Immigration IN C NADA

Waves of immigration 400,000

1896 – 1914 1987 – 1997

The federal government promoted 1945 – 1956
Pre-1800s the settlement of Western Canada. Hundreds of thousands of
225,000 immigrants came over
from Hong Kong to escape the
Early colonies in Canada consisted Most immigrants arrived from the displaced people, particularly from takeover by Communist China.
mainly of French and British settlers. British Isles, Europe (e.g., Germany, Eastern Europe, arrived in Canada,
In the late 1700s, most immigrants Netherlands, Scandinavia, Ukraine), as refugees of the Second World
came from the south, such as Quakers and the United States. War or fleeing Communist rule.
and Loyalists, as political refugees
from the American Revolution.

1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

1830s – 1860s 1919 – 1939 1960s 1979 – 1980 Post-1990s

Polish refugees arrived in Canada, 1880 – 1914 A large wave of Ukrainians came Major changes to Canada's More than 60,000 “boat people”
Immigration rates have remained
fleeing Russian oppression in the Thousands of Jews came to Canada to Canada to escape Soviet immigration legislation brought high since the turn of the 21st
(from Vietnam, Cambodia, and
wake of the Prussian occupation. to escape anti-Semetic persecution, occupation and communism. higher numbers of immigrants from century, with most immigrants
Laos) came to Canada in the
mainly from the Russian Empire. countries outside Europe, particularly now coming from Asia, the Middle
wake of the Vietnam War.
from Asia (e.g., Chinese refugees fled East, and Africa. Canada has also
from Communist oppression during welcomed thousands of refugees
the Cultural Revolution). from all over the world (e.g., More
1980s – 1990s than 44,000 Syrians have found
refuge in Canada).
Political upheaval in Communist
Bloc countries and the dissolution
of the Soviet Union brought
hundreds of thousands of
immigrants from Eastern Europe.

Did you know?

Truth and Reconciliation Top 10 countries of origin (2021)
Since 1867, more than
17 million immigrants Throughout Canada’s history, many
have come to call Canada Indigenous people were displaced India United States
home. Today, immigration is from their land and had little say in
the main driving force for immigration policies. Reconciliation
Canada’s population growth. Philippines Pakistan
is vital to Canada’s vision of an
inclusive and multicultural society.
China France

Syria Iran

Nigeria United Kingdom