Moroccan Canadians

Moroccan Canadians (Arabic: المغاربة في كندا, romanized: al-Maghāribah fī Kanadā) are Canadians of full or partial Moroccan descent, as well as people from the state of Morocco who are ethno-linguistic and religious minorities. According to the 2021 Census, there were 98,980 Canadians who claimed full or partial Moroccan ancestry, an increase compared to the 2006 Census.^[1]

Moroccan Canadians
Canadiens d'origine marocaine (French)

Population distribution of Moroccan Canadians by census division, 2021 census
Total population
99,980 (by ancestry, 2021 Census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Quebec	81,230[2]
Ontario	12,300[3]
Languages
Arabic (Moroccan Arabic), Berber, French English
Religion
Islam, Judaism,[4][5] Irreligion, Christianity [6][a]

History

Moroccans began arriving in Canada in the mid-1960s in search of employment and a new life. Between 1962 and 1993, 40,000 settled in Canada.^[7]

The next wave came in the late 1990s. Moroccan immigrants settled mainly in the province of Quebec, but there are also communities in Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa and Winnipeg.^[8]

At the 2001 Canadian Census, there were 21,355 Canadians who indicated Moroccan descent, with over 16,000, about 75% of the total population, residing in Montreal.^[9]

Demography

Religion

The majority of Moroccan Canadians are Muslims and a large minority are Jews.^[10] Jews constitute between 27%^[4][5] and 45% of Moroccan Canadians.^[11]

Moroccan Canadian demography by religion

Religious group	2021[6][a]
	Pop.	%
Islam	68,925	68.94%
Judaism	15,300	15.3%
Irreligion	12,815	12.82%
Christianity	2,735	2.74%
Buddhism	30	0.03%
Other	170	0.17%
Total Moroccan Canadian population	99,980	100%

Notable people

• Aldo Bensadoun, is a Canadian businessman, investor and philanthropist. He is the founder and executive chairman of the Aldo Group, a worldwide retail shoe company.
• Gad Elmaleh, is a Moroccan Canadian stand-up comedian actor and artist.
• Fatima Houda-Pepin is a Canadian Quebec politician and a former member of the National Assembly of Quebec, Canada.
• La Zarra, singer
• Hicham Bennir is a Canadian and Moroccan film director, cinematographer, editor, producer, writer and photographer. He was the winner of the world photo contest in 2009 and 2010.
• Rachid Badouri, comedian.
• Yassine Bounou, Moroccan footballer.
• Soufiane Chakkouche, writer and journalist
• Emmanuelle Chriqui, actress (Entourage, You Don't Mess with the Zohan).
• A-Trak, is a Canadian DJ, turntablist, record producer.
• Nadia Essadiqi, actress and singer.
• Adam Lamhamedi, Moroccan Canadian alpine skier; competed for Morocco at the 2014 Winter Olympics.
• Vaï, Moroccan-French Canadian rapper.
• Nora Fatehi, Bollywood actress and dancer.
• Imane Anys, better known as Pokimane, is a Twitch streamer and YouTuber.
• Faouzia, Moroccan Canadian singer.
• Hicham Nostik, Moroccan writer, YouTuber and podcaster.

See also

• Canada portal
• Morocco portal

• Algerian Canadians
• Tunisian Canadians
• Middle Eastern Canadians
• Canada-Morocco relations
• Arab Canadians
• Berber Canadians

Notes

1. Religious breakdown proportions based on "Moroccan" ethnic or cultural origin response on the 2021 census.^[6]