Iranian Canadians
Total population | |
---|---|
280,805 (2021 census)[1][a] 0.8% of the total Canadian population (2021) 262,625 (Persian-speaking Canadians)[2] 0.7% of the total Canadian population (2021) | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Richmond Hill, Toronto, North Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa | |
Languages | |
Persian, Canadian English, Canadian French Azerbaijani, Armenian, Kurdish, Mandaic, and other languages of Iran. | |
Religion | |
Predominantly Shia Islam and Irreligion Minorities include Agnosticism, Baháʼí Faith, Christianity (Protestantism and Catholicism), Judaism, Sunni Islam, Zoroastrianism and Mandaeism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Iranian diaspora (Iranians of UAE • Ajam of Bahrain • Ajam of Qatar • Ajam of Iraq • 'Ajam of Kuwait • Iranians of Canada • Iranians of America • Iranians of UK • Iranians of Germany • Iranians of Israel • Iranians in Turkey) Iranian Peoples (Lurs, Achomis, Baluchs, Kurds, Iranian Azeris), Turkic peoples (Qashqai, Azerbaijanis), Huwala |
Iranian Canadians or Persian Canadians[3][4] are Canadians of Iranian origin.[5] From the 2016 Canadian census, the main communities can be found in Southern Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. As of 2016[update] a total of 97,110 Iranians reside in the Greater Toronto Area,[6] 46,255 in the Greater Vancouver Area,[7] and 23,410 in the Greater Montreal Area,[8] with the remainder spread out in the other major cities of Canada, based on the 2016 Canadian Census. These numbers represent the people who stated "Iranian" as their single or joint ethnic origin in the census survey.
Terminology
Iranian-Canadian is used interchangeably with Persian-Canadian,[9][10][11][12] partly due to the fact[13] that, in the Western world, Iran was known as "Persia". On the Nowruz of 1935, Reza Shah Pahlavi asked foreign delegates to use the term Iran, the endonym of the country used since the Sasanian Empire, in formal correspondence. Since then the use of the word "Iran" has become more common in the Western countries. This also changed the usage of the terms for Iranian nationality, and the common adjective for citizens of Iran changed from "Persian" to "Iranian". In 1959, the government of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Reza Shah Pahlavi's son, announced that both "Persia" and "Iran" could officially be used interchangeably.[14] However the issue is still debated today.[15][16]
While the majority of Iranian-Canadians come from Persian backgrounds, there is a significant number of non-Persian Iranians such as Azeris[17][18][19] and Kurds within the Iranian-Canadian community,[20][21] leading some scholars to believe that the label "Iranian" is more inclusive, since the label "Persian" excludes non-Persian minorities.[20] The Collins English Dictionary uses a variety of similar and overlapping definitions for the terms "Persian" and "Iranian".[22][23]
Demography
Population
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1981 | 5,600 | — |
1986 | 15,745 | +181.2% |
1991 | 43,210 | +174.4% |
1996 | 64,405 | +49.1% |
2001 | 88,220 | +37.0% |
2006 | 121,505 | +37.7% |
2011 | 163,290 | +34.4% |
2016 | 210,405 | +28.9% |
2021 | 280,805[a] | +33.5% |
Source: Statistics Canada [24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][1] |
Immigration
In 2021, there were 213,160 individuals in Canada who had been born in Iran, of which 70,395 had immigrated to Canada since 2011.
Religion
Among all Iranian-Canadians, 103,560 (49%) identified as Muslim. Among immigrants since 2011, about 39,860 (57%) identified as Muslim while most of the rest did not identify with any religion.[33]
Religious group | 2021[34][b] | |
---|---|---|
Pop. | % | |
Islam | 123,045 | 43.82% |
Irreligion | 120,250 | 42.82% |
Christianity | 18,270 | 6.51% |
Judaism | 1,235 | 0.44% |
Hinduism | 240 | 0.09% |
Buddhism | 220 | 0.08% |
Sikhism | 150 | 0.05% |
Indigenous spirituality | 35 | 0.01% |
Other (primarily Zoroastrianism) | 17,350 | 6.18% |
Total Iranian Canadian population |
