Arab Canadians
Arab Canadians (French: Arabo-Canadiens) come from all of the countries of the Arab world. According to the 2016 Census there were 523,235 Canadians who claimed Arab ancestry.[1] According to the 2011 Census there were 380,620 Canadians who claimed full or partial ancestry from an Arabic-speaking country.[2] The large majority of the Canadians of Arab origin population live in either Ontario or Quebec. Not all Canadians from the Arab world are Arabs, there are also communities of Armenians, Assyrians, Copts, Kurds, Turcomans, Berbers, and those who espouse a Phoenician or Aramean heritage (see Phoenicianism and Arameanism).
Total population | |
---|---|
533,235 (2016 Census)[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta | |
Languages | |
Religion | |
| |
Related ethnic groups | |
Demographics
The distribution of the Arab population of Canada according to the 2001 Census, 2011 Census, and 2016 Census was as follows:
Province or territory | Arabs 2001 | % 2001 | Arabs 2011 | % 2011 | Arabs 2016 | % 2016 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Québec | 73,345 | 1.0% | 166,260 | 2.2% | 213,740 | 2.7% |
Ontario | 88,545 | 0.8% | 151,645 | 1.2% | 210,435 | 1.6% |
Alberta | 19,320 | 0.7% | 34,920 | 1.0% | 56,700 | 1.4% |
British Columbia | 6,605 | 0.2% | 14,090 | 0.3% | 19,840 | 0.4% |
Nova Scotia | 3,610 | 0.4% | 6,285 | 0.7% | 8,110 | 0.9% |
Manitoba | 1,230 | 0.1% | 3,240 | 0.3% | 5,030 | 0.4% |
Saskatchewan | 900 | 0.1% | 2,095 | 0.2% | 4,300 | 0.4% |
New Brunswick | 580 | 0.1% | 1,380 | 0.2% | 2,960 | 0.4% |
Newfoundland and Labrador | 270 | 0.1% | 370 | 0.1% | 1,375 | 0.3% |
Prince Edward Island | 175 | 0.0% | 200 | 0.1% | 585 | 0.4% |
Northwest Territories | 80 | 0.2% | 110 | 0.3% | 100 | 0.2% |
Nunavut | 10 | 0.0% | 15 | 0.0% | 40 | 0.1% |
Yukon | 10 | 0.0% | 0 | 0.0% | 10 | 0.0% |
Canada | 194,685 | 0.7% | 380,620[1] | 1.2% | 523,235[1] | 1.5% |
Notable individuals
Business
- Kevin O'Leary - entrepreneur and reality television personality (Dragons' Den, Shark Tank) (of Lebanese and Irish descent)
- Ablan Leon - founder of Leon's furniture company in 1901 in Welland, Ontario.
Politicians
- Doreen Assaad - current Egyptian-Canadian Woman Mayor in Brossard, Quebec
- Omar Alghabra - current Liberal MP in the federal riding of Mississauga Centre in Ontario, Canada (of Syrian descent, born in Saudi Arabia)
- Pierre de Bané - former Liberal MP (1968–1984), Cabinet Minister and former Senator (of Palestinian)
- Michael Basha - former member of the Senate of Canada (of Lebanese descent)
- Tarik Brahmi - former NDP member of House of Commons for Saint-Jean (of Algerian descent)
- Fonse Faour - former NDP MP and leader of Newfoundland NDP (of Lebanese descent)
- Eddie Francis - Mayor of Windsor, Ontario (of Lebanese descent)
- Joe Ghiz - former Premier of Prince Edward Island (of Lebanese descent)
- Robert Ghiz - Premier of Prince Edward Island (of Lebanese descent)
- Sadia Groguhé - former NDP member of House of Commons for Saint-Lambert (of Algerian descent)
- Mac Harb - Senator, former Liberal MP (1988–2004) and former Ottawa City Councilor (of Lebanese descent)
- Sana Hassainia - former NDP member of House of Commons for Verchères—Les Patriotes riding (of Tunisian descent)
- Lorraine Michael - former Nun, leader of New Democratic Party of Newfoundland and Labrador (of Lebanese descent)
- Maria Mourani - former Bloc Québécois (2006–2013) and independent MP (2013–2015) in federal riding of Ahuntsic in Quebec, Canada (of Lebanese descent)
- Khalil Ramal - Ontario MPP (of Lebanese descent)
- Djaouida Sellah - former NDP member of House of Commons for Saint-Bruno—Saint-Hubert (of Algerian descent)
Political activists
- Maher Arar - human rights activist; deportation and tortured victim in Syrian jail (of Syrian descent)
- Monia Mazigh - human rights activist and New Democratic Party candidate (of Tunisian descent)
