An IMGW News Trendsetters Feature
Hawaiian pizza – born in 1962 in Ontario when Greek‑Canadian Sam Panopoulos added canned pineapple to a ham pie – may be cheekily maligned by purists, but it exquisitely embodies how migration reshapes cuisine.
Canada, increasingly defined by its rich immigrant tapestry, offers a perfect backdrop to this culinary tale. As of 2021, immigrants comprised 23% of the population – over 8.3 million people – and are projected to account for nearly a third of Canada’s population by 2041.
“… It is, quite literally, a kaleidoscope of cultures on a plate”
Moreover, around 50% of Canadians may have at least one foreign‑born parent by then. And in 2023 alone, Canada welcomed nearly 472,000 new permanent residents, with immigration fueling all employment growth across much of the economy.
These figures mirror broader trends in other Anglophone nations. The United States, home to approximately 47.8 million immigrants – 14.3% of its population – is the largest recipient of global migration, surpassing the next four countries combined.
“In the U.S., immigrants are key players in the food system, accounting for 21% of all workers in the food supply chain”
Just in 2023, legal migration to OECD countries hit a record 6.5 million, with the U.S. alone receiving 1.2 million permanent migrants.
This migration surge isn’t just demographic – it’s deeply culinary. Immigrants from Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and beyond have introduced diverse ingredients and traditions into mainstream menus in Canada, the U.S., and the UK. In the U.S., immigrants are key players in the food system – accounting for 21% of all workers in the food supply chain.
Thus, Hawaiian pizza – a fusion of South American fruit, Greek imagination, Italian-style dough, and Chinese flavour inspiration – captures a broader story. It is, quite literally, a kaleidoscope of cultures on a plate, reminding us how migration reshapes national cuisines and global tastes.
