Nepalese Canadians

{{short description|Community of Canadians of Nepalese descent or with Nepalese citizenship}} {{Infobox ethnic group |group = Nepalese Canadians |population = '''21,975''' (by ancestry, [[Canada 2021 Census|2021 Census]])<ref name="Nepalese Canadians">{{cite web |url=https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/details/page.cfm?LANG=E&GENDERlist=1&STATISTIClist=1,4&DGUIDlist=2021A000011124&HEADERlist=31&SearchText=Canada|website=Census Profile, 2021 Census|author=[[Statistics Canada]] |title=Data tables, 2021 Census | access-date= 3 January 2023}}</ref> |region1 = {{Flag|Ontario}} |pop1 = 11,585 (52.7%) |region2 = {{Flag|Alberta}} |pop2 = 5,140 (23.4%) |region3 = {{Flag|British Columbia}} |pop3 = 2,305 (10.5%) |region4 = {{Flag|Quebec}} |pop4 = 980 (4.5%) |region5 = {{Flag|Manitoba}} |pop5 = 805 (3.7%) |langs = [[Canadian English|English]] • [[Canadian French|French]] • [[Nepali language|Nepali]] |rels = [[Hinduism]]{{·}}[[Buddhism]] |related-c = [[People of Nepal|Nepali people]]{{·}}[[Nepalese Americans]] }} '''Nepalese Canadians''' or '''Nepali Canadians''' are [[Canadians]] with roots in [[Nepal]].

==Migration history== Nepalese are recent immigrants in Canada and their numbers are relatively small. According to the 1991 report on immigration and citizenship, only 125 people indicated Nepal as their country of birth.<ref>[http://multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/n1/2 Multicultural Canada - Nepalese/Migration and Settlement]</ref> Aside from immigrants from Nepal itself, there are also Nepali-speaking people from neighboring countries such as [[India]], [[Burma]] and [[Bhutan]] as well as Nepal who lived in other countries ([[Fiji]], [[Hong Kong]], the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States]]) before immigrating to Canada.

The majority of Nepal in Canada migrated in pursuit of better economic opportunities and professional fulfillment. Some who had experienced discrimination in the countries they left were also attracted by the possibility of enjoying political and religious freedom in Canada. A small number of Nepalis arrived during the 1960s and early 1970s. From the late 1970s to the present there has been a relative increase in their number. Some Nepalis arrived in Canada as independent professionals and members of various occupational groups, while others were able to enter through family affiliations and personal contacts. A small group of Nepalis came through the Gurkha Welfare Appeal (Canada), which was established by Canadian military veterans after [[World War II]].

Nepal have settled primarily in the urban areas of Canada. Almost half of them are located in [[Ontario]], and the second-largest settlement is in [[British Columbia]]. In 2013 and 2014, more than two thousand Nepal settled in Alberta. Only a handful are spread throughout the rest of Canada. Immigration overview of permanent residents in Canada (Canada Government) has published that between 2004 and 2013, 8218 people with Nepal as source country became permanent residents of Canada. There are also a number of Canadian parents seeking to adopt children from Nepal, although recently Canadian authorities have suspended adoptions from Nepal.<ref>[http://www.nepalnews.com/main/index.php/news-archive/2-political/6571-canada-halts-adoptions-from-nepal.html/: Canada halts adoptions from Nepal ]</ref> The Canadian government has opened a permanent residency program for professionals like doctors, engineers, nurse, professors, and accountants from Nepal. Nepali foreign employment agencies have promoted Nepal's workforce and seek openings in Canada so Nepal workers can be hired through personal contacts in various sectors.<ref>[http://www.ktm2day.com/2009/10/02/canada-australia-to-open-for-nepali-workers/: Canada & Australia to open for Nepali workers]</ref><ref>[http://colorfulnepal.com/nepali-overseas/nepalese-in-canada.html Nepalese in Canada]</ref>

==Current status== The Nepalis who have immigrated to Canada are largely a well-educated group, and some have advanced university degrees.<ref>[http://multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/n1/3 Multicultural Canada - Nepalis/Economic Life]</ref> Members of the Nepal community in Canada occupy positions as professors, bankers, foresters, accountants, doctors, engineers, architects, computer professionals, agriculturalists, and researchers. Some have private practices in medicine, pharmacy, and accounting, or are self-employed in various fields such as real estate and the hospitality and service sectors. While there are Nepal Canadians working in restaurants and factories, others have high-level positions as senior executives in corporations and partners in national firms. Nepali immigrants are also beginning to establish small businesses, such as restaurants, specialty stores and quick-marts.

