Which non-official languages are the second most spoken at home in two of Canada’s biggest cities?
- Chinese languages
- German
- Italian
- Japanese
Answer: Chinese languages
In Toronto and Vancouver, Chinese languages such as Mandarin and Cantonese are the most common languages spoken at home after English. In the 2021 Census, Mandarin was the main non-official language spoken at home in both cities.
Learn more: Diversity and immigration
- Most Canadians were born in Canada, and this has been true since the 1800s.
- Canada is often called a land of immigrants because, over the past 200 years, millions of newcomers have helped to build and defend its way of life.
- The largest groups are the English, French, Scottish, Irish, German, Italian, Chinese, Aboriginal, Ukrainian, Dutch, South Asian and Scandinavian.
- Since the 1970s, most immigrants have come from Asian countries.
- Chinese languages are the second most-spoken at home, after English, in Toronto and Vancouver; Mandarin is the main non-official language spoken at home in both cities.
- John Buchan, the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, Governor General of Canada from 1935 to 1940, said in 1937 that immigrant groups should keep their individuality and each contribute to the national character.
- Newcomers who have lived through war or conflict must not bring violent, extreme or hateful prejudices to Canada.
- In becoming Canadian, newcomers are expected to embrace democratic principles such as the rule of law.
- By the 1960s, one-third of Canadians had origins that were neither British nor French.
- Diversity enriches Canadians’ lives, particularly in the cities.