Azerbaijani Canadians
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 9,915[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Greater Toronto, Vancouver Metropolitan Area and other | |
| Languages | |
| Azerbaijani, Canadian English, French, Russian, Persian, Turkish | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Shiite Muslim |
| Part of a series on |
| Azerbaijanis |
|---|
| Culture |
| Traditional areas of settlement |
| Diaspora |
| Religion |
| Language |
| Persecution |
Azerbaijani Canadians (Azerbaijani: Kanadalı azərbaycanlılar) are Canadian citizens and permanent residents of ethnic Azerbaijani background, or those who were born in Azerbaijan. Most Azerbaijani-Canadians have immigrated to Canada from the Republic of Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia or Turkey.
Demographics
According to the Canada 2021 Census, 9,915 Canadians claimed ethnic Azerbaijani background, with nearly half living in Ontario.[1] The 2021 census results also mapped the following distribution of Azerbaijani Canadians by province:
 Ontario – 5,910
| ||||
 British Columbia – 1,665
| ||||
 Quebec – 995
| ||||
 Alberta – 975
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 Manitoba – 130
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 Saskatchewan – 85
| ||||
 Newfoundland and Labrador – 45
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 Nova Scotia – 45
| ||||
 New Brunswick – 25
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 Prince Edward Island – 20
| ||||
| (Source: 2021 Canadian Census) | ||||
History
As of 2016, there were 1,260 Canadians of Azerbaijani origin who were second-generation immigrants and only 40 who were third-generation or more.[1]
Though immigration from Azerbaijan dates earlier than 1980,[2] ethnic Azerbaijanis were first mentioned in the official census results in 2001. Since then, their numbers have gradually grown, with immigration peaking in 2001–2005.[2]
| Year | Canada's Azeri population |
| 2001[3] | 1,445 |
| 2006[4] |  3,465
|
| 2011[5] | 4,580
|
| 2016[1] | 6,425
|
| 2021[6] | 9,915
|
Notable Azerbaijani Canadians
- Piruz Dilanchi Politician, Poet, Writer, Public Figure
- Reza Baraheni[7] – prominent scholar and human rights activist
- Ismayil Hajiyev – musician, composer and conductor
- Reza Moridi[8] – Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament
- Feridun Hamdullahpur - sixth president and vice-chancellor (2010-2021) of the University of Waterloo
- Ilham Akhundov - mathematician, University of Waterloo
Organizations
There are a number of active cultural and political advocacy Azerbaijani organizations established in Canada.
- Network of Azerbaijani Canadians (NAC) - is a primary advocacy organization active in promoting and preserving Azerbaijani culture, and representing the interests of Azerbaijani Canadians. It was founded in September 2020 and headquartered in Toronto, ON.
- Tabriz Azerbaijani Music and Dance Ensemble[9] - was founded in Toronto in 2003. It originally consisted of Dance and Music groups, but recently we have added a Choir group as well. The Music and Dance groups have in recent years expanded in number, in diversity of instruments and dances, as well as, in repertoire.
- Azerbaijan Cultural Society of Edmonton (AzCSE) - is a cultural society established in 2012. The main objective of AzCSE is to gather all Edmontonians who are interested in Azerbaijan's culture, dances, music, foods.[10] It is based in Edmonton, AB.
- Alberta Azerbaijani Cultural Society (ALACS) - was established in 2005 to promote and advocate for Azerbaijani history, language and culture, and is based in Calgary, AB.[11]
- Karabakh - Azerbaijani Language School in Ottawa - was established in 2011.[12]
- Azerbaijani Women's Support Center (AWSC) - was founded in 2005 to support and empower newcomer and immigrant women from diverse backgrounds.[13] The organization is based in Toronto, ON and is a registered charity.
- Alov Foundation - founded in 2019 to support charity initiatives of the Azerbaijani community in Canada.
See also
- West Asian Canadians
- Middle Eastern Canadians
- Azerbaijan–Canada relations
- Azerbaijani diaspora
- Ethnic origins of people in Canada
References
- ^ a b c d Search page
- ^ a b Immigrant population by selected places of birth, admission category and period of immigration, Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and areas outside of census metropolitan areas, 2016 Census
- ^ Ethnic Origin (232), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Responses (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data
- ^ Ethnic Origin (247), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data
- ^ "Ethnic Origin (264), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age Groups (10) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households". Statistics Canada. 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2013. In the 2011 census, 1,985 people indicated 'Azeri'/'Azerbaijani' as a single response and 2,595 as part of multiple origins.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-02-09). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Canada [Country]". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-18.
- ^ Baraheni, Reza (2005). "The Midwife of My Land" (PDF). Idea&s Magazine. 2 (1). Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 2, 2012.
- ^ Moridi, Reza (June 25, 2010). "Azerbaijani diaspora in Canada should do much to resist Armenians". News.Az.
- ^ "Tabriz Music Ensemble | Tirgan". tirgan.ca. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
- ^ "AzCSE - About". www.azcse.com. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
- ^ "Alberta Azerbaijani Cultural Society – Calgary, Canada". AZERI AMERICA. 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
- ^ "Only investments of Armenians in Karabakh are mines that continue to kill civilians". Report News Agency. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
- ^ Centre, Azerbaijani Women's Support. ""When I went beyond myself, the pathway finally opened." Mahsati Ganjavi". Azerbaijani Women's Support Centre. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
