Census data now shows Canada’s transgender, non-binary population

For the first time, part of Canada’s population is feeling heard and seen.

The 2021 census shows that more than 100,000 Canadians aged 15 and older identify as transgender or non-binary. It’s the first count in the country’s history.

Cal Burick is one of 41,355 Canadians who identified in the census as non-binary. “I think the data released today can generate a lot of emotions and a sense of belonging and I do feel that,” Burick said.

Burick, who is a McMaster associate professor of anthropology said it feels good to be seen as part of a larger collective across the country. “The data of course affirms what those of us who identify in this way already knew, which is, we are here. we are everywhere.”

This is the first time Statistics Canada has differentiated between sex at birth and gender in the census, making Canada the first in the world to do so.

A change professor, Tina Fetner says will offer crucial insight into a marginalized population. “When it comes to official recognition if you don’t measure it, it’s not really there and so measuring it is really important to the whole project of social inclusion,” Fetner said.

The data shows about 100,815 people are transgender or non-binary which is 0.33% of the population.