- Samah Sabawi - Palestinian rights activist and playwright
Filmmakers and Writers
- Anisa Mehdi - Emmy Award-winning film director, journalist and director of Inside Mecca (of Iraqi descent)
- Donald Shebib - documentary filmmaker (of Lebanese descent)
- Wajdi Mouawad (Writer: Incendies, Lebanese)
- Rawi Hage (Author: De Niros Game, Beirut Hellfire Society, Cockroach; Lebanese)
Singers
- Paul Anka - singer (of Syrian descent)
- Belly - rap/hip hop artist (of Palestinian descent)
- Andy Kim - pop singer/songwriter (of Lebanese descent)
- K.Maro - rapper (of Lebanese descent)
- Kristina Maria - rapper (of Lebanese descent)
- Massari - pop and hip-hop singer (of Lebanese descent)
- Nasri - reggae and pop singer (of Palestinian descent)
- Narcy - rapper (of Iraqi descent)
- Vaï - rapper, hip hop singer (of Moroccan descent)
- Karl Wolf - singer (of Lebanese descent)
- Zaho - singer (of Algerian descent)
Sportsmen
- Ramzi Abid - professional hockey player (of Tunisian descent)
- David Azzi - professional player in Canadian Football League (of Lebanese descent)
- John Hanna - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
- Ed Hatoum - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
- Fabian Joseph - former professional hockey player (Canada men's national ice hockey team) (of Lebanese descent)
- Nazem Kadri - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
- John Makdessi - professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter (of Lebanese descent)
- Alain Nasreddine - professional hockey player (of Lebanese descent)
- Jean Sayegh - water polo player (of Lebanese descent)
- Rami Sebei - professional wrestler, under the ring names Sami Zayn and El Generico
Others
- Hoda ElMaraghy - first woman to serve as dean of engineering at a Canadian university. Appointed as Canada Research Chair (CRC) in manufacturing systems in 2002. (of Egyptian descent)
- Reema Abdo - former backstroke swimmer (of Yemeni descent)
- René Angélil - manager and husband of Céline Dion, (of Syrian descent)[3]
- Nahlah Ayed - journalist (of Palestinian descent)
- Habeeb Salloum - author, cookbook author, writer, travel writer (of Syrian descent)
- Mohamed Fahmy - journalist and reporter
- Mamdouh Shoukri - former president of York University (of Egyptian descent)
- Inanna Sarkis - internet personality, actress and director (of Syrian descent)
- Jesse Hutch - actor, model, director and musician (of Syrian descent)
- Hatim Zaghloul - engineer, named as one of ten great Canadians by MacLean's magazine (of Egyptian descent)
- Rachid Badouri - comedian (of Moroccan descent)
- Keanu Reeves - actor (born in Lebanon)
- Ghassan Halazon - entrepreneur (of Jordanian-Palestian descent)
- Mena Massoud - an actor best known for starring as Aladdin in the 2019 live-action adaptation (of Egyptian descent)
- Jade Hassouné - known for his role as Meliorn in the US television series "Shadowhunters" and for that of Prince Ahmed Al Saeed in the Canadian series '"Heartland" (of Lebanese descent)
- Ty Wood - an actor and model. Grand nephew of Miss Universe 1971 Georgina Rizk (of Palestinian-Lebanese Welsh descent.)
- Adib Alkhaidley comedian (of iraki and morrocan descent.)
See also
- Middle Eastern Canadians
- West Asian Canadians
- The Arab Students' Association in Canada
- Canadian Arab Federation (CAF)
- National Council on Canada-Arab Relations (NCCAR)
- Arab Christians
- Islam in Canada
- Lebanese diaspora
- Syrian diaspora
- Palestinian diaspora
- Moroccan diaspora
- Iraqi diaspora
- Egyptian diaspora
References
- Statistics Canada. "2016 Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity Highlight Tables: Data tables". Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- Statistics Canada. "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables". Retrieved 11 February 2014.
- "Le Devoir". ledevoir.com.