Census learning centre
Introduction to ethnocultural and religion concepts

Release date: October 26, 2022

Catalogue number: 982000032021024

Hello and welcome to the "Introduction to ethnocultural and religion concepts" video.

This video is designed to provide you with a basic understanding of ethnic or cultural origin, population group, visible minority and religion concepts. It defines each of these concepts and explains the importance of this data in painting a picture of Canada’s multicultural communities.

Subject
Ethnocultural, Religion
Length
00:07:40
Cost
Free
Links

Watch the video

Concept video: Introduction to ethnocultural and religion concepts - Transcription

(The Statistics Canada symbol and "Canada" wordmark appear on screen with the title: "Concept video: Introduction to ethnocultural and religion concepts".)

Welcome to the “Introduction to ethnocultural and religion concepts” video.

This video is designed to give you a basic understanding of ethnocultural and religion concepts, as well as how and why data on these topics are collected.

Let’s begin with ethnic or cultural origin. Ethnic or cultural origin refers to the ethnic or cultural origins of the person's ancestors.

Ancestors may have Indigenous origins, or origins that may or may not refer to different countries.

In the 2021 Census, the terms “origin” and “ancestry” are used interchangeably.

Ethnic or cultural origin should not be confused with citizenship, language or place of birth. For example, a person who has Canadian citizenship, speaks Hindi and was born in the United States may report having Guyanese ancestry.

Responses to the ethnic or cultural origin question on the census reflects respondents’ perceptions of their background. As such, many factors can influence responses over time, including the contemporary social environment, respondents’ knowledge of their family history, and their understanding of and views on the topic.

The census data on ethnic or cultural origins are a key data source on the various ethnocultural groups in Canada. Because the data are obtained from the census, the sample is large enough to see the detailed origins reported in very small geographic areas.

This information is used to support federal legislation, policies and programs, such as the Canadian Multiculturalism Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Governments, businesses, academics, researchers, and ethnic and cultural associations throughout the country also use this information to plan products and services.

Data from the 2021 Census of Population on ethnic or cultural origins were obtained from Question 23 on form 2A-L and form 2A-R. The following question was asked:

(Image of question 23 of the 2021 Census questionnaire appears on the screen.)

What were the ethnic or cultural origins of this person’s ancestors?

To help respondents better understand the question, a link to a list of over 500 examples of ethnic and cultural origins was included.

Respondents could specify as many origins as applicable, and up to six origins per respondent were kept in the database.

(A list of examples of ethnic and cultural origins appears on the screen.)

Now let’s look at population group and visible minority. These two variables were obtained primarily from Question 25 (population group) on Form 2A-L and Form 2A-R.

(Image of question 25 of the 2021 Census questionnaire appear on the screen.)

In analytical and communications products for the 2021 Census, the term "visible minority" has been replaced by the terms "racialized population" or "racialized groups," reflecting the increased use of these terms in the public sphere.

The primary purpose of the population group question on the census is to derive counts for the visible minority population. Visible minority refers to whether a person is a visible minority, as defined by the Employment Equity Act, that is, “persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-White in colour.” The main groups designated as visible minorities are South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.

The population group question is also used to produce the population group variable, which includes data on groups such as White, Chinese, South Asian and Black people, generally mirroring the response categories used in the population group question. It also includes many more specific multiple-response categories that are collapsed into broader categories in the visible minority variable (e.g., South Asian and Black).

Data on Canada’s visible minority population are used by governments, businesses, community groups, health care providers, researchers and a variety of organizations throughout the country to ensure equal opportunities for everyone. Data on the visible minority population can be used by employers to compare the characteristics of their workforce with the characteristics of the people who live in the same area.

However, data on Canada’s visible minority population have wider applications beyond ensuring equal opportunities in the workforce. These data are also used increasingly to help combat racism and discrimination.

Let’s look at religion.

Since 1871, the decennial Census of Population has included a question on religion that reflects a longstanding, continuing and widespread demand for information about religion in Canada.

Governments, along with religious groups, denominations and associations across the country commonly use information on religion. For example, religious leaders and organizations use this information to plan programs and to help determine where to build churches, synagogues, mosques and temples. Data on religion are also used to understand the diversity of the country.

Religion refers to a person’s self-identified connection to or affiliation with any religious denomination, group, body, or other religiously defined community or system of belief. Religion is not limited to formal membership in a religious organization or group.

For infants or children, religion refers to the specific religious group or denomination, if any, in which they are being raised.

The 2021 Census of Population data on religion were obtained from Question 30 on Form 2A-L and Form 2A-R.

(Image of question 30 of the 2021 Census questionnaire appear on the screen.)

Both versions of the questionnaire used the same wording for the religion question: “What is this person’s religion?”

Below the question, a note asked respondents to indicate a specific denomination or religion even if the person was not currently a practicing member of that group.

When completing the census, a person with no religious affiliation could choose either to mark the answer circle for “No religion” or to specify other responses, such as “Atheist” (does not believe in the existence of God) or “Agnostic” (believes nothing can be known about the existence of God).

To help respondents better understand the question and encourage them to provide more detailed responses, a short list of examples were shown on the questionnaire, and a hyperlink to a list of over 200 additional examples of religions and religious groups or denominations was also included.

(A list of examples of religions and religious groups/denominations appears on the screen.)

(The words, "Thank you for watching the “Introduction to ethnocultural and religion concepts” video", appear on screen.)

This concludes the “Introduction to ethnocultural and religion concepts” video.

(The census logo appears with a link, which is also available to view here: Census of population.)

For more detailed information regarding concepts, variables, methodology, historical comparability and other elements, please refer to Statistics Canada's census web pages.

(The "Canada" wordmark appears. ISBN: 978-0-660-45920-2)

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