How 'Cape Bretoner' became an ethnicity option on the census

Canadians who received the long-form nose count this twelvemonth may feature been surprised to escort a comparatively new option on the list of possible ethnic identities: Cape Bretoner.

Cape Bretoner ended up on the list after Statistics Canada saw in previous years that many people wrote it in themselves.

"The way we create that list is to go back to the previous census to see how people have answered their questions and it is not uncommon for people to say they are Cape Bretoners," Geoff Bowlby, assistant chief statistician at Statistics Canada, said in a phone interview on Friday.

Statistics Canada started including the option in 2021. That year, 13,065 people reported an ethnic or cultural origin of "Cape Bretoner," either alone or in combination with other ethnic or cultural origins.

Other options include Nova Scotian, Newfoundlander, Prince Edward Islander and New Brunswicker.

Bowlby also noted that 6,480 people recorded their ethnicity as African Nova Scotian in the last census.

He said people with deep roots in Canada seem inclined to identify with their region, rather than the place their ancestors came from long ago. He noted people also have the option to include more than one ethnicity in their responses.

"I believe that it's true that the longer you are in Canada, the more likely you are to respond as Canadian, Quebecois, Ontarian, Albertan, Nova Scotian or Cape Bretoner," he said.

"It's long overdue … it's a unique culture, a unique place to live, a beautiful place to live and a friendly place to live," Joe Kanary said.

Gary Micholsky, a singer with the Men of the Deeps choir, said "Cape Bretoner" being on the census is fine with him. He said regional identity sets it apart.

During a recent tour through Ontario, he said the majority of the audience who came out to see them were originally from Cape Breton and let others know it.

When Cape Bretoners move away "many of them try to go and listen to that show because they miss Cape Breton music ... They miss their Cape Breton culture," Micholsky said.

Sheila Reid also considers her ethnicity to be Cape Bretoner. She said "it's about time" it was included on the census. She said if somebody's heart is on the Island, they're a Cape Bretoner.

"Once they love the island, they can't not love it," she said. "But everyone is welcome."

Bowlby said others have responded as United Empire Loyalists (American colonists who were loyal to Britain during the American Revolution) and Gaspésien (people from the Gaspé Peninsula in eastern Quebec).

"So there are local cultures and ethnicities that are evolving over time in Canada and recorded well in the census," he said.

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