Ukrainians in Canada: How does the Ukrainian diaspora live?

Détails: Écrit par Antoine; Catégorie : diaspora; Publication : 24 mars 2021

Every year Canada attracts hundreds of thousands of immigrants from different countries; today it is also open to Ukrainians who come here in search of a better life. There are special immigration programs for our compatriots, who can come to the country with a work or study visa. If you plan to study in this country, then later you can count on employment and citizenship. As a rule, this is what happens, and very few people return to their home country. This is where the largest Ukrainian diaspora is located, because Ukrainians began to immigrate here over 100 years ago.

How many Ukrainians are there in Canada?

Today Ukrainians account for approximately 4% of the population of Canada and occupy the seventh place in the TOP of national minorities of the country.

In March 2020, 1.354 million people confirmed their Ukrainian origin. This was reported by the Ambassador of Ukraine in Canada Andriy Shevchenko. Of these, about 350 thousand people have both Ukrainian parents and more than 950 thousand people have one parent.

The ambassador added that under the "new wave" of migration to Canada from Ukraine very often come people with a high education and good professional training.

"So we can sadly say that in this way Ukraine may where losing people who could have been of great benefit here. But once again, I will return that we live in a time where it would be absolutely naive to think that it would be possible in any artificial way to restrain, to detain, to keep out, to persuade. We have to think about how to motivate, how to create here such conditions, so that people have a great desire to go abroad, to learn, gain a taste for the world, to create contacts there, to start a common cause, common and return here to realize themselves here, "- said the ambassador.

History of the resettlement

It is customary to distinguish four waves of Ukrainian emigration.

The first immigration movements to Canada began because Ukrainians wanted to get rid of the enormous taxes imposed by the Austro-Hungarian government. There were none here at the time. So the Ukrainians settled in remote wilderness areas together with their families, forming small communities.

The first Ukrainian settlers in Canada were Ivan Pylypiv and Vasyl Yeleniak, both from the village of Nebylov (Austro-Hungary, now Ivano-Frankivsk Region).

ukrainian diaspora in canada

Pylypiv founded the settlement of Edna-Star (Alberta), the very first and largest group settlement of Ukrainians in Canada. The initiator of the mass migration of Ukrainians to Canada is considered to be Dr. Joseph Oleskiv, who stimulated and popularized emigration to Canada from Western Ukraine, as well as Galicia and Bukovina in the late 1890s.

The second wave of resettlement that history has recorded falls at the end of World War I. At that time, people began to shift from farming to urban life, and moved en masse to industrial centers, mainly Toronto and Montreal. Now they still have the largest number of Ukrainians.

The third wave of emigration was mainly driven by political motives and began at the end of World War II. These are mostly repatriates from the British, American, and French occupation zones.

The fourth wave - the so-called "Zarobitschanskaya" - began in the 1990s. Its main reason was the economic difficulties of the transitional period in Ukraine.

Now we can already identify the fifth wave, which began after the events in Ukraine in 2013 -2014.

"Dark times" for Ukrainians in Canada

It is not customary to remember this, but in the fate of Ukrainian immigrants was not all as rosy as it is sometimes presented. After Britain entered World War I, nearly 10,000 Ukrainians were interned and placed in Canadian camps. The fact is that most of the interned Ukrainians came to Canada from Bukovina and Galicia, then owned by Austria-Hungary. They entered on Austro-Hungarian passports. Thus, with the outbreak of World War I, they were enlisted in Canada in the category of domestic enemies. The absurdity was that Ukrainians who had moved to Canada could not have any warm feelings toward Austria-Hungary.

The Ukrainians were deprived of their property and possessions and sent to camps. Having come to Canada with dreams of well-being and prosperity, Ukrainians were deprived of their means of livelihood.

Most of the interned Ukrainians worked in industry and mining. There was a war going on, and there was a shortage of workers. Their wages were far below those of wage laborers.

According to Canadian historians, a total of 24 concentration camps operated across the country, which later became "politically correct" to refer to as internment camps.

Prisoners were denied the right to read newspapers and their correspondence was strictly censored. Physical labor in the camps was grueling, with food rations often inadequate for physiological needs and living conditions in the harsh climate. Many prisoners died of illness, committed suicide or were shot while trying to escape. Even children who had been caught with their parents behind the barbed wire also died.

It was not until February 1920 that captive Ukrainians were able to be released from the camps.

Why does Canada attract Ukrainians?

One of the important factors that attract many migrants from Ukraine to the country is the help and support of the diaspora, the ties here are developed very strongly. Up to the fact that together they help to take out mortgages to purchase housing on more forgiving and favorable terms. No matter what city you move to, you will find compatriots to help you adapt, solve household and more serious issues.

All diasporas have the right to preserve their cultural values and pass on their heritage and traditions to their descendants.

Ukrainian diaspora in Canada these days

They play a larger role in Canada than the almost twice larger diaspora of Ukrainians in the United States. The three Midwestern provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have become the center of Ukrainian culture. Ukrainian immigrants have become fighters for advanced multiculturalism.

Ethnic Ukrainians who were successful on the Canadian political scene include William Gavrilyak, Edward Stelmakh, and Roman Gnatyshyn. Thus, the Ukrainian diaspora has a great political and economic weight in Canada.

The geography of settlement is as follows: most Ukrainians are concentrated in the eastern part of the country: Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec City, Toronto, Edmonton, Leithbridge, Montreal.

Ukrainians have an active social life: they organize festivals, parades, and their own celebrations.

Famous Canadians with Ukrainian roots

Useful Links for Ukrainians Living in Canada, or planning to move to Canada

A community organization that brings together political, social and cultural organizations of Ukrainians in Canada:

Conґres of Ukrainians of Canada

There is a lot of information about Ukrainian internships in Canada, culture and traditions, achievements in Canada, student programs, etc.

Other Ukrainian organizations in Canada:

Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society (Toronto, Ontario)

Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association

Ukrainian Canadian Social Services (Toronto, Ontario)

PLAST Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada

Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada