Mexican Roots in Canada

Canada’s ties to Mexican food culture are more recent than its European influences, but no less vibrant. Beginning in the 1970s, programs like the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program brought many Mexican workers to Canadian farms, especially in Ontario and British Columbia. Alongside their labour, they carried flavours of home — tortillas, beans, chiles, and spices — that slowly entered Canadian kitchens.

In cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary, Mexican restaurants, markets, and festivals flourished, offering Canadians a taste of tacos, tamales, and pozole. Over time, Canadian cooks adopted Mexican staples — avocado, tomato, lime, and corn — into everyday meals. What was once exotic has become familiar: salsa is now a fridge staple, and guacamole often sits beside hummus on Canadian tables.

Mexican food culture resonates in Canada because it shares the same values of community and hospitality. Meals are meant to be shared, often stretching simple, humble ingredients — beans, rice, vegetables — into generous, flavourful dishes. In Canada’s multicultural mosaic, Mexican food adds colour, heat, and joy, reminding us that flavour can be both festive and comforting.

Mexican Inspired

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A decorative skeleton figurine with a red body, black skull details, and a smile, placed on a table with various colorful peppers and garlic in the background.
People standing in line at an outdoor food distribution event, with a woman handing food to others. Several people are wearing jackets, and there are tables with food items.
Tourists walking on traditional Chinese temple courtyard with red and gold ornate buildings and curved tiled roofs.
A young child with blonde hair wearing a turquoise and white striped shirt puts their hand against the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy, with a bright blue sky and other tourists in the background.
Two children hugging in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
An empty open-air bullfighting arena with a sandy floor, surrounded by a multi-story beige building with arched walkways and balconies, under a partly cloudy sky.
Tourists walking on Westminster Bridge near Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London, with a red double-decker bus in the background.
Canadian flag with a red maple leaf, and two Quebec flags with blue and white fleurs-de-lis, flying in front of a historic building.