Laotian Canadians

Laotian Canadians

Total population
(22,090 (2011))
Regions with significant populations
Ontario	9,435 (42.7%)
Quebec	6,765 (30.6%)
British Columbia	2,010 (9.1%)
Alberta	1,855 (8.4%)
Manitoba	1,325 (6.0%)
Saskatchewan	675 (3.1%)
Languages
Lao, Canadian French, Canadian English
Religion
Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Lao people, Asian Canadians

Laotian Canadians are Canadian citizens of Laotian origin or descent. In the 2011 Census, 22,090 people indicated Laotian ancestry.

Migration history

Mass migration from Laos to Cambodia peaked in the late 1970s and early 1980s, consisting of both government-sponsored and privately sponsored refugees from camps in Thailand, where they had fled due to the Laotian Civil War and the final victory of the Pathet Lao. However, by the 1990s, most refugees in the camps were instead being repatriated to Laos. In total, Canada took in 12,793 Laotian refugees.

Demography

Most migrants consisted of young families; there were very few elderly among them. A significant proportion were drawn from among the community of ethnic Chinese in Laos.

There is a community of Laotian people in Kitchener, Ontario, where 1,530 Laotian Canadians live (0.7% of its population).

Religion

Laotian migrants in Canada mostly follow Theravada Buddhism, though Mahayana Buddhists are also found among those of Chinese ethnicity. There are also a small number of Christians, perhaps 500 people, most of whom converted while living in refugee camps. In 1990, British Columbia had no Laotian Buddhist temple; the nearest one was a Laotian American temple in Seattle. Within Canada, Laotian Buddhist temples have also been opened in Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg.

See also

• Asian Canadians