This classification was approved as a departmental standard on June 15, 2009.
1
Visible minority
This category includes persons who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour and who do not report being Aboriginal.
This category includes persons who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour and who do not report being Aboriginal.
1.1
Chinese
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Chinese" only or "Chinese" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Chinese. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Chinese" include Chinese and Taiwanese.
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Chinese" only or "Chinese" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Chinese. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Chinese" include Chinese and Taiwanese.
1.2
South Asian
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "South Asian" only or "South Asian" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as South Asian. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "South Asian" include Bangladeshi, Punjabi, and Sri Lankan.
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "South Asian" only or "South Asian" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as South Asian. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "South Asian" include Bangladeshi, Punjabi, and Sri Lankan.
1.3
Black
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Black" only or "Black" and White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Black. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Black" include African, Nigerian, and Somali.
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Black" only or "Black" and White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Black. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Black" include African, Nigerian, and Somali.
1.4
Filipino
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Filipino" only or "Filipino and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response of Filipino.
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Filipino" only or "Filipino and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response of Filipino.
1.5
Latin American
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Latin American" only; persons who gave a mark-in response of "Latin American" only with a non-European write-in that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e. (e.g. Afghan, Cambodian, Nigerian); and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Latin American. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Latin American" include Chilean, Costa Rican, and Mexican.
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Latin American" only; persons who gave a mark-in response of "Latin American" only with a non-European write-in that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e. (e.g. Afghan, Cambodian, Nigerian); and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Latin American. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Latin American" include Chilean, Costa Rican, and Mexican.
1.6
Southeast Asian
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Southeast Asian" only or "Southeast Asian" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Southeast Asian. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Southeast Asian" include Vietnamese, Cambodian, Malaysian and Laotian.
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Southeast Asian" only or "Southeast Asian" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and, persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Southeast Asian. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Southeast Asian" include Vietnamese, Cambodian, Malaysian and Laotian.
1.7
Arab
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Arab" only; persons who gave a mark-in response of "Arab" only with a non-European write-in that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e. (e.g. Afghan, Cambodian, Nigerian); and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Arab. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Arab" include Egyptian, Kuwaiti, and Libyan.
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Arab" only; persons who gave a mark-in response of "Arab" only with a non-European write-in that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e. (e.g. Afghan, Cambodian, Nigerian); and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as Arab. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "Arab" include Egyptian, Kuwaiti, and Libyan.
1.8
West Asian
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "West Asian" only; persons who gave a mark-in response of "West Asian" only with a non-European write-in that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e. (e.g. Cambodian, Chilean, Nigerian); and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as West Asian. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "West Asian" include Afghan, Assyrian, and Iranian.
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "West Asian" only; persons who gave a mark-in response of "West Asian" only with a non-European write-in that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e. (e.g. Cambodian, Chilean, Nigerian); and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as West Asian. Some examples of write-in responses classified as "West Asian" include Afghan, Assyrian, and Iranian.
1.9
Korean
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Korean" only or "Korean" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response of "Korean".
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Korean" only or "Korean" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response of "Korean".
1.10
Japanese
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Japanese" only or "Japanese" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response of "Japanese".
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "Japanese" only or "Japanese" and "White"; persons with such a mark-in or mark-ins who also gave a write-in response that is not classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response of "Japanese".
1.11
Visible minority, n.i.e.
This category includes persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as visible minority, n.i.e., and persons with a "White" mark-in only who gave a write-in response that is classified as visible minority, n.i.e. Write-in responses classified as visible minority, n.i.e. are those which cannot be classified as belonging to a specific visible minority group - for example, responses of "Pacific Islander", "Polynesian", "Guyanese" and "West Indian".
This category includes persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is classified as visible minority, n.i.e., and persons with a "White" mark-in only who gave a write-in response that is classified as visible minority, n.i.e. Write-in responses classified as visible minority, n.i.e. are those which cannot be classified as belonging to a specific visible minority group - for example, responses of "Pacific Islander", "Polynesian", "Guyanese" and "West Indian".
1.12
Multiple visible minorities
This category includes persons who gave more than one visible minority mark-in response (e.g. mark-in responses of Black and South Asian), and persons who gave only one visible minority mark-in response, but who also gave a write-in response classified as visible minority, n.i.e.
This category includes persons who gave more than one visible minority mark-in response (e.g. mark-in responses of Black and South Asian), and persons who gave only one visible minority mark-in response, but who also gave a write-in response classified as visible minority, n.i.e.
2
Not a visible minority
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "White" only; persons who reported being Aboriginal; persons who gave mark-in responses of "White and Latin American", "White and Arab" or "White and West Asian" only with no write-in response classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; persons who gave a mark-in response of Latin American, Arab, or West Asian only, along with a European write-in response (e.g. French, German, Norwegian); and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is not classified as a visible minority.
This category includes: persons who gave a mark-in response of "White" only; persons who reported being Aboriginal; persons who gave mark-in responses of "White and Latin American", "White and Arab" or "White and West Asian" only with no write-in response classified as visible minority, n.i.e.; persons who gave a mark-in response of Latin American, Arab, or West Asian only, along with a European write-in response (e.g. French, German, Norwegian); and persons with no mark-in response who gave a write-in response that is not classified as a visible minority.
Usage
Where the full detailed classification cannot be used due to small numbers in particular categories, either the collapsed classification can be used or the detailed classification can be modified by collapsing those categories that are too small to report separately into the category "other visible minority". In the latter case, all remaining categories should be used in the manner in which they are listed in the detailed classification, with no other collapsing, in order for data to be comparable to other sources.
Note that "n.i.e." refers to "not included elsewhere" in the classification.