Canada’s Jewish community is growing—but also becoming more diverse, more intermarried and older.

As the 2026 census gets underway this month, Canadian sociologist Rachel Margolis explains why filling it out—especially the long form questionnaire—matters, and what it will reveal about Jewish life in Canada today.

The census gathers data on religion, ethnic origin, languages spoken at home and household composition—information researchers use to track key demographic shifts.

According to Margolis, a sociology professor at Western University in London, the most recent census shows 83 per cent of Canadian Jews identify religiously as Jewish, down from 89 per cent two decades ago, while the share identifying as Jewish by ethnic origin only has risen to 17 per cent (from 11 per cent). She also finds that 50 per cent of couples in households with at least one Jewish partner are now interfaith—up from about 40 per cent 20 years ago.

Margolis expects the next census to show an even more diverse community, shaped in part by recent immigration from Israel following Oct. 7, as well as from Ukraine and Latin America.

On this episode of The CJN’s flagship North Star podcast, Margolis joins to talk up the new census and reveal more of her fresh data about what Jewish life looks like now.

Related links

• Learn more about Rachel Margolis’ research into the Jewish demographics of her adopted home in London, Ont.
• The 2021 Census showed Jewish population growing slightly but costly housing prices were pushing young families out of Toronto, in The CJN.
• Robert Brym analyzed what he learned about Canada’s Jewish community in the 2021 census, in The CJN .

Credits

• Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner )
• Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Izzy Helenchilde (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director)
• Music: Bret Higgins

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