canadians. The Latino population is mostly concentrated in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia. Ontario holds the largest Latin American population with
Toronto having the largest concentration (including the suburbs of
Mississauga and
Brampton ), as well as other cities such as
London ,
Leamington ,
Ottawa and
Kitchener -
Waterloo . Quebec has the second-largest Latin American population with
Montreal having the largest concentration.
Latin American Canadians make up one of the major groups designated as a
visible minority according to
Statistics Canada .
[2]
Over 1 million (3% of Canadians) are of Latin American or Hispanic descent, according to 2023 Statistics Canada data estimates.
History
The majority of Latin American Canadians are recent immigrants who arrived in the late 20th century from
Mexico ,
Colombia ,
El Salvador ,
Puerto Rico ,
Peru with smaller communities from
Chile ,
Venezuela ,
Brazil ,
Cuba ,
Guatemala , and elsewhere, with nearly all Latin American countries represented.
[3] Reasons for immigrating include Canada's better economic opportunities and politics or civil war and
political repression in their native countries, as in the case of
Cubans fleeing from the
Fidel Castro revolution,
Chileans escaping from
Augusto Pinochet 's rule,
Salvadorans fleeing from the
Salvadoran Civil War ,
Peruvians escaping from the
Internal conflict in Peru ,
Dominicans opposed to the regimes of
Rafael Trujillo and
Joaquin Balaguer ,
Mexicans escaping from the
Mexican Drug War ,
Colombians from the violence in their country and
Venezuelans opposed to the rule of the
Socialist Unity Party .[
citation needed ]
Demographics
As of the
2021 Canadian Census , the largest Latin American communities are in the
census metropolitan areas of
Toronto (396,459; 3.5%),
[4]
Montreal (287,856; 3.2%),
[5]
Vancouver (151,500; 2.0%),
[6]
Calgary (134,395; 2.3%),
[7]
Edmonton (121,960; 1.6%),
[8]
Ottawa (90,620; 1.4%),
[9] and
Hamilton (30,605; 1.9%).
[9] The fastest growing are in the provinces of
Alberta ,
Manitoba , and
Nova Scotia .
Latin American population of Canada by census year
Census
Latin American population
Change from previous census
Total Canadian population
Change from previous census
Latin American population (%)
1996
[10]
176,970
N/A
28,528,125
N/A
0.6%
2001
[11]
216,980
22.6%
29,639,030
3.9%
0.7%
2006
[12]
304,245
40.2%
31,241,030
5.4%
1%
2011
[13]
381,280
25.3%
32,852,325
5.2%
1.2%
2016
447,325
17.3%
34,460,065
4.9%
1.3%
Latin American Canadian population in Canada by province or territory according to the Census
Province
2001
2011
2016
2021
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Number
%
Ontario
106,835
0.9%
172,560
1.4%
195,950
1.5%
249,190
1.8%
Québec
59,520
0.8%
116,380
1.5%
133,920
1.7%
172,925
2.0%
Alberta
18,745
0.6%
41,305
1.2%
55,090
1.4%
66,520
1.6%
British Columbia
23,885
0.6%
35,465
0.8%
44,115
1.0%
65,970
1.3%
Manitoba
4,775
0.4%
9,140
0.8%
9,895
0.8%
12,835
1.0%
Saskatchewan
2,010
0.2%
3,255
0.3%
4,195
0.4%
5,680
0.5%
Nova Scotia
520
0.0%
1,360
0.2%
1,685
0.2%
2,915
0.3%
New Brunswick
425
0.0%
1,160
0.2%
1,285
0.2%
2,450
0.3%
Prince Edward Island
75
0.1%
235
0.2%
255
0.2%
585
0.4%
Newfoundland and Labrador
80
0.0%
185
0.0%
635
0.1%
755
0.2%
Yukon
45
0.1%
105
0.3%
130
0.4%
235
0.6%
Northwest Territories
60
0.2%
105
0.3%
135
0.3%
125
0.3%
Nunavut
10
0.0%
30
0.1%
40
0.1%
60
0.2%
Canada
216,980
0.8%
381,280
1.2%
447,325
1.3%
580,235
1.6%
Immigration
Latin Americans in Canada by country of origin (2016)
[14]
Region
