It appears thousands of new immigrants to Canada have become fond of the Tri-Cities to live, work and play.
The latest national census stats show 11,960 people that identified themselves as immigrants moved to Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra between 2016 and 2021.
The number adds to a current total of 100,210 immigrants that have settled in the region, which make up 40.6 per cent of the Tri-Cities population.
As well, more than 25,400 immigrants have moved to the northeast Metro Vancouver area in the last decade, since 2011, according to the census.
A total of 69,220 newcomers — nearly 70 per cent — originate from Asia, with the Chinese and Iranian communities representing the majority at 23.3 and 14.7 per cent respectively.
Meanwhile, 2,145 Americans from the U.S. make up 2.14 per cent of Tri-Cities' immigrant population.
As well, 1.77 per cent of new local citizens (1,770) hail from South American countries like Brazil, Colombia, Guyana and Peru.
The census says there are also 18,620 immigrants from Europe, with the majority from the United Kingdom (4,550 people), and almost 4,000 from Africa.
Of the immigrant population, 57,605 were economic immigrants "selected for their ability to contribute to Canada's economy through their ability to meet labour market needs," according to the census, or "to own and manage or to build a business, to make a substantial investment, to create their own employment or to meet specific provincial or territorial labour market needs."
Another 9,865 were refugees and more than 19,000 immigrants were sponsored by family.
A breakdown of the Tri-Cities immigrant population, according to the 2021 census, is as follows:
Anmore
- 45 between 2016 and 2021
- 130 since 2011
- 660 self-identified immigrants
- 65 Americas
- Colombia = 10
- Mexico = 10
- USA = 35
- Other birthplaces in the Americas = 10
- 185 Europe
- Germany = 10
- Italy = 10
- Poland = 40
- Romania = 20
- UK = 50
- Other birthplaces in Europe = 20
- 10 Africa
- 400 Asia
- Iran = 75
- China = 170
- Hong Kong = 15
- South Korea = 35
- Philippines = 15
- India = 40
- Other birthplaces in Asia = 30
- 65 Americas
Belcarra
- 0 between 2016 and 2021
- 15 since 2011
- 135 self-identified immigrants
- 25 Americas
- USA = 20
- 70 Europe
- UK = 25
- Other birthplaces in Europe = 20
- 30 Asia
- China = 15
- Other birthplaces in Asia = 10
- 25 Americas
Coquitlam
- 8,595 between 2016 and 2021
- 17,835 since 2011
- 67,545 self-identified immigrants
- 4,290 Americas
- Brazil = 530
- Colombia = 355
- El Salvador = 290
- Guyana = 80
- Haiti = 20
- Jamaica = 100
- Mexico = 660
- Peru = 215
- Trinidad and Tobago = 160
- USA = 1,140
- Other birthplaces in the Americas = 730
- 10,230 Europe
- Bosnia and Herzegovina = 220
- Croatia = 420
- France = 190
- Germany = 560
- Greece = 135
- Hungary = 180
- Italy = 765
- Netherlands = 215
- Poland = 680
- Portugal = 275
- Romania = 935
- Russia Federation = 885
- Serbia = 150
- Ukraine = 700
- UK = 2,300
- Other birthplaces in Europe = 1,630
- 2,400 Africa
- Democratic Republic of Congo = 30
- Egypt = 265
- Eritrea = 50
- Ethiopia = 55
- Morocco = 30
- Nigeria = 135
- Somalia = 25
- South Africa = 600
- Other birthplaces in Africa = 1,200
- 50,035 Asia
- Afghanistan = 605
- Iran = 7,585
- Iraq = 460
- Lebanon = 160
- Syria = 330
- Turkey = 140
- China = 12,725
- Hong Kong = 4,985
- South Korea = 8,485
- Taiwan = 2,685
- Philippines = 4,100
- Vietnam = 895
- Bangladesh = 40
- India = 2,030
- Pakistan = 485
- Sri Lanka = 210
- Other birthplaces in Asia = 4,110
- 590 Oceania and elsewhere
- 4,290 Americas
Port Coquitlam
- 2,135 between 2016 and 2021
- 4,830 since 2011
- 20,765 self-identified immigrants
- 1,570 Americas
- Brazil = 140
- Colombia = 130
- El Salvador = 115
- Guyana = 25
- Haiti = 10
- Jamaica = 120
- Mexico = 160
- Peru = 65
- Trinidad and Tobago = 80
- USA = 420
- Other birthplaces in the Americas = 305
- 5,000 Europe
- Bosnia and Herzegovina = 50
- Croatia = 110
- France = 80
- Germany = 285
- Greece = 45
- Hungary = 85
- Italy = 160
- Netherlands = 120
- Poland = 565
- Portugal = 165
- Romania = 485
- Russia Federation = 370
- Serbia = 90
- Ukraine = 230
- UK = 1,240
- Other birthplaces in Europe = 925
- 1,045 Africa
- Algeria = 10
- Democratic Republic of Congo = 30
- Egypt = 75
- Eritrea = 65
- Ethiopia = 65
- Morocco = 25
- Nigeria = 55
- South Africa = 295
- Other birthplaces in Africa = 420
- 12,805 Asia
- Afghanistan = 320
- Iran = 1,500
- Iraq = 270
- Lebanon = 50
- Syria = 85
- Turkey = 45
- China = 2,055
- Hong Kong = 1,225
- South Korea = 1,280
- Taiwan = 465
- Philippines = 2,185
- Vietnam = 420
- India = 1,285
- Pakistan = 235
- Sri Lanka = 50
- Other birthplaces in Asia = 1,320
- 355 Oceania and elsewhere
- 1,570 Americas
Port Moody
- 1,185 between 2016 and 2021
- 2,605 since 2011
- 11,105 self-identified immigrants
- 1,245 Americas
- Brazil = 120
- Colombia = 30
- El Salvador = 40
- Guyana = 15
- Jamaica = 40
- Mexico = 200
- Peru = 55
- Trinidad and Tobago = 20
- USA = 530
- Other birthplaces in the Americas = 205
- 3,135 Europe
- Bosnia and Herzegovina = 65
- Croatia = 60
- France = 75
- Germany = 160
- Greece = 25
- Hungary = 55
- Italy = 125
- Netherlands = 80
- Poland = 275
- Portugal = 35
- Romania = 290
- Russia Federation = 285
- Serbia = 40
- Ukraine = 160
- UK = 935
- Other birthplaces in Europe = 465
- 540 Africa
- Democratic Republic of Congo = 10
- Egypt = 20
- Eritrea = 10
- Ethiopia = 15
- South Africa = 250
- Other birthplaces in Africa = 235
- 5,950 Asia
- Afghanistan = 110
- Iran = 990
- Iraq = 105
- Syria = 30
- Turkey = 50
- China = 1,145
- Hong Kong = 515
- South Korea = 1,160
- Taiwan = 235
- Philippines = 430
- Vietnam = 80
- Bangladesh = 25
- India = 235
- Pakistan = 60
- Sri Lanka = 15
- Other birthplaces in Asia = 760
- 235 Oceania and elsewhere
- 1,245 Americas
