City has highest aboriginal population

OTTAWA — More First Nations and Métis people live in Winnipeg than in any other city in the country, the National Household Survey reported Wednesday.

It is the first data from the 2011 NHS released by Statistics Canada. The NHS replaces the former mandatory long-form census. That was killed by the federal Conservatives who said it was too invasive. The NHS, which was voluntary, can be compared to previous census date but with some warnings it is not entirely the same.

The NHS showed 25,970 First Nations people with registered Indian status live in Winnipeg, more than in any other city. They make up about 3.6 per cent of the population.

There are 46,325 Métis living in Winnipeg, accounting for 6.5 per cent of the city’s population, again the most of any metropolitan area in Canada.

Religion in Canada: by the numbers

The new National Household Survey shows a breakdown of religious affiliation in Canada, with Catholics as the largest single group.

Winnipeg home to largest First Nation, Métis population

OTTAWA - Winnipeg is home to the highest number of status First Nations people and Métis Canadians of any other city in the country, the new National Household Survey showed today.

The survey replaces the former mandatory long-form census which the federal government decided to do away with saying it was too invasive. Statistics Canada warns some of the data may be difficult to compare to previous censuses because the methodology and response rates are different.

The NHS showed status 25,970 First Nations people live in Winnipeg, more than in any other city. They make up about 3.6 per cent of the population.

There are 46,325 Métis living in Winnipeg, accounting for 6.5 per cent of the city's population.

Religion in Canada, U.S.: two roads diverged

WASHINGTON - Canada and the United States are not just two of the world's closest neighbours in terms of commerce, trade and culture, but the former British colonies also shared many of the same fundamental beliefs and ideals as they forged their respective nations.

How, then, did religion come to play such a significant and enduring role in public policy in the United States compared to its neighbour to the north?

Just over 67 per cent of those who participated in the 2011 National Household Survey — Statistics Canada's voluntary replacement for the cancelled mandatory long-form census — reported being "affiliated with a Christian religion," the agency reported Wednesday.

But among new Canadian immigrants, the number of Christians has dropped to 47.5 per cent from 78 per cent in 1971, while nearly one-quarter of the Canadian population reported having no religious affiliation at all, compared with 16 per cent in 2001.

Church looks for new ways to fill the pews

MONTREAL - Sometimes it takes a punk rocker to pack a church.

In a part of Montreal better known for trendy bistros and sidewalk cafes than for religious devotion, the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church — one of the city's oldest and most storied houses of worship — is taking a unique approach to the challenge of keeping its pews occupied.

Despite what Father Alain Mongeau describes as a strong and healthy membership, the Catholic church has opened its doors to more cultural activities and private enterprise in order to stay relevant and keep its stately, century-old building from crumbling.

Top musical acts like Patti Smith, David Byrne, and Death Cab for Cutie have played in the church, which is known for excellent acoustics.

Aboriginal population soars as language wanes

OTTAWA - Aboriginal peoples are gaining ground in Canada's population, but they are losing their languages.

And their family structure is dramatically different than other Canadian families, with less than half of children living with both their parents.

The rest are in single-parent homes, living with relatives or step-parents, or in foster homes. Indeed, half the foster children in Canada under the age of 14 are aboriginal, according to the National Household Survey.

The survey is Statistics Canada's replacement for the long-form census, which was cancelled in 2010 by the federal Conservatives. The agency has warned that the voluntary responses to the new survey may under-represent Aboriginal Peoples. Plus, comparisons with the past are problematic, since previous questionnaires were mandatory.

Fewer Jedis in a galaxy not so far away

OTTAWA - Strong, the Force is not. In Canada, at least.

Once numbering in the vicinity of 20,000, the ranks of those in this country who claim to be Jedi Knights have dwindled to fewer than half that figure, according to Statistics Canada's first release of data from the 2011 National Household Survey.

"A lot less this time. I think there's about 9,000 reporting Jedi," said Jane Badets, a senior analyst at Statistics Canada.

"And that was true elsewhere in other countries. A lot less than in other countries, too, doing censuses. Very low reporting of things like Jedi."

Highlights of 2011 National Household Survey

OTTAWA - Statistics Canada released the first tranche of results Wednesday from the 2011 voluntary National Household Survey, which replaced the cancelled mandatory long-form census. Some highlights:

— Canada was home to an estimated 6,775,800 immigrants in 2011, comprising 20.6 per cent of the population — more than ever before and the highest proportion of all G8 countries.

— Canada's aboriginal population grew by 20.1 per cent — 232,385 people — between 2006 and 2011, compared with 5.2 per cent for non-aboriginal people.

— Almost half (48.1 per cent) of all children aged 14 and under in foster care in Canada in 2011 were aboriginal children.

Canada is one-fifth foreign-born: NHS

OTTAWA - The debut of Canada's controversial census replacement survey shows there are more foreign-born people in the country than ever before, at a proportion not seen in almost a century.

They're young, they're suburban, and they're mainly from Asia, although Africans are arriving in growing numbers.

But the historical comparisons are few and far between in the National Household Survey, which Statistics Canada designed — at Prime Minister Stephen Harper's behest — to replace the cancelled long-form census of the past.

The new survey of almost three million people shows that Canada is home to 6.8 million foreign-born residents — or 20.6 per cent of the population, compared with 19.8 per cent in 2006, and the highest in the G8 group of rich countries.

Long-form census replacement makes its debut

OTTAWA - Canada is about to find out how colourful a country it is. Just how vibrant the colours will be, however — well, that's another story.

On Wednesday, Statistics Canada will publish the first part of its controversial National Household Survey, detailing patterns of immigration, Aboriginal Peoples, race and religion.

The first-of-its-kind voluntary survey, which compiles responses from more than three million people, replaces the cancelled long-form census. And even Statistics Canada itself has admitted it won't match the detailed, neighbourhood-level information of its mandatory predecessor.

Nonetheless, it's expected to offer a sophisticated and up-to-date look at the cultural mosaic that has become synonymous with the Canadian identity.

INTERACTIVE: Canada’s age pyramid

Pull the slider to watch Canada's coming population trends in this interactive graphic based on newly released census data.