Number of immigrants
Region's share of total Latin American immigrants to Canada
As % of Canada's total immigrant population from all areas of the world
Mexico
80,585
18.8%
1.1%
Colombia
70,035
16.4%
0.9%
El Salvador
48,075
11.2%
0.6%
Peru
29,620
6.9%
0.4%
Brazil
29,116
6.8%
0.4%
Chile
26,705
6.2%
0.4%
Venezuela
20,775
4.9%
0.3%
Argentina
19,425
4.5%
0.3%
Cuba
17,850
4.2%
0.2%
Guatemala
17,270
4%
0.2%
Ecuador
14,970
3.5%
0.2%
Dominican Republic
10,605
2.5%
0.2%
Nicaragua
9,865
2.3%
0.1%
Honduras
7,785
1.8%
0.1%
Paraguay
7,300
1.7%
0.1%
Uruguay
6,535
1.5%
0.1%
Bolivia
4,395
1%
0.1%
Costa Rica
3,945
0.9%
0.1%
Panama
2,620
0.6%
0%
Puerto Rico
505
0.1%
0%
Total Latin American immigrant population
428,180
100%
5.5%
Total immigrant population
7,482,860
N/A
100%
List of Canadian census subdivisions with Latin American populations higher than the national average
Source:
Canada 2021 Census
[15] National average: 1.6%
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec
List of notable Latin American Canadians
Music
Eva Avila ,
pop singer and 2006
Canadian Idol winner
Boogat , rapper
Fito Blanko , tropical/urban singer-songwriter, born in
Panama
Patricia Cano , singer
Marco Castillo , singer-songwriter
José Miguel Contreras ,
rock musician and lead vocalist of
By Divine Right
Criollo ,
hip-hop group
Beto Cuevas , rock musician and former lead vocalist of
La Ley
Eliana Cuevas , singer-songwriter
Lhasa de Sela , folk musician
Carlos del Junco ,
harmonica player, member of the Cuban
del Junco family
Quique Escamilla , Mexican-born musician
Carole Facal , rock musician
Alberto Guerrero , music composer and pianist, born in Chile
DJ Kemo , producer and DJ for hip-hop group
Rascalz
Tom Landa , Mexican-born folk-rock musician
Oscar Lopez ,
flamenco musician, born in Chile
Lindi Ortega , singer-songwriter
John Paul Ospina , singer
Lido Pimienta , singer-songwriter
Adonis Puentes , singer-songwriter
Alexis Puentes , musician known by the stage name Alex Cuba
Quilla , singer-songwriter
Jessie Reyez , singer-songwriter
Alejandra Ribera , singer-songwriter
Smiley , rapper
Writers
Diplomacy / International Relations
Guillermo Rishchynski, was born to Canadian and Panamenian parents. Former Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the
United Nations ; Former Executive Director for Canada at the Inter-American Development Bank; former Canadian Ambassador Colombia, Brazil, Mexico; 2008 TLN 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadian.
Jose Herran-Lima, former Canadian Ambassador to Panama; former Director of Foreign Languages Centre at Foreign Affairs and International Trade
Lilly Nicholls, was born in Chile; Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; former Canadian Ambassador to Panama; 2022 TLN 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadian.
Patricia Peña, of Spanish heritage; Assistant Deputy Minister for Partnerships for Innovation at Global Affairs Canada; former Canadian Ambassador to Chile; 2019 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadian.
Pierre Alarie , of Mexican Descent; former Canadian Ambassador to Mexico; former Vice president, business development and sales at the
Canadian Commercial Corporation
Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, born in Peru; Canadian Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner to Chile; former Senior Departmental Advisor to the Minister of International Development & La Francophonie; 2023 TLN 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadian.
