The Amish community in Canada, like their counterparts in the United States, is known for their distinctive way of life characterized by simplicity, strong religious beliefs, and a commitment to traditional values.
The Amish first settled in southwestern Ontario. They started coming over from the USA after 1815.
By 1991, there were about 1,000 baptized Amish people in Canada. “Baptized” means adults who’ve officially joined the Amish church.
The Amish have established settlements in four Canadian provinces: Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, and New Brunswick.
The largest and most well-known Amish community in Canada is found in the Milverton area of Ontario.
The Amish from Milverton, Ontario
The Milverton, Ontario Amish community is the oldest and largest among the ten Amish settlements in Ontario, Canada.
It’s unique because it’s the only Old Order Amish community in Canada that originated within the country.
Other settlements established after World War II are considered the “New Amish” and are mostly made up of Amish who moved to Canada from the United States to avoid military conscription.
However, some Amish returned to the United States due to Canadian restrictions.
The Milverton Amish stick to older traditions in their clothing and buggy styles, like using open buggies without tops. They have minimal interaction with the newer Amish communities.
As of 2001, the Milverton settlement consisted of seven districts (congregations).
Amish Population in Canada [1991-2023]
Similar to Amish communities in the United States, the Amish population in Canada has experienced steady growth from 2000 to 2022, growing from 5,175 to 6,325.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 1,000 |
| 2000 | 3,100 |
| 2017 | 5,175 |
| 2018 | 5,365 |
| 2019 | 5,665 |
| 2021 | 5,815 |
| 2022 | 6,325 |
| 2023 | 6,100 |
In 2023, the Amish population in Canada was recorded at 6,1000, which decreased from the previous year’s count of 6,325.
This drop in population growth cannot be explicitly explained. However, there are some general factors that influence Amish population dynamics.
Sometimes, Amish people move from one place to another. They might go from Canada to the U.S. or vice versa. This kind of movement can make the population in one specific place, like Canada, go up or down.
Things like how much land is available for farming, economic conditions, and other big-picture factors can also play a role in how the Amish population changes.
Generally, Amish families are pretty big, which means their population usually grows. But this can change.
Maybe one year, they have smaller families, or not as many kids decide to stick with the Amish way of life. This could affect their numbers.
The Amish Lifestyle in Canada
Canadian Amish communities closely resemble their American counterparts in terms of lifestyle.
They typically live in rural areas, engage in agriculture, and prioritize a self-sufficient and close-knit way of life.
They dress in plain and modest clothing, speak Pennsylvania Dutch (a dialect of German) and adhere to traditional Amish practices, including horse-drawn transportation.
The use of modern technology, such as electricity and automobiles, is generally avoided.
Like all Amish communities, Canadian Amish are deeply religious. They follow the Anabaptist Christian faith and emphasize the importance of church and community in their daily lives.
Amish communities in Canada are involved in various economic activities, including farming, woodworking, and crafts. Many Amish-run businesses produce handmade furniture, quilts, and other artisanal products.
Note:
Data from 2000-2021, and 2017 to 2023 was taken from the Amish Studies website, developed by the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College.