Who’s The North? The Challenge that Immigration and Diversity Present to the Dominance of Hockey in 21st Century Canada
Abstract
This paper examines how the growing diversity of Canada’s population has modified the viewership and participation in what is widely considered the country’s national sport: hockey. We contend that while hockey remains the country’s most popular sport, its domination is increasingly challenged by the attraction to soccer and basketball amongst the expanding numbers of Canadians of non-European origins. The paper also considers how the demographic shifts will influence the extent to which youth participation in hockey remains a key vector in promoting belonging to Canada. In this regard, we found that hockey is relatively unchallenged as the sport that contributes most to a stronger sense of local belonging amongst newcomers.
Notes
Location
Across Canada
Key recommendations
NA
Gaps identified
NA
Community organizations
NA
Key findings
Despite the many challenges that hockey is encountering as the country’s most watched and played sport, it nonetheless is the sport that creates a strong sense of community belonging amongst those who choose to play.
Immigrants in Quebec and New Brunswick are more likely to have played hockey in the past year than in other provinces while in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, participation in ice hockey is quite low among immigrants and the Canadian-born population.
Key populations
Newcomers
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
NA
Open-access – No
