Austrian Canadians

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Austrian Canadians (German: Österreichischekanadier, pronounced [ˈøːstɐʁaɪçɪʃəkaˌnaːdi̯ɐ]) are Canadian citizens who are of Austrian ancestry or Austrian-born people who reside in Canada. According to the 2016 Census there were 207,050 Canadians who claimed either full or partial Austrian ancestry.^[2]

Austrian Canadian communities can be found throughout the country but with a higher concentration mainly in Western Canada.

History[]

In the 17th century, soldiers from Austria settled in New France. Numbers increased following the passing of the Staatsgrundgesetz (constitutional law) in 1867 which allowed free migration from Austria-Hungary for civilians. Emigration to Canada increased throughout the late 19th century and into the early 20th, until this was tightened in 1914 at the onset of World War I.^[3]Many immigrants from Austria-Hungary to Canada were interned and used for enslaved labour during World War I. Beginning in 1914, subjects of the Habsburg Crown, especially Ukrainian-speakers from Austrian Galicia, were placed in twenty-four internment camps across Canada, the last of which closed in 1920.^[4]

Demographics[]

Austrian Canadian population by province and territory in Canada in 2011:

Province or territory	Austrian Canadians	Percentage
Canada	197,990[2]
Ontario	68,785	0.05%
British Columbia	45,675	1.0%
Alberta	36,670
Saskatchewan	18,600
Manitoba	12,660
Quebec	11,815
Nova Scotia	1,835
New Brunswick	805
Yukon	395
Newfoundland and Labrador	275
Prince Edward Island	270
Northwest Territories	185
Nunavut	15

See also[]

• Austria–Canada relations
• Greg Holst, head coach
• German Canadians
• Hungarian Canadians
• Swiss Canadians

References[]