Diwali, the Festival of Lights, provides an opportunity to reflect on Toronto's remarkable demographic and economic transformation. In 1981, approximately 31,000 residents of the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area identified as Hindu. By 2021, that number had grown to nearly 458,000, almost fifteen times as many. If recent growth trends continued, the population could reach approximately 543,000 in 2026. Toronto is now home to more than half of Canada's Hindu population.
But the story goes well beyond population growth. Toronto's Hindu community contributes to virtually every part of the labour market, from health care, engineering and technology to manufacturing, transportation and financial services. Equally important is entrepreneurship, with members of the broader South Asian community establishing businesses that create employment for thousands of others.
One outstanding example is FGF Brands, established by the Ajmera family in Toronto in 2004. What began as a small bakery has grown into a major food manufacturer employing more than 10,000 people across Canada and the United States. Other examples include Cargojet, founded by Ajay Virmani, and Surati Sweet Mart, a Toronto food manufacturer established by the Sheth family.
These are only a few examples. Across the Toronto region, thousands of smaller businesses contribute to the economy and provide employment. Indeed, Statistics Canada reports that South Asians were the primary owners of 10.6% of Canadian businesses with employees in 2021. While South Asian identity and Hindu religious affiliation are not the same, the broader community's entrepreneurial success is an important part of Toronto's economic story. Diwali is an opportunity to celebrate not only the city's growing cultural diversity, but also the contributions these communities make as workers, entrepreneurs and employers.
