Indo-Canadians facts for kids

Indo-Canadians are people living in Canada whose families originally came from India. You might also hear them called "East Indian" or "South Asian." These names help tell them apart from Canada's First Nations people, who are sometimes called "Indian." They also help distinguish them from people from the Caribbean, sometimes called "West Indian." Most Indo-Canadians prefer to simply call themselves "Indian." This is because Christopher Columbus mistakenly thought he had reached India when he arrived in the Americas.

Many Indo-Canadians come directly from India. However, some have roots in other places. These include the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. They often live in big Canadian cities. Some of these cities are Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, Calgary, and Vancouver. Indo-Canadians are one of the fastest-growing groups in Canada. This growth is mainly due to new people moving to Canada.

Images for kids

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  Indians at CPR station in Vancouver, c. 1914

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  A group of Punjabi Indo-Canadians attending a Punjabi wedding reception

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  The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Toronto in Etobicoke, Ontario, built by Canada's Gujarati Hindu community.

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  Hindu Heritage Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

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  Gur Sikh Temple (Abbotsford)

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  Gurudwara Nanaksar Sahib, Edmonton, Alberta

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  Vancouver Sikh Temple, c. 1911