Canadian American

Canadian American
Américain d'origine canadienne

Total population
1,062,640 0.33% of the American population
Regions with significant populations
NorthEast • Midwest • Southwest • Southeast
Languages
American English • Canadian English • French (Acadian•Canadian•New England)
Religion
Roman Catholicism • Protestantism • non-religious
Related ethnic groups
Americans, American Canadian, Canadian, French American, French Canadian, British American, English Canadian, British, French

Canadian Americans are American citizens who were born in and/or largely grew up in Canada, but later moved into the United States. It can also be used to refer to American-born citizens who either have parents who immigrated from Canada or have significant Canadian ancestry and/or identity. The term is particularly apt when applied or self-applied to people with strong ties to Canada, such as those who have lived a significant portion of their lives or were educated in Canada, and then relocated to the United States. To others, especially for those living in New England or the Midwest, a Canadian-American is one whose ancestors came from Canada.^[1]

The term Canadian refers to some as nationality, and to others as ethnicity. English-speaking Canadian immigrants easily integrate and assimilate into American culture and society as a result of the cultural similarities and in the vocabulary and accent in spoken English.^[2] French-speaking Canadians, because of language, culture, and religion, tend to take longer to assimilate.^[3] However, by the 3rd generation, the assimilation is complete, and the Canadian identity is more or less folklore..^[4] This took place, even though half of the population of the province of Quebec emigrated to the US between 1840 and 1930.^[5] Many New England cities formed Little Canadas, but many of these have gradually disappeared.

This cultural "invisibility" within the larger U.S. population is seen as creating stronger affinity amongst Canadians living in the U.S. than might otherwise exist.^[6] According to U.S. Census estimates the number of Americans of Canadian ancestry was around 640,000 in 2000.^[7] Some sources have cited the number to possibly be over 1,000,000.^[8]

Canadians who travel to the U.S. to escape their colder winter are known as "snowbirds". They sometimes have residences in the Southern half of the U.S. (e.g. Florida, the Carolinas, Georgia, Southern Texas, Southern California, and Arizona).^[9]

Americans of Canadian descent

• Walter Chrysler, automotive industry executive and founder of the Chrysler Corporation
• Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator
• Walt Disney, Animator^[10]
• Will Durant, Historian and philosopher^[11]
• Thomas Edison, Inventor^[12]
• Brendan Fraser, Film and stage actor^[13]
• Missy Franklin, Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer^[14]
• Rene Gagnon, U.S. Marine hero^[15][16]
• Robert Goulet, Singer and actor^[17]
• Mike Gravel, Senator from Alaska^[18]
• Phil Hendrie, Radio personality and comedian^[19]
• Jimi Hendrix, Musician ^[20]
• Jack Kerouac, Poet and writer^[21]
• Grace Metalious, Author^[22]
• Paul LePage, Governor of Maine^[23]
• Rudy Vallée, Saxophone player^[24]
• Mark Wahlberg, Actor^[25]

Canadians who obtained American citizenship

• Pamela Anderson, actress^[26]
• Paul Anka, Singer-songwriter and actor^[27]
• Jim Carrey, Comedian and actor^[28]
• Marie Dressler, Actress^[29]
• David Frum, Speechwriter and journalist^[30]
• Frank Gehry, Architect^[31]
• Jennifer Granholm, 47th Governor of Michigan 2003-2011
• Phil Hartman, actor, comedian, screenwriter, and graphic artist.^[32]
• Chris Irvine, Professional wrestler known as Chris Jericho and Lead-Singer of Fozzy^[33]
• Peter Jennings, TV journalist/anchor for ABC
• Guy Lombardo, Bandleader and violinist^[34]
• Louis B. Mayer, Film producer^[35]
• Burt Metcalfe, television and film producer, director, and writer
• Alanis Morissette, Singer-songwriter^[36]
• James Naismith, inventor of basketball^[37]
• Catherine O'Hara, actress, writer and comedian
• Mary Pickford, Actress and film executive^[38]
• Jason Priestley, Actor and director^[39]
• Charles Revson, Cosmetics pioneer, founder of Revlon^[40]
• Jack Scott, Singer and songwriter^[41]
• Mack Sennett, Film director^[42]
• William Shatner, actor, musician, singer, author, film director, spokesman and comedian
• Martin Short, Actor, comedian, singer, voice actor
• Joe Shuster, Comic book artist, co-creator of Superman^[43]
• George Beverly Shea, Gospel music singer-songwriter,^[44]
• Hank Snow, Country music singer-songwriter^[45]
• Jack Warner, Film executive^[46]
• Tara Strong, voice actress for various film and television series.^[47]

American cities founded by or named after Canadians

• Biloxi, founded by Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville
• Bourbonnais named after François Bourbonnais
• Dubuque, named after Julien Dubuque
• Huron, founded by John Baptiste Flemmond
• Juneau, named after Joe Juneau
• Milwaukee, founded by Solomon Juneau
• Mobile, founded by Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville
• New Orleans, founded by Lemoyne de Bienville
• Ontario, founded by George Chaffey
• Saint Paul, first settled by Pierre Parrant
• Vincennes founded by François-Marie Bissot

Canadian American Day

The Connecticut State Senate in unanimously passed a bill in 2009, making June 24 Canadian American Day in the state of Connecticut. The bill allows state officials to hold ceremonies at the capitol and other places each year to honor Americans of Canadian ancestry. ^[48]

Aboriginal Canadian Americans

As a consequence of Article 3 of Jay Treaty of 1794, official First Nations status, or in the US Native American status, also confers the right to live and work on either side of the border.^[49] But many of Canada's First Nations people identify with Canadians more so than Americans.^[50]

Study

There are some institutions in the United States that focus on Canadian-American studies such as the Canadian-American Center at the University of Maine,^[51] the Center for Canadian American studies at Western Washington University,^[52] and the SUNY University at Buffalo Canadian-American Studies Committee^[53]

See also

• Canadians of American origin American-Canadians
• Canada–United States relations
• Franco-Americans
• French Canadian
• Hyphenated American
• Little Canadas
• Quebec diaspora

References

Further reading

• Hamilton, Janice (2006). Canadians in America. Lerner. ISBN 0-8225-2681-6. 
• Jeffrey Simpson (2000) Star-Spangled Canadians: Canadians Living the American Dream. HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-255767-3

External links

• Connect2Canada.com

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