By Chro Zand

On November 26, 2005 the first Kurdish community centre opened in Canada, Toronto. This is a significant development and a step for Kurds of Canada.

From the early days of 20th century till now, there is immigration to North America. Kurdish people from the undemocratic regimes with poor human rights record migrated and live all over the world, from Canada to Japan, from Sweden to Australia.

Before Kurdish people started living in exile, leaving their homeland, many other people and ethnic and religious groups already have the experiences of living in exile.

Hadi Elis, a spokesperson for the Canadian Kurdish Federation, also Director of Press & Media Relations, Academia and Research, stated:

“Although the arrival of Kurds to North America goes back to the years after WWI, the real immigration of Kurds in enormous numbers happened after 1975.

From 1975 till 1986 it was mostly the Kurds from Southern Kurdistan (Iraqi-Kurdistan), which was around 2000 in my opinion. From 1986 and on the most of the Kurdish newcomers were from Northern Kurdistan (Turkey’s Kurdistan) which reached somewhere between 15,000 to 20,000 in the year 2,000. Also from Eastern Kurdistan/Persian-Kurdistan Kurdish migration to Canada coincides with the South-Western Kurdistan/ Syrian-Kurdistan at the same times of Northern Kurds coming to Canada. At the present I believe there are around 25,000 Kurds in Canada.”

In Ontario,
In Toronto there are around 10,000 Kurds from all regions of Kurdistan altogether. Around 7,500 to 8,000 are Northern Kurds. In Hamilton, there is around 2,000 Kurds in which the majority is Southern Kurds. In London, around 1,000 to 1,500 Kurds, mostly being Southern and Eastern Kurds. In Kitchener, Waterloo, and Guelf, there are about 1,000 Kurds. In Ottawa, there are around 1,000 Kurds, mostly being Southern and Eastern Kurds.

In Quebec
In Montreal, around 6000 to 7000 Kurds live, majority is Northern Kurds. In Sherbrooke, around 500 Kurds live, mostly Northern Kurds. In Quebec City, around 500 Kurds live, mostly Southern and Eastern Kurds.

In Manitoba,

In Winnipeg around 1000 Kurds, mostly Southern and Eastern Kurds.

In Alberta,

In Edmonton, around 500 Kurds live mostly from Southern Kurdistan. In Calgary, around 500 Kurds live mostly from Southern Kurdistan.

In B.C.,

In Vancouver, around 1500 to 2000 Kurds live; they are equal numbers of Northern,
Southern and Eastern Kurds.

In Saskatchewan,

In Saskatoon there maybe around 50 Kurds, or little more.