People-to-people ties remain the strongest bridge between India and Canada, supported by a vibrant and influential Indian diaspora.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Canada hosts one of the largest Indian-origin communities abroad, having more than 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and nearly one million Non-Resident Indians. Concentrated in the Greater Toronto Area, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Winnipeg, the diaspora plays a significant role in Canada’s economy and public life.
The MEA said that education is a cornerstone of India-Canada relationship. Indian students constitute the largest group of international students in Canada, with an estimated 392,810 Indian students enrolled as of December 2024. Institutional partnerships are supported by a renewed Memorandum of Understanding on Higher Education and overseen by a Joint Working Group.
According to the MEA, cultural cooperation has also expanded. Canada Post has issued commemorative Diwali stamps in multiple years, including a 2025 issue featuring a rangoli motif. The India–Canada Co-production Agreement in films promotes creative collaboration, while ICCR chairs at universities such as McGill, Alberta, SFU, Calgary and Guelph foster academic exchange.
Indian cultural festivals and events – including the Panorama India Day Parade in Toronto, Namaste Canada in Vancouver and International Day of Yoga celebrations – are organised regularly by the High Commission of India in Ottawa and Consulates in Toronto and Vancouver.
From classrooms and research labs to cultural festivals and business networks, the India-Canada relationship is sustained by a dynamic “living bridge” that continues to shape the trajectory of bilateral ties.
