| This website has been written to help Canadians
welcome people who come from Cuba to start a new life in Canada. You may
want to find out more about Cubans because you are involved with the HOST
Program or because you have Cuban colleagues at work or Cuban students
at your school.
The estimated Cuban population in Canada
is about 12,000. Most Cubans, like other immigrants, come to Canada seeking
a better life for their families and children. Some are pursuing their
education, others are looking for employment opportunities. Some come to
join their families. Many Cuban immigrants are political refugees. They
come with hopes for a better future, but they leave behind families, friends,
communities and a familiar way of life. |
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| Cubans who come to Canada will have many of the
same questions that you would have if you moved to a new town or city.
They will want to know where to buy food in their new neighbourhood, where
their children will go to school, how to find a job and what their new
community is like. Your friendship will help them adapt to their new environment.
Not only is this an opportunity for you to
help a Cuban family. It is also an opportunity for you to learn from them.
Cuba's history and culture are rich and interesting. You and your new friends
have much to offer each other. |
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Did you know? |
| During
the 17th century, pirates buried stolen treasure on an island off Cuba
called the Isle of Youth. According to legend, this was the famous Treasure
Island described in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel. |
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Although this cultural profile provides insight
into some customs, it does not cover all facets of life. The customs described
may not apply in equal measure to all newcomers from Cuba.
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Summary Fact Sheet |
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| Official
Name |
Republic of Cuba |
| Capital |
Havana |
| Type of
Government |
Socialist Republic |
| Population |
11 million |
| Area |
110,860 sq. km |
| Major
Ethnic Groups |
Spanish, Black, mixed ancestry, Chinese |
| Language |
Spanish |
| Religions |
Christianity, Santerķa (blend
of African and Catholic beliefs) |
| Unit of
Currency |
Cuban peso |
| National
Flag |
Five horizontal stripes of blue and
white with a red triangle on the left side containing a white star |
| Date of
Independence |
May 20, 2021 |
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Did you know? |
| About
150 million years ago, Cuba was part of a submerged North American mountain
range. Movements of the earth's crust below the sea made the mountain tops
appear above the surface of the water. These peaks became the Caribbean
islands that we know today. |
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