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v2.04b - Bot T20 CW#61 - Fix errors for CW project (Reference before punctuation)

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{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Tamil Canadians
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image =
| image_caption =
| population = 157,000 (2016)
| popplace = [[Greater Toronto Area|Greater Toronto]], [[Greater Montreal]], [[Greater Vancouver]], [[Calgary Metropolitan Region|Calgary Region]], [[Edmonton Metropolitan Region|Edmonton Region]], [[National Capital Region (Canada)|National Capital Region]]
| langs = [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Canadian English]], [[Canadian French]]
| rels = [[Hinduism]], [[Christianity]], [[Islam]]
| related = [[Tamil people|Indian Tamils]], [[Sri Lankan Tamil]]s
}}
{{Tamils}}
'''Tamil Canadians''', or '''Canadian Tamils''', are [[Canadians]] of [[Tamils|Tamil]] ethnic origin. Much of the Canada's [[Tamil diaspora]] from [[India]] and [[Sri Lanka]] then majority consist of [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Sri Lankan Tamil]] refugees who sought to flee the ethnic tensions during the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]] between the 1970s and 2000s, while economic Tamil migrants also originate from India, [[Singapore]] and other parts of [[South Asia]]. From a population of fewer than 150 Tamils in 1983, it has become one of the largest visible minority population groups within the [[Greater Toronto Area]]. In the 1991 census, Tamils were the fastest-growing ethnic group in the city.

Canada's Tamil population is among the largest in the [[Western world]], with [[Toronto]] being home to one of the largest [[Tamil language|Tamil]]-speaking populations outside of Asia, and [[Montreal]] recording Tamil as the most spoken South Asian language in the [[2016 Canadian Census|2016 Census]], ahead of [[Bengali language|Bengali]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and [[Urdu language|Urdu]]. Other Tamil diaspora communities are found in the metropolitan areas of [[Vancouver]], [[Calgary]], [[Edmonton]] and [[Ottawa]]. Tamil is the third-most spoken South Asian language in Canada as of 2016.<ref name="Cheran"/><ref name=HD>
{{Cite journal
|author = Jennifer Hyndman
|title = Aid, conflict and migration: the Canada Sri Lanka connection
|publisher = Department of Geography, [[Simon Fraser University]]
|year = 2000
|url = http://web.mit.edu/cis/www/migration/seminars/Discussion_Hyndman.pdf#search='Sri%20Lanka%20Tamil%20migration'
|access-date = 2007-08-31
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927183509/http://web.mit.edu/cis/www/migration/seminars/Discussion_Hyndman.pdf#search='Sri%20Lanka%20Tamil%20migration'
|archive-date = 2007-09-27
}}</ref><ref name=SD>
{{cite web
| last = Sriskandarajah
| first = Dhananjayan
| title = Diaspora politics
| publisher = [[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer US]]
| year = 2005
| url = http://www.springerlink.com/content/x2543gl118672348/
| access-date = 2007-08-31 }}</ref>

==History==
With the outbreak of riots and eventual civil war in Sri Lanka in 1983, Tamil migration to Canada increased significantly. In 2000, Sri Lanka was the sixth largest source country of immigrants to Canada, sending 5,841 people or 2.57% of Canada's immigrant total. Between 1991 and 2001, Sri Lanka was the fifth largest source country of immigrants to Canada, after [[China]], India, the [[Philippines]], and [[Hong Kong]].<ref name=HD/>

Between 2001 and 2010 Sri Lanka's rank dropped to 17 in the list of immigrant source countries to Canada. Well behind the major source countries China (327,317), India (277,819) and Philippines (191,121).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/facts2010/permanent/10.asp |title=Immigration overview:Permanent and temporary residents |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819071533/http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/facts2010/permanent/10.asp |archive-date=2012-08-19 }}</ref> In 2010 immigrants from Sri Lanka consisted of only 1.4% of Canada's immigrant total of 280,681.

Most permanent residents from Sri Lanka came as either independent immigrants, refugees, or family class sponsored immigrants.