Andrea Auerbach Vieira, former chair education and cultural projects at Concid, Brazilian Visual Artist and Entrepreneur Founder Longevity Food Company; Artist for UNICEF 2015, Woman of the Year Ontario 2016, Woman of Excellence Delhi 2018, Women Economic Forum, Top75 Most Influential Immigrant by RBC 2016, Top 4% Most Influent user Twitter 2010, Top 1% Most Influent user Instagram 2018, Top 50 Food Blogger Canada 2019, Top 300 Luxury Markets Canada Blogger 2024, Best Latin Web Radio TV show in Canada 2021/2024, Bayer Foundation Women of Influence 2024, Global Recognition Award nomination 2024, Ernest Young Entrepreneur of the Year nomination 2024.
Lilly Nicholls, was born in Chile; Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh; former Canadian Ambassador to Panama; 2022 TLN 10 Most Influential Hispanic Canadian.
Entertainment
David Alvarez , actor
Ariane Castellanos , actress
Joana Ceddia , YouTube Personality (of
Brazilian descent)
Juan Chioran , stage actor, born in
Argentina
Nick Cordero , stage actor,
Costa Rican descent
Nelson Coronado , actor
Ona Grauer , television and film actress, born in Mexico
Michael Mando , film and television actor (of
Mexican descent).
Flora Martínez , actress, part-
Colombian descent
Emilia McCarthy , actress (of Mexican descent).
Emma Rabbe , television and film actress
Klea Scott , television and film actress, born in
Panama
Tasya Teles , actress
Photography
Politics
Paulina Ayala , former
MP for
Honoré-Mercier (
New Democratic Party ), born in Chile
Estefania Cortes-Vargas , Canadian politician, elected in the
Alberta general election, 2015 to the
Legislative Assembly of Alberta , representing the
electoral district of
Strathcona-Sherwood Park , born in
Colombia
Joseph Facal , former minister in Quebec (
Parti Québécois ), born in Uruguay
Miguel Figueroa , leader and President of the
Communist Party of Canada
Andrés Fontecilla , leader of
Québec solidaire , born in Chile
Rosa Galvez , Senator, born in Peru
Rod Loyola , Canadian politician, elected in the
Alberta general election, 2015 to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, representing the
electoral district of
Edmonton-Ellerslie , born in
Chile
Sergio Marchi , former
MP (
Liberal Party of Canada ), born in Argentina
Ricardo Miranda , Canadian politician, elected in the
Alberta general election, 2015 to the Legislative Assembly of
Alberta , representing the
electoral district of
Calgary-Cross , born in
Nicaragua
[16]
Osvaldo Nunez , former
MP (
Bloc Québécois ), born in Chile
Cesar Palacio , first Latino person elected to the
Toronto City Council , born in
Ecuador
Saul Polo , MNA in Quebec, born in Colombia
Pablo Rodríguez ,
MP for
Honoré-Mercier (
Liberal Party of Canada ), born in Argentina
Maria M.Torres, Councillor, Montreal West Montreal, Quebec, Canada, born in Venezuela.
