The struggle between traditional religion and today’s increasingly individualistic beliefs is taking a toll on Christianity in Canada as all Christian denominations decline—except one. And adherents of that denomination say the others may be losing members because they just aren’t traditional enough. Orthodox Christianity, practised most famously in Greece, Russia, and Eastern Europe, has increased in popularity in recent years in Canada as all other denominations lose members.
And that number is likely much higher now, at least temporarily, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of 2021 prompted an influx of refugees from Ukraine, one of the principal Orthodox countries. As of March, more than 286,700 Ukrainians had arrived in Canada under an emergency visa program created after the war began, according to Immigration Canada statistics. Meanwhile, Christianity overall has dwindled and, as of the latest census, accounted for only 53.
4 percent of Canada’s population, down from 67.3 percent in 2011, and 77.1 percent in 2001, according to Statistics Canada.
If the trend continues, Christianity will be on track to lose majority status in Canada as the popularity of other religions grow. The percentage of Muslims has increased to 4.9 percent of Canada’s population from just 2 percent 20 years ago, and the number of Hindus grew to 2.
3 percent from 1 percent, StatCan says. He said clergy and laypeople have written to him from Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, .