Refugee claimants are an independent category of Tamils from Sri Lanka who arrived in Canada and are claiming protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. After 2001 there have been no Government of Canada or private sponsored Tamil refugees to Canada. There are 141,074 UNHCR recognized Tamil refugees in non-signatory countries. There are a total of 589,639 refugees from Sri Lanka in 2011 who have registered with the UNHCR in non-signatory countries.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/page?page=49e4878e6&submit=GO |title=2012 UNHCR country operations profile - Sri Lanka |access-date=2012-08-14}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year<ref name="Citizenship and Immigration Canada">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/statistics/menu-fact.asp |title=Facts and Figures 2009 |website=Cic.gc.ca |access-date=2010-08-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904075542/http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGlish/resources/statistics/menu-fact.asp |archive-date=2010-09-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>!! Permanent residents !! Refugee claimants !! Government/private sponsored refugees
|-
| 1999 || 4,728 || 2,802 || 3
|-
| 2000 || 5,849 || 2,898 || 7
|-
| 2001 || 5,520 || 2,824 || 0
|-
| 2002 || 4,968 || 1,589 || 0
|-
| 2003 || 4,448 || 1,239 || 0
|-
| 2004 || 4,135 || 1,134 || 0
|-
| 2005 || 4,690 || 854 || 0
|-
| 2006 || 4,490 || 862 || 0
|-
| 2007 || 3,934 || 779 || 0
|-
| 2008 || 4,509 || 1,013 || 0
|-
| 2009 || 4,269 || 2,758 || 0
|-
| 2010 || 4,181 || 2,778 || 0
|}

==Media==

Much of the Tamil language media in Canada is based in [[Toronto]], while some centres operate in [[Montreal]]. A community magazine, ''Thamizhar Mathiyil'' (Amidst Tamils), has been published since 1990 and has grown to several hundred pages in length. Ten [[alternative weekly]] Tamil language newspapers are distributed primarily in Toronto and Montreal. The ''Monsoon Journal'' and the ''Tamil Mirror'' are English language newspapers created and targeted at Tamils. Four Tamil language radio stations broadcast out of Toronto and Montreal as well. Three Tamil language online News [http://www.thetamiljournal.com Thetamiljournal.com] (The Tamil Journal தமிழ் இதழ்), television stations ([[Tamil Vision International]], [[Tamil One]], and [[Tamil Entertainment Television]]) are based in Toronto.<ref name=Cheran>
{{Cite journal
| author = Cheran, R
| title = Changing Formations: Tamil Nationalism and National Liberation in Sri Lanka and the Diaspora
| version = Ph.D. dissertation
| publisher = Department of Sociology, [[York University]]
| year = 2000
}}</ref>

==Social and political activity==
{{See also|2009 Tamil protests in Canada}}
Various political, social and religious organizations exists among the Tamil Canadian community. One such organization is [[Canadian Tamil Congress]], which works as a community and lobby group to communicate on behalf of some Tamil Canadians at the municipal, provincial, federal, and international levels.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} The Canadian Tamil Congress is the largest of these organizations with 11 chapters in the country.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} The smaller organizations are geared towards organizing [[Kinship|kin]] and village groups from Sri Lanka, as well as supporting various political parties such as the [[Liberal Party of Canada]], [[New Democratic Party of Canada|New Democratic Party]] and [[Conservative Party of Canada]]. Tamil candidates have participated in the political process representing various parties at municipal, provincial and federal level. In 2011, [[Rathika Sitsabaiesan]] was elected as the first Tamil-Canadian Member of Parliament, as a New Democrat in [[Scarborough-Rouge River]]. In 2018, [[Vijay Thanigasalam]] was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-06-07|title=Battle between first-timers in Scarborough-Rouge Park ends with PC victory|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/06/07/battle-between-first-time-candidates-in-new-riding-of-scarborough-rouge-park-too-close-to-call.html|access-date=2021-08-13|website=thestar.com|language=en}}</ref> and currently represents [[Scarborough—Rouge River|Scarborough-Rouge River]] as a member of the [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vijay Thanigasalam {{!}} Legislative Assembly of Ontario|url=https://www.ola.org/en/members/all/vijay-thanigasalam|access-date=2021-08-11|website=www.ola.org|language=en}}</ref> During his time as a member, he has taken upon numerous initiatives in the Tamil Community and the Scarborough-Rouge River Riding as a whole. Some of his achievements include introducing [https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-104 Bill 104], An Act to proclaim Tamil Genocide Education Week in Ontario.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tamil Genocide Education Week Act, 2021|url=https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-104|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Legislative Assembly of Ontario|language=en}}</ref> Previously, [[Logan Kanapathi]] was the first Tamil Canadian candidate to win election to large municipal government.<ref name=SD/><ref name=Cheran/><ref>
{{cite news
| last = Lak
| first = Daniel
| title = Canada's Tamils dream of peace
| publisher = [[BBC]]
| date = 2003-05-03
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3020907.stm
| access-date = 2007-08-31 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| title = Tamil rebels 'coercing diaspora'
| publisher = [[BBC]]
| date = 2006-03-15
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4807846.stm
| access-date = 2007-08-31 }}</ref> He currently serves his second term as Ward 7 councilor in the town of [[Markham, Ontario|Markham]]. Many Hindu Temples have been built by the community to cater to its religious needs. [[Hindu Youth Network]], an organization founded by Sri Lankan Tamils, is currently the largest Hindu youth movement in Canada with thousands of Hindu Tamil students and over 80% of the Hindu student groups in the country under its umbrella.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080616.HINDUS16/TPStory/National | location=Toronto | work=The Globe and Mail | title=globeandmail.com: National | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622200134/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080616.HINDUS16/TPStory/National | archive-date=2008-06-22 }}</ref> There are also Christian churches that cater particularly to the Tamil community in Canada.<ref>
{{cite web
| title = List of Hindu temples in Canada
| publisher = Tamil library
| date = 2002-05-14
| url = http://tamilelibrary.org/teli/temple1.html
| access-date = 2007-08-31 }}</ref>

