Greek Canadians

Greek Canadians
Ελληνοκαναδοί
Population distribution of Greek Canadians by census division, 2021 census
Total population
262,142
(by ancestry, 2021 Census)
Regions with significant populations
Canada
Ontario~130,000
Quebec~70,000
British Columbia~24,000
Alberta~14,000
Languages
English • French • Greek
Religion
Predominantly Greek Orthodox Christianity

Greek Canadians (Greek: Ελληνοκαναδοί) are Canadian citizens who have full or partial Greek heritage or people who emigrated from Greece and reside in Canada. According to the 2021 Census, there were 262,140 Canadians who claimed Greek ancestry.

Demographics

Provinces and territories with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:

Province or territoryGreek CanadiansPercentageBorn in Greece
Canada271,4100.79
Ontario148,5551.1236,575
Quebec 71,330 0.90 18,420
British Columbia24,460 0.54 3,635
Alberta 15,025 0.38 2,005
Manitoba4,1300.33820
Nova Scotia3,3600.37510
Saskatchewan2,880 0.27 605
New Brunswick9500.1395
Newfoundland and Labrador3800.0730
Prince Edward Island1750.1315
Yukon900.2610
Northwest Territories500.1210
Nunavut200.0610

Census metropolitan agglomerations (CMAs) with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:

CMA Greek CanadiansPercentageBorn in Greece
Toronto Ontario99,1451.6927,890
Montreal Quebec 66,395 1.66 17,890
Vancouver British Columbia16,085 0.66 2,890
Ottawa - Gatineau Ontario / Quebec 8,005 0.62 990
Hamilton Ontario 6,940 0.94 1,620
Calgary Alberta 6,770 0.49 940
London Ontario 5,365 1.10 1,180
Edmonton Alberta5,0150.39655
Oshawa Ontario 4,690 1.25 715
Kitchener - Cambridge - Waterloo Ontario 3,885 0.75 580

Cities with the highest population of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:

City ProvinceGreek CanadiansPercentageBorn in Greece
Toronto Ontario57,4202.1319,240
Montreal Quebec 29,060 1.75 9,150
Laval Quebec 20,385 4.96 5,940
Mississauga Ontario 7,490 1.05
Ottawa Ontario6,975 0.76
Markham Ontario 6,215 1.90
Calgary Alberta 6,150 0.50
Vancouver British Columbia 5,760 0.93
Vaughan Ontario 5,065 1.67
Hamilton Ontario 5,030 0.95

Ridings (federal electoral districts) with the highest percentage of Greek Canadians, according to 2016 Census:

Riding ProvinceGreek CanadiansPercentage
Laval—Les Îles Quebec 13,190 12.46
Toronto—Danforth Ontario7,6557.26
Papineau Quebec 5,490 5.01
Saint-Laurent Quebec 4,795 4.92
Scarborough Centre Ontario 4,945 4.48
Beaches—East York Ontario 4,585 4.23
Ahuntsic-Cartierville Quebec 4,695 4.18
Vimy Quebec 4,335 4.07
Don Valley East Ontario 3,785 4.06
Pierrefonds—Dollard Quebec 3,680 3.43

Religion

Greek Canadian demography by religion
Religious group 2021 2001
Pop. % Pop. %
Christianity 203,460 77.62% 197,290 91.72%
Islam 1,605 0.61% 535 0.25%
Judaism 1,480 0.56% 895 0.42%
Irreligion 54,355 20.74% 15,915 7.4%
Buddhism 230 0.09% 155 0.07%
Hinduism 85 0.03% 45 0.02%
Sikhism 55 0.02% 25 0.01%
Indigenous spirituality 55 0.02% 100 0.05%
Other 830 0.32% 140 0.07%
Total Greek Canadian population 252,135 100% 215,110 100%
Greek Canadian demography by Christian sects
Religious group 2021 2001
Pop. % Pop. %
Catholic 25,640 12.6% 19,960 10.12%
Orthodox 155,175 76.27% 158,305 80.24%
Protestant 11,095 5.45% 15,530 7.87%
Other Christian 11,550 5.68% 3,495 1.77%
Total Greek Canadian Christian population 203,460 100% 197,290 100%

List of notable Canadians of Greek ancestry

Academics

Authors

Professors

Business and philanthropy

Mike Lazaridis, creator of BlackBerry

Creatives

Canadians of Greek ancestry mark the independence of Greece in Montreal's Park Extension neighbourhood.