280,805[a] | 100% |
|
|
Geographical distribution
Provinces & territories
Province/Territory | 2021[1][a] | 2016[32] | 2011[31] | 2006[30] | 2001[29] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | |
Ontario | 155,855 | 1.11% | 117,065 | 0.88% | 92,635 | 0.73% | 70,595 | 0.59% | 51,775 | 0.46% |
British Columbia | 68,545 | 1.39% | 47,985 | 1.05% | 39,285 | 0.91% | 29,265 | 0.72% | 21,910 | 0.57% |
Quebec | 34,010 | 0.41% | 25,530 | 0.32% | 17,825 | 0.23% | 12,370 | 0.17% | 9,535 | 0.13% |
Alberta | 15,185 | 0.36% | 13,925 | 0.35% | 9,215 | 0.26% | 5,835 | 0.18% | 3,130 | 0.11% |
Manitoba | 2,010 | 0.15% | 1,885 | 0.15% | 1,265 | 0.11% | 1,485 | 0.13% | 630 | 0.06% |
Saskatchewan | 1,825 | 0.17% | 1,340 | 0.13% | 795 | 0.08% | 630 | 0.07% | 525 | 0.05% |
Nova Scotia | 1,640 | 0.17% | 1,405 | 0.15% | 1,240 | 0.14% | 805 | 0.09% | 390 | 0.04% |
New Brunswick | 845 | 0.11% | 670 | 0.09% | 445 | 0.06% | 380 | 0.05% | 185 | 0.03% |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 535 | 0.11% | 215 | 0.04% | 180 | 0.04% | 60 | 0.01% | 35 | 0.01% |
Prince Edward Island | 270 | 0.18% | 295 | 0.21% | 335 | 0.24% | 15 | 0.01% | 25 | 0.02% |
Northwest Territories | 45 | 0.11% | 60 | 0.15% | 55 | 0.13% | 45 | 0.11% | 20 | 0.05% |
Nunavut | 20 | 0.05% | 20 | 0.06% | 0 | 0% | 10 | 0.03% | 10 | 0.04% |
Yukon | 20 | 0.05% | 15 | 0.04% | 20 | 0.06% | 10 | 0.03% | 45 | 0.16% |
Canada | 280,805 | 0.77% | 210,405 | 0.61% | 163,290 | 0.5% | 121,505 | 0.39% | 88,220 | 0.3% |
British Columbia
Ontario
Islamic republic politicians/sympathizers
Canada in 2022 banned ten thousand IRGC seniors and officers from entry.[35] Iranian celebrities and government former ministers and officials are often mentioned in the news residing or traveling in Canada as well.[36][37][38][39]
Notable Canadians of Iranian descent
Academia
- Payam Akhavan, pioneer in international criminal law and leading human rights advocate; McGill University[40]
- Kaveh Farrokh, historian
- Ramin Jahanbegloo, philosopher and university professor
- Ali Khademhosseini, Associate Professor of Medicine; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology[41]
- Shahrzad Mojab, Professor of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education; University of Toronto
- Reza Zadeh, computer scientist; Stanford University
Art and literature
- Hossein Amanat, architect, urban designer
- Reza Baraheni, novelist, poet, critic, and political activist
- Jian Ghomeshi, member of Moxy Früvous; former host of CBC's play; former host of Q on CBC Radio 1
- Siamak Hariri, architect
- Nazanine Hozar, writer
- Ramin Karimloo, West End performer, playing the lead role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera and the sequel Love Never Dies
- Navid Khonsari, video game, film and graphic novel creator, writer, director and producer
- Fariborz Lachini, music composer
- Nima Mazhari , painter, photographer and husband of ex-Olympic biathlete Myriam Bédard, convicted and sentenced in June 2007 for stealing paintings from the late painter Ghitta Caiserman
- Sanaz Mazinani, photographer and curator
- Kaveh Nabatian, musician and filmmaker
- Marina Nemat, author
- Ghazal Omid, nonfiction political writer, nonfiction children's book writer, speaker, NGO executive
- Fariborz Sahba, architect
- Bardia Sinaee, poet
- Parviz Tanavoli, sculptor and painter
- Mostafa Keshvari, Director and writer[42]
- Anahita Akhavan, painter
Beauty pageants
- Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Miss Canada 2003, first runner-up of Miss World 2003, actress, singer-songwriter, human rights activist; wife of former Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay
- Ramona Amiri, Miss World Canada 2005, semifinalist of Miss World 2005
- Samantha Tajik, Miss Universe Canada 2008
Business
- Ghermezian family, billionaire shopping mall developers
- Hassan Khosrowshahi, founder of Future Shop
- Karim Hakimi, founder of Hakim Optical
- Michael Latifi, founder of Sofina Foods Ltd and owner of Nidala (BVI) Limited which holds a share in the McLaren Group.
