Census results outline the city's mosaic

The latest compilation of data from the May 2006 census has been released, one which examines the cultural make up of the nation and of our city.

Statistics Canada released the Ethnic origin and visible minorities segment of the most recent census, which found that over 200 different ethnic origins were reported across the nation.

The Daily News examined the numbers and provided some of the results in their Wednesday edition.

Census gives ethnic snapshot of city

Biggest ethnic groups are: North American indian, British, Canadian
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Pages one and three

New census statistics reflect what many in Prince Rupert already know, that this community includes people who value and cheerish their cultural backgrounds.

According to staistics released on Wednesday, about one quarter of the people in Prince Rupert consider their ethnic background to be at least partly "Canadian", an indication that many people feel a connection to Canada as well as their ethnic roots.

Statistics Canada has been including "Canadian" as an example in its 'ethnic origin' question in the census for 10 years now and fewer people in Prince Rupert identified their ancestry as Canadian than in the last census - 23.6 per cent in 2006 compared to 24.1 per cent in 2001.
The 'Canadian' response compares to 36.1 per cent who listed their ancestral origins as 'British' and 7.4 per cent who listed 'French' - Canada's two founding cultures.

Other popular responses (either reported alone or in combination with other origins) to the ethnic origin question in the Prince Rupert region included North American Indian (30.9 per cent), German (8.5 per cent) and Norwegian (6 per cent).

Some demographic experts have said answering 'Canadian' to the ancestry question on the census is more of a statement of patriotism than a person's true ethnic origin. Statistics Canada didn't list 'Canadian' as an example until 1996 - after a public campaign by some media organizations led to a large number of write-in 'Canadian' replies in the 1991 census.

Unlike other questions on the census forms that are based on hard facts - such as age, sex and the number of people living in one dwelling - Canadians are left to interpret their own ethnicity. The census form asked respondents about their "ethnic or cultural origins" and then offered further instructions.

"This question refers to the ethnic or cultural origin or origins of a person's ancestors. An ancestor is someone from whom a person is descended and is usually more distant than a grandparent. Other than Aboriginal persons, most people can trace their origins to their ancestors who first came to this continent. Ancestry should not be confused with citizenship or nationality," the census says.

The census has collected data on the ethnic origins of the population since 1871.

The Department of Canadian Heritage uses information on ethnic origin to administer programs under the Multiculturalism Act. Statistics Canada also says the question on ethnicity provides some of the most widely requested data from the census. Governments, community groups, ethnic and cultural organizations, school boards, hospitals and researchers all use ethnicity data to assess how people of different backgrounds have integrated into life in Canada.

The census data released Wednesday also includes information on visible minorities in Prince Rupert.

A total of 10.7 per cent of the population of Prince Rupert identified themselves as a visible minority in 2006 - a decrease from 2001 when the figure was 11.1 per cent. Across Canada, 16.2 per cent of the population identified themselves as a visible minority - that's more than five million Canadians. The national figures show the continued ethnic diversity of the Canadian population during the last 25 years. In 1981, there were just over one million Canadians said they were visible minorities, representing less than five per cent of the population.

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In Prince Rupert, 41.5 per cent of the community's visible minority population was born in Canada. The largest visible minority was South Asian (4.2 per cent), followed by Chinese (2.3 per cent) and Southeast Asian (1.6 per cent).