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Submitted by Imai Thomas Welch
Intro by Dean Chris

This article is part of a larger series on race and the Anglican Church of Canada. In the rich tapestry of the Anglican Church of Canada, the voices and experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) weave a narrative that reflects both the challenges and triumphs within the diverse congregations. As the church strives for inclusivity and equity, exploring the unique perspectives and contributions of BIPOC members becomes imperative. This series delves into the dynamic intersection of faith, culture, and social justice within the Anglican Church, shedding light on various realities that shape its evolving identity and the steps taken toward a more inclusive spiritual community.

 

BIPOC Facts

What is “BIPOC”? BIPOC is an acronym for “Black, Indigenous, and Other Peoples of Colour”. It’s an umbrella term for all non-White peoples. Even if there are many different communities within the BIPOC umbrella, we share many of the same challenges and concerns about things like racism and diversity. In the next several posts, I’m going to provide some information and trivia about BIPOC peoples. 

Getting statistical data on BIPOC peoples in the Church can be a challenge. Parishes and Dioceses usually don’t gather information on the race and ethnicity of parishioners. While the federal Census does gather this information, they look at everyone who declares themselves to be an Anglican. They don’t make the distinction practising Anglicans might make between people on the parish lists, versus those who are more “nominal” Anglicans. That all said, the Census still gives us some remarkable information about non-White peoples in the Anglican Church of Canada. For example: 

In the 2021 Census, what percentage of declared Anglicans in Canada were NOT White?

15.7%. For context, in 2021 31.5% of Canadians were not White. 

 

In the 2021 Census, what percentage of declared Anglicans in BC or Metro Vancouver were BIPOC?

In British Columbia as a whole, 10.1% of Anglicans are BIPOC. By comparison, 40.3% of British Columbians declared themselves to be BIPOC.

In Metro Vancouver, 9.3% of Anglicans are non-Indigenous Peoples of Colour (POC). By comparison, 54.5% of Metro Vancouver are non-Indigenous POC. (The available Census data doesn’t give us information on how many Anglicans in the region are Indigenous). 

 

In the 2021 Census, which non-White groups were the largest among declared Anglicans? 

Indigenous and Black. In Canada, 6.1% of Indigenous peoples declared themselves Anglicans, and 2.6% of Black peoples declared themselves Anglicans. For context, 3.1% of Canadians overall declared themselves to be Anglicans.

In British Columbia, the two largest groups of non-White Anglicans were Indigenous and Chinese. 

 

In the 2021 Census, where do most declared Anglicans who are Black live? 

Toronto CMA (aka, the GTA). 49.6% of Black Anglicans live in Toronto. By contrast, 3.6% of Black Anglicans live in BC, mainly in the Metro Vancouver region.