Tamil Canadians have run multiple campaigns encouraging the donation of blood to the Canadian Blood Services organized by various Canadian Tamil organizations. {{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} The community also undertook a recent campaign to help SickKids Hospital, which treats 100,000 children every year. These campaigns were organized by the Canadian Tamil Congress, with the support of many social and community organizations. {{Citation needed|date=August 2010}}

==Tamil Heritage Month in Canada==
A unanimous decision was made at the House of Commons on October 5, 2016 declaring the month of January as Tamil Heritage Month under M-24. The motion will "recognize the contributions that Tamil-Canadians have made to Canadian society, the richness of the Tamil language and culture, and the importance of educating and reflecting upon Tamil heritage for future generations by declaring January, every year, Tamil Heritage Month.".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadiantamilcongress.ca/tag/tamil-heritage-month/|title=tamil heritage month - Canadian Tamil Congress|website=Canadiantamilcongress.ca}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tamilculture.com/january-officially-declared-tamil-heritage-month-canada/|title=January is Officially Declared as Tamil Heritage Month in Canada|website=Tamilculture.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tamil.oneindia.com/news/international/january-is-tamil-traditional-month-bill-passed-canadian-parliament-264521.html|title=கனடாவில் ஜனவரி இனி தமிழ் மரபு மாதம்: பாராளுமன்றத்தில் மசோதா நிறைவேறியது!|website=Tamil.oneindia.com|date=7 October 2016}}</ref>

==Sports and literature==
Canada has attracted a number of internationally renowned writers from Sri Lanka, including [[Shyam Selvadurai]]. Despite his family's relative privilege and urban base, his family left Sri Lanka because of the [[Black July|1983 riots]]. Canadian Tamils have also contributed to the sports fields such as the formerly ranked Canadian [[tennis]] player [[Sonya Jeyaseelan]] and [[cricketer]] [[Sanjayan Thuraisingam]]. [[Pradeeban Peter-Paul]] a Tamil Canadian table tennis player has been part of the Canadian National Team for the past 12 years. He was one of two Canadians who qualified to represent Canada at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]], [[China]]. Soccer and cricket are two of the main sports played by the Tamil population in Canada.

==Laws==
A law named "Tamil Heritage Month Act, 2014" was passed by the Ontario government to proclaim January as Tamil heritage month. This law is for remembering, celebrating and educating future generations about the inspirational roles that Tamil Canadians have played.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_14t04_e.htm|title=amil Heritage Month Act, 2014|date=24 July 2014|website=E-laws.gov.on.ca}}</ref>Bill 104 was passed in January of 2021 which proclaims the week of May 18th the Tamil Genocide Education Week in Ontario. This Bill was passed to encourages everyone all across Ontario to educate themselves about the Tamil Genocide that had taken place in Sri Lanka.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tamil Genocide Education Week Act, 2021|url=https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-104|access-date=2021-08-10|website=Legislative Assembly of Ontario|language=en}}</ref>

