Most people living in Osoyoos are originally from outside British Columbia, and about one in five was born outside of Canada.
That information was revealed recently when Statistics Canada released the findings of the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), conducted in conjunction with the census.
The survey was controversial because for the first time ever the Conservative federal government made response to it voluntary.
Critics argued this has made the results less reliable because those choosing to respond may not be statistically representative of the population.
While results for Osoyoos were reported, almost two out of every five local residents receiving the survey did not respond.
For Oliver and the rural area surrounding Osoyoos, Statistics Canada chose not to release the figures because the response rates were so low, potentially skewing the data.
In Oliver, just over half (50.2 per cent) of residents didn’t respond, while the non-response rate was 56.4 per cent in Electoral Area A of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS).In Osoyoos, the survey found that 945 residents from a population of 4,575 were born outside of Canada.
This is exactly the same percentage, 20.6 per cent, as in Canada as a whole where 6,775,800 people were born outside Canada.
The proportion of foreign-born residents in Canada is the highest among the G8 countries.
The majority of foreign-born residents of Osoyoos, 590 in total, were born in European countries, with the United Kingdom, Germany, Romania and Portugal being the main countries of origin.
About 200, however, are from a variety of other European countries.
Asia was also the birthplace for a significant number of residents, 215 in total, with most of these, about 175, born in India.
The other countries of the Americas were the only other significantly reported birthplaces, for about 130 people in total, with about 75 of those coming from the United States.
The remainder were from Mexico and other countries of North and South America that weren’t identified.
No local residents were reported being born in Africa, the Middle East or Oceania.
Statistics Canada, however, uses random rounding, and doesn’t report figures so small that individuals might be identified. This also means totals for subgroups may not match numbers for larger groups.
Information about countries of birth doesn’t reveal the full scope of the ethnic diversity of Osoyoos.
Many residents, 1,365 in total, were born in Canada but either one or both of their parents were born abroad.
Statistics Canada doesn’t report how many of these are children of recently-arrived immigrants.
When residents were asked about national origins, larger numbers were reported for some nationalities.
There were 730 people claiming German origin and 420 of Ukrainian origin, although numbers speaking those languages were considerably smaller, 205 and 45, respectively.
About 190 people reported being of Portuguese origin, while 110 of those claim to speak Portuguese.
Of 340 people claiming Asian origin, 275 say they are East Indian while most of the rest, about 60, are of Chinese background.
Almost all those of East Indian origin report they speak Punjabi, whereas just 35 people report speaking Cantonese. Other Chinese languages aren’t reported.
More than half of those in Osoyoos who have immigrated to Canada did so before 1971. Only 150 came between 2001 and 2011.
A significant number of Osoyoos residents, 1,825 in total, report being born in Canada, but in a province other than British Columbia.
Only 1,775 residents, less than two in five, say they were born in B.C. The survey doesn’t provide information about numbers born in specific provinces outside B.C.
Besides asking about place of birth, national origin and non-official languages spoken, the survey also looked at religious affiliation.
More than half of residents, 2,610 in total, reported being Christian. The largest denomination is Catholic at 975, with United Church (495), Anglican (205) and Baptist (190) also significant.
Among non-Christian faiths, the only one reported in significant numbers was Sikh, with 255. Nobody was reported belonging to the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or Buddhist faith, although small numbers from these religions might not be reported.
More than a third of local residents, 1,665 in total, however, report having no religious affiliation.
Within the Town of Osoyoos, the number of people claiming they were of aboriginal origin was comparatively small at about 145, but the figures didn’t include residents of the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve, which were reported separately.
Among those of aboriginal background living in the town, about 95 were recorded as First Nations and 60 were Métis.
Separate figures for the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve show a total population of 585 people. Of these, 360 are listed as being of First Nations origin and 225 of non-aboriginal ancestry.
The 2011 National Household Survey went to about 4.5 million households across Canada, representing about a third of Canadian households. The national census is conducted every five years.
Information about the labour force and education will be reported on June 26 and information on income and housing will be reported Aug. 14.
This is exactly the same percentage, 20.6 per cent, as in Canada as a whole where 6,775,800 people were born outside Canada.
The proportion of foreign-born residents in Canada is the highest among the G8 countries.
The majority of foreign-born residents of Osoyoos, 590 in total, were born in European countries, with the United Kingdom, Germany, Romania and Portugal being the main countries of origin.
About 200, however, are from a variety of other European countries.
Asia was also the birthplace for a significant number of residents, 215 in total, with most of these, about 175, born in India.
The other countries of the Americas were the only other significantly reported birthplaces, for about 130 people in total, with about 75 of those coming from the United States.
The remainder were from Mexico and other countries of North and South America that weren’t identified.
No local residents were reported being born in Africa, the Middle East or Oceania.
Statistics Canada, however, uses random rounding, and doesn’t report figures so small that individuals might be identified. This also means totals for subgroups may not match numbers for larger groups.
Information about countries of birth doesn’t reveal the full scope of the ethnic diversity of Osoyoos.
Many residents, 1,365 in total, were born in Canada but either one or both of their parents were born abroad.
Statistics Canada doesn’t report how many of these are children of recently-arrived immigrants.
When residents were asked about national origins, larger numbers were reported for some nationalities.
There were 730 people claiming German origin and 420 of Ukrainian origin, although numbers speaking those languages were considerably smaller, 205 and 45, respectively.
About 190 people reported being of Portuguese origin, while 110 of those claim to speak Portuguese.
Of 340 people claiming Asian origin, 275 say they are East Indian while most of the rest, about 60, are of Chinese background.
Almost all those of East Indian origin report they speak Punjabi, whereas just 35 people report speaking Cantonese. Other Chinese languages aren’t reported.
More than half of those in Osoyoos who have immigrated to Canada did so before 1971. Only 150 came between 2001 and 2011.
A significant number of Osoyoos residents, 1,825 in total, report being born in Canada, but in a province other than British Columbia.
Only 1,775 residents, less than two in five, say they were born in B.C. The survey doesn’t provide information about numbers born in specific provinces outside B.C.
Besides asking about place of birth, national origin and non-official languages spoken, the survey also looked at religious affiliation.
More than half of residents, 2,610 in total, reported being Christian. The largest denomination is Catholic at 975, with United Church (495), Anglican (205) and Baptist (190) also significant.
Among non-Christian faiths, the only one reported in significant numbers was Sikh, with 255. Nobody was reported belonging to the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu or Buddhist faith, although small numbers from these religions might not be reported.
More than a third of local residents, 1,665 in total, however, report having no religious affiliation.
Within the Town of Osoyoos, the number of people claiming they were of aboriginal origin was comparatively small at about 145, but the figures didn’t include residents of the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve, which were reported separately.
Among those of aboriginal background living in the town, about 95 were recorded as First Nations and 60 were Métis.
Separate figures for the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve show a total population of 585 people. Of these, 360 are listed as being of First Nations origin and 225 of non-aboriginal ancestry.
The 2011 National Household Survey went to about 4.5 million households across Canada, representing about a third of Canadian households. The national census is conducted every five years.
Information about the labour force and education will be reported on June 26 and information on income and housing will be reported Aug. 14.