Artists

Sport

Athletics

Baseball

Basketball

Boxing

Chess

Diving

Fencing

Field hockey

Figure skating

Football

Ice hockey

Nick Kypreos, former NHL player, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers

Mixed martial arts

Paralympics

Soccer

Strength athletics

Water skiing

Wrestling

  • Bret Hart – former pro wrestler, multiple World Champion in the WWF and WCW; of Greek ancestry; mother is half Greek
  • Owen Hart – former pro wrestler, WWE Intercontinental Champion, European Champion and Tag-Team Champion, brother of Bret
  • Teddy Hart – pro wrestler, nephew of Owen and Bret
  • Jim Korderas – former WWE referee, television commentator
  • Natalya Neidhart – pro wrestler, former WWE Women's Champion, niece of Bret and Owen Hart
  • Trish Stratus (aka Patricia Anne Stratigias) – former professional wrestler, seven time WWE Women's Champion, former WWE Hardcore Champion
  • John Tolos – former professional wrestler and professional wrestling manager

Film, TV and stage

Actors and performers

Nia Vardalos, actress, My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Directors and producers

Entertainers

Journalists and broadcasters

Historical figures

Immigrants

  • Ioánnis Fokás Juan de Fuca – first Greek-Canadian (1592)

Politicians

Judiciary

Religious figures

Order of Canada recipients

  • Teresa Stratas (born 1938) – soprano OC; retired Canadian operatic soprano; known for her award-winning recording of Alban Berg's Lulu; born in Toronto, Ontario

Order of Merit of the Police Forces recipients

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Religious breakdown proportions based on "Greek" ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2021 census.
  2. 1 2 Religious breakdown proportions based on "Greek" ethnic or cultural origin responses on the 2001 census.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ethnic or cultural origin by gender and age: Canada, provinces and territories, 2021". statcan.gc.ca.
  2. ↑ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories – Ontario". Statistics Canada. Archived from the original on September 21, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories – Quebec". Statistics Canada. Archived from the original on September 9, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories – British Columbia". Statistics Canada. Archived from the original on September 9, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  5. ↑ "Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories – Alberta". Statistics Canada. Archived from the original on September 3, 2009. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Selected Demographic and Cultural Characteristics". Statistics Canada. Archived from the original on June 4, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2009.
  7. 1 2 "Census Profile, 2016 Census, Ethnic origin for Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs)". Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  8. ↑ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Toronto, City [Census subdivision], Ontario and Toronto, Census division [Census division], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved December 4, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ↑ Canada, Government of Canada, Statistics. "Census Profile, 2016 Census - Laval--Les Îles [Federal electoral district], Quebec and Toronto, Census division [Census division], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved December 4, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  10. 1 2 3 Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (May 10, 2023). "Religion by ethnic or cultural origins: Canada, provinces and territories and census metropolitan areas with parts". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (December 23, 2013). "2001 Census Topic-based tabulations Selected Demographic and Cultural Characteristics (105), Selected Ethnic Groups (100), Age Groups (6), Sex (3) and Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Census Metropolitan Areas, 2001 Census - 20% Sample Data". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  12. ↑ Bret Hart's mother is half Greek as is published in his autobiography Hitman: My Real Life in the Cartoon World of Wrestling

Further reading

Embassy and Consulates
Charitable organizations
Communities
Trade organizations
Affiliate trade organizations
Performance art groups