Cambodian Canadians

Cambodian Canadians
Total population
(34,340
(0.1% of Canada's population))
Regions with significant populations
Montreal, Quebec (6,110),
Ontario, Alberta
Languages
Khmer, Quebec French, Cambodian French, Canadian English
Religion

majority: Theravada Buddhism,

minority:Roman Catholic
Related ethnic groups
Cambodians, Cambodian Americans

Cambodian Canadians, also known as Khmer Canadians, are citizens living in Canada with Cambodian national origin or ancestry. In the 2011 census there was an estimate of 34,340 Cambodian Canadians living in Canada.[1][2]

History

During the Khmer Rouge Era of 1975-1979 many Cambodians escaped to refugee camps in the neighboring countries of Thailand and Vietnam. Due to the mass amount of refugees, many Cambodians migrated to Canada, USA, France and Australia. In 1981 there were 13,000 Cambodian- Canadian Refugees.[3] Most of the refugees fled to the major cities such as Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton and Quebec City. The Jane and Finch neighbourhood in Toronto has a large Cambodian population. Cambodians make up about 4% of the Jane and Finch community.[4]

Demographics

Province or territory Cambodian Canadians
 Quebec 14,695
 Ontario 12,620
 Alberta 3,555
 British Columbia 2,385
 Saskatchewan 80
 Manitoba 345
 Newfoundland and Labrador 0
 New Brunswick 0
 Nova Scotia 10
 Prince Edward Island 0
 Yukon 0
 Northwest Territories 0
 Nunavut 0
 Canada 34,340[1][5]

Religion

Cambodians are commonly known as Theravada Buddhists. Ever since Cambodia was under French colonization, the amount of Christianity has increased. All year long Buddhists pray. The Khmer New Year lasts three days, and is usually on April 13. However many Cambodian-Canadians celebrate the Khmer New Year on the weekend. To celebrate, the Khmer people go pray at a Khmer Buddhist temple, offering food to the monks. Cambodians commonly know going to the temple as going to the "wat".

The religious festival of Pchum Ben, also known as Ancestor's Day, is the remembrance of the deceased. This is when many Cambodians pay their respects to deceased relatives. People cook meals for monks, bring offerings to the temple and throw rice near the temple early in the morning, believing that the ghosts of their ancestors will receive it.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. 1 2 NHS Profile, Canada, 2011, Statistics Canada
  2. ↑ http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000
  3. ↑ http://www.photius.com/countries/cambodia/society/cambodia_society_migration_and_refuge~1.html
  4. ↑ NHS Profile, 0312.02, Ontario, 2011, Statistics Canada
  5. ↑ http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=1&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=89424&PRID=0&PTYPE=88971,97154&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=72&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=
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