One million Filipinos existed in Canada in April 2018. These included a mixed category of permanent residents, holders of temporary work permits, and students in Canada.
Who are Filipinos in Canada?
Filipinos in Canada were considered a minority community and also the fourth largest group in Canada following other communities such as the Chinese, South Asians, and Blacks.
Ontario and British Columbia are home to the Filipinos, with a large number of them also settled in Winnipeg, Calgary, Alberta, and Manitoba.
As a newcomer trying to settle in Canada from the Philippines you must be wondering where to locate in Great White North. Here’s an overview to get you started with your search.
Toronto- Increasingly popular destination
According to official reports in 2019, Toronto proved to be among the top-most countries with increasing popularity. It welcomed over 119,000 people and if you consider the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) then this number goes up to 192,000 people. Interestingly, this number is devoid of second and third-generation Filipinos in Canada as well as the newcomers who arrived on work and study permits.
There are other existing immigrant groups in Canada other than the Filipino community. But these Filipinos tend to settle in Greater Toronto Area, unlike the other groups who settle in the outskirts of GTA. The newcomers coming from the Philippines to Canada are most likely to settle in Toronto due to the increased job opportunities. Other immigrant groups that are huge in number include the Indians who tend to inhabit outside Toronto but within GTA.
Moving to Toronto isn’t all that cheap on the contrary, it is expensive.
A female entrepreneur in Toronto, belonging to the Filippino community, launched Cambio & Co. This is an online fashion store that presents Philippine-made products bridging the gap between the culture and economy of the Philippines and Canada.
She reiterated that the cost of living in Toronto is high.
Let’s look at the different costs of living in Toronto, they’re as follows:
- ‘Number’ reported that Toronto’s city center consists of one-bedroom apartments at a monthly cost of $2,173 in 2019.
- The estimated cost for a transport pass on a monthly basis is $150.
- A facility of private childcare would cost around $1,524 per month.
If you feel you won’t be able to afford such high costs then you can also consider smaller cities in the Greater Toronto Area.
Vancouver- Leading the films and visual effects industries
Vancouver appeals as much as Toronto to the newcomers in Canada. Again, there is immense scope for job opportunities and also it is on top of the game for the films and visual effects industries. The jobs are also available in a wide range of sectors such as construction, engineering, finance sector, health science, etc.
In 2016, 100,000 people in Vancouver were Filipinos as either permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Gradually, with the temporary workers, students, second and third-generation Filipinos contributed to an even larger number. Several Filipino students have found Greater Vancouver to be home to universities and schools. This is a great opportunity for those Filipino graduates who are highly skilled.
Vancouver, British Columbia’s largest city, has seen many recent arrivals from the Philippines because of its extraordinary natural beauty and pleasant climate. Even though Vancouver is popular because of the accommodation yet it is expensive to buy or rent property here.
‘Number’ reported that Vancouver’s one-bedroom apartment cost is around $2,050 with the per square meter price for the property estimated as $12,481.
Winnipeg- Third fastest growing economy
Filipino immigrants in Winnipeg aren’t anything new. Dating back to history, the first massive round of immigrants is as early as the 1980s. Since the strength of the Filipino community has only grown with time.
The Filipino population contributes to Canada by being the third-largest population in Canada. It is also considered the largest in the context of per capita income.
Winnipeg in 2016 was reported to have around 57,000 Filipinos living as permanent residents and naturalized citizens. The population of Filipino citizens drastically increased by 26.2 percent between 2011 to 2016.
Winnipeg’s popularity with the Filipino population
Winnipeg makes an ideal choice for Filipino immigrants because of its diversity, fastest-growing economy (third fastest), and reduced rental prices. The accommodation for a one-bedroom apartment costs around $995 CAD per month. The popular spots over here range from the new Canadian Museum of Human Rights, and Centennial Concert Hall to the Winnipeg Folk Festival.
People suffering from occasional homesickness can even opt for the varied Filipino restaurants available.
The political history is also quite great. To begin with, Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan was once the cabinet minister of the Liberal Government.
Calgary is- Fourth largest metropolitan area
Calgary is often underestimated among the top-most destinations from the Philippines to Canada. As per the 2016 report, 53,450 Filipino citizens existed at that point of time in Calgary. It is a popular destination for numerous individuals on study permits and temporary work permits.
It is also the fourth largest among the metropolitan areas with a population of over 1.3 million in Calgary. Its cost of living is comparatively cheaper than Toronto and Vancouver but higher than Winnipeg, Montreal, and Atlantic cities.
A family of three can surely get to live in a three-bedroom apartment at a monthly cost of $1,540. A one-bedroom apartment would cost nearly $1,200 per month in Calgary’s neighborhood.
Edmonton- A big city in North America
45,000 Filipinos in Canada were either permanent residents or naturalized citizens in the year 2016. Edmonton gained immense popularity because of the Legendary hockey player Wayne Gretsky with his numerous victories with Stanley cups.
Coming from the Philippines to Edmonton, the climate could be an issue with –11° C as its average temperature in January.
Apart from this, it is one of the warmest cities with a celebratory culture. It is open to job opportunities, especially in engineering, construction, and other associated industries. It is also known as the Oil hub.
As per official reports, a one-bedroom would cost around $1,200 per month (downtown) whereas the same apartment would cost around $975 per month in the suburbs.
Canada is home to friendly people and a lot of places for enthusiasts and scenic beauty lovers. It has a lot for everyone to gather, be it individuals moving from the Philippines to Canada through Express Entry, study permits, or with family members.