- Shahrzad Rafati, founder of BroadbandTV Corp
- Sam Mizrahi, real estate developer
- Shahin Assayesh, publisher
Crime
- Omid Tahvili, kingpin and international fugitive
Entertainment
- Mehdi Sadaghdar, YouTube personality, electrical engineer
Journalism
Various Persian-language media (including TV and newspapers) are active in Canada, including Shahrvand and Salam Toronto, which cover local events as well.[43]
- Maziar Bahari, journalist
- Farid Haerinejad, CBC former producer, documentary maker, and editor-in-chief of Radio Zamaneh
- Shaya Goldoust, journalist, podcaster, radio host[44]
- Zahra Kazemi, photojournalist
- Nikahang Kowsar, cartoonist
- Touka Neyestani, cartoonist
Politicians
- Ali Ehsassi, Federal Liberal MP for Willowdale, lawyer
- Majid Jowhari, Federal Liberal MP for Richmond Hill, engineer
- Amir Khadir, Québec solidaire Former MNA for Mercier, microbiologist
- Reza Moridi, Ontario Liberal Former MPP for Richmond Hill, physicist, engineer
Sport
- Nicholas Latifi, Formula One driver for Williams Grand Prix Engineering
- Khashayar Farzam, Powerlifter and Physician
Technology
- Behdad Esfahbod, programmer and creator of the HarfBuzz text shaping engine
See also
- Azerbaijani Canadians
- Armenian Canadians
- Canadian Society of Iranian Engineers and Architects-Ottawa
- Iranian diaspora
- Kurds in Canada
- Middle Eastern Canadians
- West Asian Canadians
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Total population with "Iranian" (200,465 persons) and "Persian" (80,340 persons) ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2021 census.[1]
- ^ a b Religious breakdown proportions based on "Iranian" and "Persian" ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2021 census.[34]
- ^ Does not those who don't have permanent residency (e.g study permit holder)
References
- ^ a b c d Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-10-26). "Ethnic or cultural origin by gender and age: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (17 August 2022). "Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population Profile table Canada [Country"]. www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "PM meets with representatives of the Persian-Canadian community - Prime Minister of Canada". Pm.gc.ca. 2009-08-04. Archived from the original on 2012-03-06. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
- ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam: TD Bank 'Misinterpreting' Iran Sanctions In Shutting Persian-Canadians' Accounts". HuffingtonPost.ca. 2012-09-12. Archived from the original on 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2015-04-27.
- ^ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Statistics Canada. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
- ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Toronto [Census metropolitan area], Ontario and Ontario [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Vancouver [Census metropolitan area], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Montréal [Census metropolitan area], Quebec and Quebec [Province]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-13.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Daha, Maryam (September 2011). "Contextual Factors Contributing to Ethnic Identity Development of Second-Generation Iranian American Adolescents". Journal of Adolescent Research. 26 (5): 543–569. doi:10.1177/0743558411402335. S2CID 146592244.
... the majority of the participants self-identified themselves as Persian instead of Iranian, due to the stereotypes and negative portrayals of Iranians in the media and politics. Adolescents from Jewish and Baháʼí faiths asserted their religious identity more than their ethnic identity. The fact Iranians use Persian interchangeably is nothing to do with current Iranian government because the name Iran was used before this period as well. Linguistically modern Persian is a branch of Old Persian in the family of Indo-European languages and that includes all the minorities as well more inclusively.
- ^ Nakamura, Raymond M. (2003). Health in America: A Multicultural Perspective. Kendall/Hunt Pub. p. 31. ISBN 978-0-7575-0637-6.
Iranian/Persian Americans – The flow of Iranian citizens into the United States began in 1979, during and after the Islamic Revolution.
- ^ Zanger, Mark (2001). The American Ethnic Cookbook for Students. ABC-CLIO. p. 213. ISBN 978-1-57356-345-1. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ Racial and Ethnic Relations in America, Carl Leon Bankston,"Therefore, Turkish and Iranian (Persian) Americans, who are Muslims but not ethnically Arabs, are often mistakenly..", Salem Press, 2000
- ^ Darya, Fereshteh Haeri (2007). Second-generation Iranian-Americans: The Relationship Between Ethnic Identity, Acculturation, and Psychological Well-being. pp. 3–4. ISBN 978-0-542-97374-1. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
According to previous studies, the presence of heterogeneity is evident among Iranian immigrants (also known as Persians – Iran was known as Persia until 1935) who came from myriads of religious (Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Armenian, Assyrian, Baháʼí and Zoroastrian), ethnic (Turk, Kurds, Baluchs, Lurs, Turkamans, Arabs, as well as tribes such as Ghasghaie, and Bakhtiari), linguistic/dialogic background (Persian, Azari, Gialki, Mazandarani, Kurdish, Arabic, and others). Cultural, religious and political, and various other differences among Iranians reflect their diverse social and interpersonal interactions. Some studies suggest that, despite the existence of subgroup within Iranian immigrants (e.g. various ethno-religious groups), their nationality as Iranians has been an important point of reference and identifiable source of their identification as a group across time and setting.
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- ^ "Definition of "Persian"". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
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- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "Census Canada 1986 Profile of ethnic groups". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
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- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-04-03). "1991 Census: The nation. Ethnic origin". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-06-04). "Data tables, 1996 Census Population by Ethnic Origin (188) and Sex (3), Showing Single and Multiple Responses (3), for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Census Metropolitan Areas, 1996 Census (20% Sample Data)". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2013-12-23). "Ethnic Origin (232), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Responses (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2020-05-01). "Ethnic Origin (247), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) 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 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2019-01-23). "Ethnic Origin (264), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2011 National Household Survey". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
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- ^ "Mostafa Keshvari | Writer, Director, Producer". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-07-10.
- ^ "Shahrvand Profile". Canadian Minority Media Database. 2014-05-08. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
- ^ حیدری, فهیمه خضر (2021-04-26). "زندگی سانسورشده شایا گلدوست؛ «خیابانهای شهر تونل وحشت بود»" [The Censored Life of Shaya Goldust; "The streets of the city were tunnels of terror"]. رادیو فردا (Radio Farda) (in Persian). Retrieved 2024-05-30.