Science and technology
Sport
Eleider Álvarez professional boxer, born in
Colombia
Eurico Rosa Da Silva , Ice jockey from Brazil
Tony Menezes , Brazilian soccer player
Michel Acosta , professional soccer player, born in Uruguay
Oscar Albuquerque , former professional soccer player, born in Peru
Keven Aleman , professional soccer player, born in
Costa Rica
Manny Aparicio , professional soccer player, born in Argentina
Mauro Biello , former professional soccer player, current assistant coach of the
Canada men's national soccer team
Marco Bustos , professional soccer player
Sergio Camargo , professional soccer player, born in
Colombia
Miguel Cañizalez , professional soccer player, born in
El Salvador
Lucas Cavallini , professional soccer player
Carly Colón , professional wrestler, born in
Puerto Rico via Canadian mother
Oscar Cordon , professional soccer player
Marco Dominguez , professional soccer player
Chris Duarte , professional basketball player
Leylah Fernandez , professional tennis player
Marcelo Flores , professional soccer player
Andres Fresenga , professional soccer player
Kianz Froese , professional soccer player, born in
Cuba
Manny Gomez , professional soccer player, born in
Argentina
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. , professional baseball player
Cristián Gutiérrez , professional soccer player
Otto Lopez , professional baseball player, born in the Dominican Republic
Juan Cruz Mascia , professional soccer player
Rosa Mendes ,
WWE Diva and professional wrestler
Juan Mendez , professional basketball player
Ivan Menjivar , mixed martial artist
Arturo Miranda , professional
diver , born in Cuba
David Monsalve , professional soccer player
Cristian Nuñez , professional soccer player
Jonathan Osorio , professional soccer player
Damiano Palmegiani , professional baseball player
Carlos Patino , professional soccer player, born in Colombia
Yoana Peralta , professional soccer player
Daniel Pinero , professional baseball player
Willi Plett , professional hockey player,
NHL
Robyn Regehr , professional hockey player, NHL
Bryce Salvador , professional hockey player, NHL
Davis Sanchez , professional football player,
CFL and
NFL
Isidro Sánchez Macip , professional soccer player, born in Mexico
O. J. Santiago , professional football player, NFL and CFL
Eduardo Sebrango , former professional soccer player, born in Cuba
Oscar Taveras , late professional baseball player in
MLB , born in the Dominican Republic
Abraham Toro , professional baseball player
Raffi Torres , professional hockey player, NHL
Óscar Rivas professional boxer, born in
Colombia
Visual Art
Cultural adjustment
In 2002, 82% of those who reported Latin American origin said they had a strong sense of belonging to Canada. At the same time, 57% said that they had a strong sense of belonging to their ethnic or cultural group.[
citation needed ]
People with Latin American origins are also active in Canadian society. For example, 66% of Canadians of Latin American origin who were eligible to vote did so in the 2000 federal election.
[17]
See also
References
^
%5b%5bStatistics Canada%5d%5d "New statistics reveal Canada's Latin American community includes more than 1.1 million people" . Retrieved 20 January 2024 .
^
"Visible Minority and Population Group Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021" . Statistics Canada . 30 March 2022. Archived from
the original on 18 June 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2023 . The main groups designated as visible minorities are South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.
^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics.
"Statistics Canada: Ethnocultural Portrait of Canada Highlight Tables, 2006 Census" . www12.statcan.ca . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link )
^
"Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Toronto [Census metropolitan area], Ontario" . 9 February 2022.
^
"Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Montréal [Census metropolitan area], Quebec" . 9 February 2022.
^
"Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Vancouver [Census metropolitan area], British Columbia" . 9 February 2022.
^
"Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Calgary [Census metropolitan area], Alberta" . 9 February 2022.
^
"Visible minority (Latin American), both sexes, age (total), Canada, Alberta and census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data" .
Canada 2016 Census .
Canada 2016 Census . 25 October 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2020 .
^
a
b
"Visible minority (Latin American), both sexes, age (total), Canada, Ontario and census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, 2016 Census – 25% Sample data" .
Canada 2016 Census .
Canada 2016 Census . 25 October 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2020 .
^
[1] , Total Population by Visible Minority Population(1), for Canada, Provinces and Territories, 1996
^
[2] , 2001 Community Profiles
^
[3] , Community Profiles from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada - Province/Territory
^
[4] , National Household Survey (NHS) Profile, 2011
^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics (27 October 2017).
"Immigrant population by selected places of birth, admission category and period of immigration, Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and areas outside of census metropolitan areas, 2016 Census" . www12.statcan.gc.ca . Retrieved 12 April 2018 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link )
^
[5] , Canada 2021 Census Profile, 2021
^
"Quien Es Ricardo Miranda? | Hola Calgary" . Hola Calgary . 9 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017 .
^
"latin calgary" . www.myfriendfernando.ca .
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