Armenians began settling in Canada in the late 19th century. Prior to World War I, their settlement was primarily driven by the situation of Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire, the movement of Armenians from the United States, industrial development in Canada, and the need for labor.

Some of the first Armenians to settle in Canada include Garabed Nergararian who is considered to be the first Armenian immigrant, who settled in Port Hope, Ontario in 1887, A. Shaheen who undertook mineral exploration in Northern Ontario in 1890 and Aziz Safarian who settled in Quebec in 1904.

37 Armenians migrated to Canada in 1892, and about 100 Armenians in 1895. Initially, Armenians came to Canada as laborers, they worked on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway that connects Canada with the coast of the Pacific Ocean. However, in the late 19th century, Armenian immigrants came to Canada with their families as a result of violence perpetuated against the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire. 

Before the Armenian Genocide, the number of Armenians in Canada was 1,800. They were mostly from Kigi, Van, Mush, Kharberd (Harpoot), Yerznka (Erzincan) and mainly settled in the industrial centers of Brantford, Hamilton, St. Catharines, Preston.  

After the Armenian Genocide, the emigration of Armenians decreased as the Canadian government treated Armenians as Asians and restricted their entry to the country. An exception was the entry of 100 (8-12 years old) Armenian orphans who were granted special permission by the Canadian government. There were brought to Canada from an orphanage in the Greek Corfu Island in 1923-1924 through the efforts of the Armenian Relief Association of Canada and settled in the orphanage-farming school in Ontario’s Georgetown (hence the name “Georgetown Boys”).

According to Canadian immigration statistics, 3,100 Armenians entered Canada in 1900-1930, with 75% settling in Ontario, 20% in Quebec, and the rest in various cities. Until 1948, immigration laws in Canada had prohibited mass entry of migrants. Only 74 Armenians migrated to Canada in 1931-1949. 

The situation changed after World War II. In 1946, Canada joined the International Committee for Migrants and committed to receiving many deportees from Europe. Thousands of Armenians came to Canada through the efforts of the Canadian Armenian Congress, which was established in 1948. In the 1970s, the number of Armenians reached 30,000. Their numbers increased mainly due to the arrival of emigrants from Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Soviet Armenia, and then from the Third Republic of Armenia.

Since its foundation, the national life of the community has been organized by local agencies of national political parties (such as SDHP, ARF, ADLP), compatriotic, charity, cultural, sports, youth organizations, such as Constantinople Armenian cultural union, Yerevan-Erebuni cultural-compatriotic union for emigrants from Armenia, “Raffi” cultural union for Persian Armenians, Zeytun compatriotic union, Montreal Association of Egyptian Armenian, branches of AGBU, ARS, New Generation, Tekeyan, “Hamazkayin” Cultural Society, Homenetmen, Union of Armenian Students of Canada, ARF youth Union, Armenian National Committee, the Canadian branch of “Hayastan” All Armenian Fund, Artsakh Foundation, Canadian-Armenian Business Council, Malkhassyan Institute, Zoryan Institute for Contemporary Armenian Research and Documentation and other organizations. 

Also, there are theater and art groups, dance ensembles, choirs, Armenian daily newspapers, weeklies, and magazines. 

In Canada, Armenians are actively involved in the economic, cultural, and scientific life of the country. Among famous Armenians are doctor John Basmajian, economist Albert Safarian, professor of organic chemistry, inventor Stepan Hanessian, physicist Ara Mouradian, astrophysicist Arshavir Gunjian, radiologist Haroutiun Arzoumanian, industrialist Zaven Mesrobian, historian Kevork Baghdjian, diplomat Haig Sarafian, Canadian MP, Head of Canada-Armenia parliamentary group Sarkis Assadourian, and others.

The following Armenians are known in the cultural life of the country: member of Canadian Royal Society of Artists Arman Tatosian and artist Anahit Aprahamian, world-famous photographers Yousuf Karsh, Artin Cavouk, film director Atom Egoyan, pianists Norair Artinian and Krikor Shahverdian, conductors Raffi Armenian and Nurhan Arman and others.

The dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia operate in Canada. Armenian catholic and evangelical communities also have their churches, educational and cultural institutions. The first Armenian Church St. Gregory the Illuminator was built in St. Catharines in 1930.

In 1957, Canadian authorities officially recognized the Armenian Apostolic Church. A vicariate of the Armenian Church of Canada was established and a vicar was appointed in 1967 by a decision of Archbishop Torkom Manoogian, Primate of Eastern Diocese of America, and the diocesan council.  

Canadian diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church was established in 1984 by the patriarchal kontakion of Vazken I Baljian. Prior to the establishment of the diocese, Eastern Diocese of the United States organized the Armenian community.

The first Armenian school in Canada was founded in 1919 in St. Catharines, and Armen-Quebec Alex Manoogian School (founded by AGBU in 1970, Montreal) was the first daily Armenian school in Canada. Additionally, State-run Armenian daily high schools were established in Canada in the 1970s. Currently, “Narek”, ARS, Armen Quebec Alex Manoogian School, Saturday, and Sunday schools operate. 

In 2003, the number of Armenians was 60,000-65,000. Today, about 90,000 Armenians live in Canada. They mostly live in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec, St. Catharines, Ottawa and other cities. The Armenian community in Canada mostly consists of first- and second-generation immigrants from the Middle East, which explains the high percentage of the Armenian-speaking population. There are also representatives of the third and fourth generation, who are almost entirely English- or French-speaking. Due predominantly by immigration from the Middle East, most recently Syria, the Armenian community in Canada continues to grow. 

Armenians in Canada are largely involved in industry, science, high technology, trade, finance, and administration, as well as in healthcare.

Canada pursues a multicultural policy, encourages the preservation of the national identity of minorities, and provides financial support to communities, including Armenian educational institutions.
There are Armenian squares, parks, monuments, khachkars (cross-stones), streets in different cities of Canada, such as Montreal, York, Toronto, Laval, Vancouver, and elsewhere.

In 2002 and 2015, Canadian Senate, and in 2004 the Parliament adopted resolutions recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide.