We all know the numbers: so many Chinese in Toronto

Based on the newest census in 2016, today’s Canada has reached unprecedented diversification now. The data shows that 21.9% of the Canadian population is newly landed immigrants or permeant residents. This ratio is very close to this number in 1921 of 22.3%, the historic record of this country.

Census shows that the new immigrants from Asia countries ranked number one in the new immigration populations (over 60%), in which China is in the third country where those Asian new immigrants come from, accounts for 10.6% (the first is Philippine accounts for 15.6%, and the second is India accounts for 12.1%); while Africa has surpassed Europe become the second place where the new immigrants come from (accounts for 13.4%).

The cities that the new immigrants reside still are Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. These three cities have attracted more than half of the new immigrants in recent years, although more and more selected Prairie Provinces and Atlantic Provinces.

In the same census of 2016 has also shown that the immigrants has accounted about 46.1% of Toronto population, 40.8% of Vancouver population and 23.4% of Montreal population. And in the census, there are a total of 1.77 million Chinese living in Canada, in which over 700.000 Chinese are living in Toronto.

Yes, if we trace back to the grandpa generation, the Chinese population whose home country is China has reached a little bit more than 700,000. And the 2016 census data shows that the population of Chinese immigrants whose birthplace is China reached 266,840 (include Hong Kong). The Chinese immigrated to Canada reached 49,815 number between the years 2011 and 2016.

And the language is an important cultural fact. From the census, we find that in Toronto, there are over half million people with their mother language of Chinese and most of them use Chinese languages in their family daily conversation and communication. According to the Employment Equity Act, there are631, 050 people are defined as visible minority.

I remember an article written by Brian Bethune in MACLEANS website years back. In his article, Brain said, “More than 30 per cent of Canadians now say they feel disconnected from their neighbours, while half of Americans admit they don’t know the names of theirs.”

I trust that for those Chinese immigrants living in Toronto, they are more so disconnected from the rest of Torontonians. I hope my series of “YOUR CHINESE NEIGHBOURS” can give you a new prospect to view those Chinese live in Toronto. We work here, we do business here, and we are neighbors.