ETHIOPIANS come from the oldest independent country in Africa. Located in northeast Africa, Ethiopia was formerly known as Abyssinia. The Ethiopian presence in Canada is a recent phenomenon dating from the 1980s. Ethiopia's modern history has been marked by civil war, fighting against guerillas in the provinces of Eritrea (a separate country since 1992) and Tigray, and by repeated famines caused by drought. These factors have forced many to seek refuge abroad. Amharas, Tigrayans, Oromos, Jews, and others came to Canada from several countries of first asylum that included Egypt, Kenya, Italy, and Greece. The first group of newcomers to Canada was composed primarily of single English-speaking young men from middle- and upper-class backgrounds.

According to the Canadian census, there were, in 1996, 14,955 individuals of Ethiopian ethnicity in Canada (13,010 single response and 1,950 multiple response). There were no official statistics or separate categories for people who rejected identification as Ethiopians. (Canadian census data reported the presence of 6,225 individuals from the independent state of Eritrea.)

Ethiopians have tended to concentrate in Canada's urban centres, particularly within Toronto and its environs, because they have been more likely to find employment in a large urban setting. A small group of Ethiopian Jews (Falashas) made their way to Montreal where they struck up a good relationship with that city's Jewish community.

The occupational transition that has been difficult for many has resulted in a dramatic decline in their socio-economic status. This downward mobility can be attributed in part to the language barrier: it was all but impossible for Ethiopians in Canada to find other than low skilled, manual, or service sector work until they became proficient in English. Another problem was that the training and experience acquired by individuals in Ethiopia tended to go unrecognized in Canada. Some Ethiopians responded to the obstacle of obtaining professional or skilled work by establishing businesses. A clustering of Ethiopian restaurants around Bloor and Christie Streets has helped create the ambiance of an Ethiopian immigrant neighbourhood. Ethiopians also found that they could make a living in auto repair, furniture manufacturing, and commercial and instant printing services.

Although Ethiopian quest for decent housing and steady employment has been a preoccupation, various ethnocultural associations have helped to maintain local identities and to foster a larger sense of fellow feeling and cooperation. Eritreans, Amharas, Oromos, and Tigrayans have challenged themselves by working together to create a valuable and formidable complementary counterweight to the efforts of the Ethiopian government to deliver humanitarian aid to needy people at home. Ethiopians in Canada have also emerged as professionals in finance, engineering, and particularly in medicine.

The Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Toronto also played an important role. The Orthodox Church and even the Ethiopian Evangelical Church have helped Ethiopian Christians achieve a greater sense of nationality. Also, Ethiopian Muslims have found companionship and strength in many of Toronto's mosques.