Many Nepal Canadians participate in mainstream-Canadian political, professional, religious, and charitable organizations.<ref>[http://multiculturalcanada.ca/Encyclopedia/A-Z/n1/4 Multicultural Canada - Nepalis/Community Life, Intergroup Relations, and Group Maintenance ]</ref> Because of their small numbers, however, their influence on Canadian regional and national politics is as yet only marginal.

== Demography == {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Nepalese Canadian demography by religion ! rowspan="2" |Religious group ! colspan="2" |2021<ref name="religion2021">{{Cite web |last=Government of Canada |first=Statistics Canada |date=2023-05-10 |title= Religion by ethnic or cultural origins: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts |url=https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/cv.action?pid=9810034101 |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=www12.statcan.gc.ca}}</ref>{{efn|name=Religion2021|Religious breakdown proportions based on "Nepali" ethnic or cultural origin response on the [[2021 Canadian census|2021 census]].<ref name="religion2021"/>}} |- !{{abbr|Pop.|Population}} !{{Abbr|%|percentage}} |- | [[Hinduism]] | 16,245 | {{Percentage | 16245 | 21975 | 2 }} |- | [[Buddhism]] | 2,140 | {{Percentage | 2140 | 21975 | 2 }} |- | [[Irreligion]] | 1,760 | {{Percentage | 1760 | 21975 | 2 }} |- | [[Christianity]] | 1,450 | {{Percentage | 1450 | 21975 | 2 }} |- | [[Islam]] | 160 | {{Percentage | 160 | 21975 | 2 }} |- | [[Sikhism]] | 70 | {{Percentage | 70 | 21975 | 2 }} |- | [[Judaism]] | 0 | {{Percentage | 0 | 21975 | 2 }} |- | [[Mythologies of the indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indigenous spirituality]] | 0 | {{Percentage | 0 | 21975 | 2 }} |- | [[Major religious groups|Other]] | 150 | {{Percentage | 150 | 21975 | 2 }} |- ! Total Nepalese Canadian population ! 21,975 ! {{Percentage | 21975 | 21975 | 2 }} |}

== Notable people==

* * [[Sudarshan Gautam]], Nepali diaspora member; the first armless person to summit Mount Everest without the use of prosthetic * [[Bhutila Karpoche]], Ontario [[Member of Provincial Parliament (Ontario)|Member of Provincial Parliament]] for [[Parkdale—High Park (provincial electoral district)|Parkdale—High Park]] (2018–present) * [[Manjushree Thapa]], Popular Nepali writer * [[Curtis Waters]], born Abhinav Bastakoti, popular singer * [[Naresh Budhayer]], former Nepal national team player & current player of Ontario. * [[Shriya Shah-Klorfine]], climbed [[Mount Everest]] despite lacking experience and ended up passing away on the mountain == See also == {{Portal|Nepal|Canada}} * [[Canada–Nepal relations]] * [[Nepalese diaspora]] * [[Immigration to Canada]]

== Notes == {{notelist}}

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.canadianreporters.ca Canadian Reporters]

{{Nepalese diaspora}} {{Asian Canadians}} {{People of Canada}} [[Category:Nepalese diaspora in Canada| ]] [[Category:Canadian people of Nepalese descent| ]] [[Category:Nepalese diaspora by country|Canadian]] [[Category:Nepalese diaspora in North America|Canada]] [[Category:South Asian diaspora in Canada]]