Russian Canadians
Canadians with Russian ancestry
Ethnic group
Russian Canadians comprise Canadian citizens of Russian heritage or Russians who immigrated to and reside in Canada . According to the 2021 Census , there were 548,140 Canadians who claimed full or partial Russian ancestry. The areas of Canada with the highest percentage population of Russian Canadians are the Prairie Provinces.
Number of Russian Canadians
Russian percent in Canada by province/territory, 2021 census
Data from this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Data from this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 622,445.
Single response: 120,165.
Multiple response: 502,280.
Provinces and CMAs (census metropolitan areas) with Russian Canadian populations over 10,000
Source:
Quebec
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 55,230
Single response: 15,800
Multiple response: 39,435
Montréal (CMA)
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 49,275
Single response: 14,315
Multiple response: 34,960
Ontario
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 220,850
Single response: 53,175
Multiple response: 167,675
Toronto (CMA)
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 139,915
Single response: 40,570
Multiple response: 99,340
Ottawa-Gatineau (CMA - Ontario part)
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 15,620 (represents ~90% of total Ottawa-Gatineau CMA)
Single response: 3,205
Multiple response: 12,415
Manitoba
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 58,225
Single response: 9,510
Multiple response: 48,720
Winnipeg (CMA)
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 29,575
Single response: 3,580
Multiple response: 26,000
Saskatchewan
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 39,390
Single response: 3,645
Multiple response: 35,745
Saskatoon (CMA)
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 13,280
Single response: 1,360
Multiple response: 11,925
Alberta
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 107,800
Single response: 14,320
Multiple response: 93,480
Calgary (CMA)
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 37,955
Single response: 6,125
Multiple response: 31,830
Edmonton (CMA)
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 28,275
Single response: 3,325
Multiple response: 24,945
British Columbia
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 131,060
Single response: 22,145
Multiple response: 108,910
Vancouver (CMA)
Data in this section from Statistics Canada, 2016.
Total: 58,535
Single response: 11,145
Multiple response: 47,395
Many British Columbians of Russian descent are Doukhobors , historically concentrated in the West Kootenay and Boundary Country regions.
Religion
Russian Canadian demography by religion
Religious group
2021
2001
Pop.
%
Pop.
%
Christianity
253,035
46.16%
213,435
63.15%
Islam
3,980
0.73%
1,295
0.38%
Judaism
57,125
10.42%
36,270
10.73%
Irreligion
227,810
41.56%
84,730
25.07%
Buddhism
1,090
0.2%
815
0.24%
Hinduism
270
0.05%
70
0.02%
Sikhism
85
0.02%
70
0.02%
Indigenous spirituality
265
0.05%
435
0.13%
Other
4,485
0.82%
900
0.27%
Total Russian Canadian population
548,145
100%
337,965
100%
Russian Canadian demography by Christian sects
Religious group
2021
2001
Pop.
%
Pop.
%
Catholic
50,505
19.96%
49,530
23.21%
Orthodox
59,285
23.43%
33,405
15.65%
Protestant
81,130
32.06%
111,250
52.12%
Other Christian
62,115
24.55%
19,250
9.02%
Total Russian Canadian Christian population
253,035
100%
213,435
100%
List of notable Russian Canadians
Arts, entertainment and literature
Harvey Atkin – voice-over actor
Alex Battler – writer
Arnold Belkin – painter
Sasha Clements – actress, Majority Rules!
Ludmilla Chiriaeff – ballet dancer, choreographer and company director
Victor Garber – actor, Titanic , Argo , Star Trek
Natalie Glebova – Miss Universe 2005 , Miss Universe Canada 2005
Anais Granofsky – actress, Degrassi Junior High
Michelle Gurevich – singer, formerly known as "Chinawoman"
Boris Hambourg – cellist
Melissa Hayden – ballet dancer
Inna Korobkina – actress
Julia Ivanova - documentary filmmaker
Jessica Parker Kennedy – actress, The Secret Circle , Smallville , Black Sails
Nadia Litz – actress
Elena Lobsanova – ballet dancer
George London – singer
Eli Mandel – poet
Catherine Manoukian – violinist
Niall Matter – actor, Eureka , Stargate Atlantis , Melrose Place , 90210
Sophie Milman – jazz musician
Zara Nelsova – cellist
Greta Onieogou - actress
Alex Ozerov - actor
Kim Yaroshevskaya - actress, voice-over, story-teller and writer
Sarah Polley – actress and film director, Order of Canada
Duncan Regehr – writer and actor, Star Trek
Sasha Roiz – actor
Aleksei Serebryakov – actor
Elena Semikina – Miss Universe Canada 2010
Socalled – musician
Ksenia Solo – actress, Black Swan
Madeline Sonik – writer
Jessica Trisko – Miss Earth 2007
Boris Volkoff - ballet master, choreographer, "the father of Canadian ballet"
Watts – produced for Method Man , Redman , and Snoop Dogg
Adele Wiseman – author
Chloe Stroll - singer-songwriter
Business and other
Bluma Appel – philanthropist, recipient of the Order of Canada and Order of Ontario
Charles Bronfman – billionaire, member of the Bronfman family
Edgar Bronfman, Sr. – billionaire, member of the Bronfman family
Saidye Rosner Bronfman – billionaire, member of the Bronfman family, founder of the Seagram Company
Samuel Bronfman – billionaire, member of the Bronfman family
Arcadi Gaydamak – businessman
Ben Hatskin – founder of the Winnipeg Jets
Gregory Lekhtman – inventor of exercise boots
Sonia Scurfield – owner of the Calgary Flames in the 1980s and 1990s
Alex Shnaider – co-founder of the Midland Group , partner in the Trump International Hotel and Tower (Toronto)
Lawrence Stroll – businessman, part-owner and executive chairman of Aston Martin , and the owner of the Aston Martin F1 Team
Canada Africa
Horn of Africa North Africa Southern Africa West Africa
Americas
North America Caribbean South America
Asia
Europe
Central Europe Eastern Europe Northern Europe Southeast Europe Southern Europe Western Europe
Oceania
Former Russian Empire or the USSR
Central and Eastern Europe Baltic states Central Asia Caucasus Other states
Americas Asia
East Asia Southeast Asia South Asia West Asia
Europe Oceania