Immigrants and black Canadians have contributed greatly to Canada’s development. This has been achieved despite historical systemic racism and other challenges few immigrants without a color background face. Starting from the 1970s, various provinces across Canada have been acknowledging Black history to some extent. Eventually, in 2008, the Canada’s government formally established February as Black History Month. It serves as a way to honor and celebrate the noteworthy contributions made by Black Canadians throughout history.
Despite historical mistakes such as slavery and segregation, as well as contemporary problems such as discrimination and marginalization, Canada has recently made progress toward improving equity. As part of this effort, all Canadians must be educated about the contributions that Black people have made to Canadian culture, business, and communities.
Black population of Canada
As a result of the 2021 census, approximately 1.5 million people identified themselves as Black, representing 4.3% of the total Canadian population. Nearly 350,000 more people have been counted since the last census in 2016. As a result of the upward trend in the Black population, Statistics Canada predicts that there will be three million Blacks in Canada by the year 2041.
It is estimated that 23.7% of Black immigrants entering the country between 2016 and 2021 are recent arrivals. The Black population of Canada is made up of approximately 300 distinct ethnic groups, including Africans, Haitians, Canadians, and Jamaicans, who make up a very large portion of the Black population.
A third of Black immigrants were born in Nigeria, Ethiopia, or the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Also, the majority of Black immigrants (21%) were from Jamaica and Haiti or the Caribbean or Bermuda. It has been estimated that 249,000 Canadians have Jamaican ancestry.
It is common for colored immigrants to choose to settle in larger cities, including Black immigrants. Following Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa in terms of Black immigrants, Toronto has the highest concentration. 34,320 persons from Africa relocated to Alberta between 2016 and 2021, with Calgary as their preferred destination for the majority of them.
Young and educated Black immigrants make up the majority
Black immigrants have been accepted into Canada by emphasizing their skills and education. 46% of Black immigrants between 2016 and 2021 held a bachelor’s degree or above.
Blacks in Canada also tend to be younger than the general population at a median age of 30. Many African immigrants are approaching their prime earning years, which indicates that they are arriving at a time when they are most likely to earn. (25-54 years old).
The Student Direct Stream program, which expedites applications for international study permits, should be expanded to include applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, and other Francophone African nations. According to a proposal made to the House of Commons by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration last May. By encouraging bilingualism in both official languages outside of Quebec. This plan aims to make the immigration process easier for young Black people and help Canada achieve its immigration goals.
Canada’s Black history month – An overview of its history
A number of African immigrants have failed to succeed in Canada over the years. During Canada’s early history, slavery was prevalent in this former British territory. Throughout the 1700s, most Black people in Canada were enslaved. A number of memorials to past slave owners have been taken down. Some illustrious organizations, like universities, have also changed their names to reflect that history.
During the American Revolutionary War (1776–1833), the British offered slaves freedom in exchange for their support in the struggle against the Americans. Many of the men who enlisted subsequently settled in the Maritimes, particularly Nova Scotia, after their release from service.
30,000 Africans emigrated to Canada in the 1800s when slavery was abolished across the British Empire in 1833. As a result of the slave trade in the southern United States. In order to avoid capture and re-slavery, they traveled to Canada via the Underground Railroad.
Canada has immigration policies that gave preference to white people from Europe and the United States far into the 1900s. Admissions officers primarily used their own biases and discretion while making decisions. In 1962, new immigration laws were implemented in order to end racial discrimination and instead prioritize skill in admission decisions. This reform aimed to prioritize qualification over country or race.
