Canada is one of the most multi-cultural societies in the world. At its heart are the three diverse cultures; French, British and native Canadian. Added to this mix are a significant number of people who have come from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Canada is one of the world’s leading industrial nations and maintains strong trading links with the USA through the ‘North America Free Trade Agreement’.

The future unity of Canada is threatened by an undercurrent of feeling in the French speaking province of Quebec, in favour of being independent from the rest of the country. In 1995 Canada came within a few thousand votes of breaking up, but the country’s Prime Minister has attempted to resolve the issue by giving Quebec special status as a ‘distinct society’.

Most French Canadians in Quebec strongly identify with Catholic culture, but only a quarter of them ever attend church. There is, however, a growing prayer movement in Quebec, which is bringing together Christians from different denominations and traditions.

Canada’s indigenous people suffered cruelly in the past at the hands of white people. Strong anti-white and anti-Christian propaganda leads many to be suspicious of Christianity and court cases against churches are increasing over their treatment of native Canadians earlier in the 20th century. Pray for a growth of indigenous leadership and culturally appropriate churches in these communities.

The Inuit (Eskimos) in the Arctic have been devastatingly affected by the impact of Western culture. Their suicide rate is four times the national average. There are signs of hope - small numbers of people are becoming Christians.

Immigrant communities in Canada continue to grow; Vancouver is the world’s second largest Sikh city and Toronto claims to be the most racially diverse city in the world. Pray for meaningful evangelism, church planting and spiritual growth into these diverse cultures.