Canadian Immigrants Day

Canadian Immigrants Day celebrates those who have immigrated to the United States from Canada.

History of Canadian Immigrants Day

Canada is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, and most of its residents live within a few hundred miles of its border with the United States. The border is 5,525 miles long (including the border with Alaska) and is the longest border in the world that is not patrolled by the military. Besides sharing a border, Canada and the United States have many cultural similarities.

Most Canadians immigrate to the United States by receiving a green card, which is usually obtained because they have immediate relatives in the country, or because they are sponsored by an employer there. More Canadians immigrate to the United States than they do to any other country. In 1960, about ten percent of the foreign-born population of the United States was Canadian. Although that number dropped to two percent in 2012, about 800,000 Canadian immigrants were living in the United States at the time.

The first wave of Canadian immigrants arrived in the 1860s; they are mostly unskilled and come to work in factories. A second wave came from 1900 to 1930, and was driven by the discrimination they faced in employment, education and because of their religion. Immigration to the United States began to decline after this point, as the Canadian economy began to grow after World War II. During the second half of the 20th century, especially after the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, there was a diversification of Canadian immigrants, including students, who wanted to reunite with their families. families, educated professionals and retirees with a desire to move to a warmer climate.

How to celebrate Canadian Immigrants Day

One way to celebrate Canada Immigration Day is to explore famous Canadian immigrants. Some have nationalities, such as Dan Aykroyd, Samantha Bee, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Jim Carrey, while others have not, such as Neil Young and Justin Bieber. You can spend the whole day exploring their work: listening to their music, watching movies and reading their books. In addition, you can reflect on how they have enriched American culture. If you know someone who is a Canadian immigrant, you can wish them a "Happy Immigration Day". You can also fly the Canadian flag on this day.