Armenian-Canadian
Armenian-Canadians are
Canadian citizens of
Armenian descent. The 2001 Canadian census determined that there were 40,505 persons of Armenian ancestry living in
Canada.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
Armenians who had escaped persecution from the
Armenian Genocide formed communities in southern
Ontario. However, Armenian immigration was limited; since the Canadian government had classified Armenians as
Asiatic, they were considered alien and undesirable guests.
Thousands of Armenians made their way to Canada after the Immigration Law became less restrictive in the 1950s. Many of the newcomers were originally from
Middle Eastern countries which were hampered by conflict, such as
Egypt,
Iran,
Lebanon,
Syria and
Turkey.
In the early 1990s, some Armenians immigrated to Canada after the disintegration of the
Soviet Union.
Most Armenian-Canadians are centered in the provinces of
Quebec (with communities in
Montreal and
Laval) and
Ontario (
Toronto,
Cambridge and
St. Catharines) and are active in community life. Smaller communities exist in the central and
Maritime Provinces, with a slightly larger community in
British Columbia.
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Raffi Armenian – composer
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Sarkis Assadourian – Former Liberal MP 1993-2004
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Isabel Bayrakdarian – soprano
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Ann Cavoukian – Information and Privacy Commissioner of
Ontario*
Atom Egoyan – filmmaker
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Yousuf Karsh – photographer
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Malak Karsh – photographer
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Arsinee Khanjian – actress
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Peter Oundjian – violinist and conductor
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Alice Panikian – 2006 Miss Universe Canada
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Raffi – children's singer and songwriter
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Raymond Setlakwe – entrepreneur, politician, lawyer
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Noushig Eloyan – municipal politician (Montreal)
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Immigration to Canada