== Cuisines ==
Being the country with the largest Tamil diaspora, Canada has a number of cuisines that serve authentic Tamil foods. In the Greater Toronto Area, which has the highest population of Tamils in Canada, there are restaurants that specialize in everything. Some restaurants that serve authentic Tamil food include Babu Catering,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Babu Take-out & Catering|url=http://www.babudelivery.ca/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=www.babudelivery.ca}}</ref> Karaikudi Chettinad Restaurant,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.karaikudi.ca/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=Karaikudi Restaurant|language=en}}</ref> and Nantha Caters.<ref>{{Cite web|title=South Indian Restaurant in Scarborough, Etobicoke, Markham|url=https://www.nantha.com/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=www.nantha.com}}</ref> Tamil Canadians have used their creativity to open cuisines that have a fusion of Tamil and Canadian food. Confused Kitchen<ref>{{Cite web|title=SRI LANKAN FUSION FOOD|url=https://www.confusedkitchen.ca/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=CONFUSED KITCHEN|language=en}}</ref> is a famous Tamil Canadian restaurant that serves foods such as Mac and Cheese Mutton rolls, putting a twist to the classic Tamil mutton roll.

==Significant populations==
''Based on Census 2016''<ref name="Census2016">{{cite web |title=Census Canada 2016 |url=http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/index-eng.cfm |website=Data products, 2016 Census |date=8 February 2017 |publisher=Statistics Canada |access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref>

1. [[Scarborough—Rouge Park]], ON - 13.94% (14,255) 
2. [[Scarborough North (electoral district)|Scarborough North]], ON - 12.23% (12,080) 
3. [[Markham—Thornhill]], ON - 10.61% (10,515) 
4. [[Scarborough—Guildwood]], ON - 9.45% (9,680) 
5. [[Scarborough Centre (electoral district)|Scarborough Centre]], ON - 9.40% (10,590) 
6. [[Markham—Stouffville]], ON - 6.71% (8,460) 
7. [[Scarborough—Agincourt]], ON - 5.18% (5,465) 
8. [[Ajax (electoral district)|Ajax]], ON - 5.12% (6,125) 
9. [[Brampton East]], ON - 5.08% (6,195) 
10. [[Mississauga—Malton]], ON - 3.95% (4,675) 
11. [[Scarborough Southwest]], ON - 3.65% (4,025) 
12. [[Brampton West]], ON - 3.35% (4,360) 
13. [[Mississauga East—Cooksville]], ON - 2.41% (2,895) 
14. [[Humber River—Black Creek]], ON - 2.36% (2,555) 
15. [[Mississauga Centre]], ON - 2.34% (2,925) 
16. [[Etobicoke North]], ON - 2.31% (2,730) 
17. [[Brampton North]], ON - 2.22% (2,620) 
18. [[Toronto Centre]], ON - 2.21% (2,295) 
19. [[Brampton South]], ON - 2.18% (2,645) 
20. [[Markham—Unionville]], ON - 2.14% (2,645) 
21. [[Pierrefonds—Dollard]], QC - 2.08% (2,255) 
22. [[Saint-Laurent (electoral district)|Saint-Laurent]], QC - 2.03% (2,010)

==See also==
* [[List of Tamils of Sri Lanka#Canada|List of Canadian Sri Lankan Tamils]]
* [[Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America]]
* [[List of Tamil-language radio stations]]
* [[List of Tamil language schools in Canada]]
* ''[[In Our Translated World]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.torontotamil.com/yp/ Canadian Tamil Business Directory]
* [http://www.tamilstar.fm/ TAMIL STAR FM - Tamil radio in Canada]
*[https://www.torontotamil.com/ Tamil Canadian Inside]
*[http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/canada.htm Tamils in Canada] from Ravindiran Vaitheespara, ''The Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples''
*[http://www.canadiantamilcongress.ca/ Canadian Tamil Congress]
{{Asian Canadians}}
{{People of Canada}}
{{Tamil Diaspora}}
{{Sri Lankan diaspora}}
{{NRI-PIO}}

[[Category:Tamil Canadians| ]]
[[Category:Tamil diaspora by country|Canada]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Canada]]
[[Category:Asian Canadian]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Tamil descent| ]]
[[Category:South Asian Canadian]]

Tamil Canadians - Revision history

imported>WikiCleanerBot: v2.04b - Bot T20 CW#61 - Fix errors for CW project (Reference before punctuation)