Latin American Canadians

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
Total population
Est. 1.2 million
(all, 2023 Census estimates)[1]
3.3% of Canadian population
Regions with significant populations
Toronto and Leamington • Brampton• Montreal and Longueuil, Quebec • increasing populations in Ottawa–Gatineau, Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Calgary and Edmonton
Languages
Canadian English, Canadian French, Spanish, Portuguese, Spanglish, Frespañol, Porglish
Religion
Predominantly Christianity (Roman Catholicism; minority Protestantism)
Related ethnic groups
Latin Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, Spanish Canadians, Portuguese Canadians, Native Americans

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.

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

Writers
  • José Luis Rodríguez Pittí, writer and photographer born in Panama.
  • Rodrigo Bascuñán, author and journalist, born in Chile
  • Gloria Escomel, writer and journalist born in Uruguay
  • Gabriela Etcheverry, poet and novelist, born in Chile
  • José Latour, novelist, born in Cuba.

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
  • Bruce Chun, cinematographer, born in Mexico
  • Federico Hidalgo, filmmaker and film professor.

Politics

Science and technology
  • Ivar Mendez, MD surgeon, Professor and Chairman of Surgery at the University of Saskatchewan, born in Bolivia
  • Manuel Buchwald, geneticist and academic, born in Peru
  • Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, electronic artist, born in Mexico.

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
  • Gustavo Chams, visual artist

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.

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
  1. %5b%5bStatistics Canada%5d%5d "New statistics reveal Canada's Latin American community includes more than 1.1 million people". Retrieved 20 January 2024. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  2. "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.
  3. 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)
  4. "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Toronto [Census metropolitan area], Ontario". 9 February 2022.
  5. "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Montréal [Census metropolitan area], Quebec". 9 February 2022.
  6. "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Vancouver [Census metropolitan area], British Columbia". 9 February 2022.
  7. "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Calgary [Census metropolitan area], Alberta". 9 February 2022.
  8. "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.
  9. "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.
  10. , Total Population by Visible Minority Population(1), for Canada, Provinces and Territories, 1996
  11. , 2001 Community Profiles
  12. , Community Profiles from the 2006 Census, Statistics Canada - Province/Territory
  13. , National Household Survey (NHS) Profile, 2011
  14. 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)
  15. , Canada 2021 Census Profile, 2021
  16. "Quien Es Ricardo Miranda? | Hola Calgary". Hola Calgary. 9 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  17. "latin calgary". www.myfriendfernando.ca.
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