Canadians of Dutch descent
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  |
| Roméo Dallaire . Cornelius Krieghoff |
| Total population |
|---|
| 1,035,965 3.12% of the Canadian Population |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Ontario, Western Canada, Atlantic Canada, Quebec |
| Languages |
| Religion |
| Related ethnic groups |
According to the Canada 2006 Census, there are 1,035,965 Canadians of Dutch descent, including those of full or partial ancestry.
Contents |
[edit] History
The first Dutch people to come to Canada were Dutch-Americans among the United Empire Loyalists. The largest wave was in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century when large numbers of Dutch helped settle the Canadian west. During this period significant numbers also settled in major cities like Toronto. While interrupted by the First World War this migration returned in the 1920s, but again halted during the Great Depression and Second World War. After world war II a large number of Dutch immigrants moved to Canada, including a number of war brides of the Canadian soldiers who liberated the Netherlands. During the war Canada had sheltered Crown Princess Juliana and her family. The annual Canadian Tulip Festival held in May commemorates her with a generous amount of the Tulips coming from The Netherlands. Due to these close links Canada became a popular destination for Dutch immigrants. The Canadian government encouraged this, recruiting skilled workers. This post-war wave went mainly to urban centres such as Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver. With the economic recovery of the Netherlands in the post-war years immigration to Canada greatly slowed.
While one of the largest minority groups in Canada, Dutch Canadians have tended to rapidly assimilate and there are relatively few Dutch Canadian organizations and media. One important institution is the Christian Reformed Church in North America, with most congregations found throughout Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario. The Institute for Christian Studies in Toronto, The King's University College in Edmonton, and Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ontario are associated with this Dutch Reformed/Calvinist denomination. Christian Schools International, the Christian Labour Association of Canada, and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario are organizations with strong Dutch-Canadian roots.
Dutch Canadians, because of their shared cultural and religious heritage, tend to form tight knit communities. This has led to an in-joke known as Dutch Bingo [2], where it is said that a Dutch Canadian is able to figure out his/her connection to another Dutch Canadian by asking questions about the other's last name, town of birth, church and the college they attended.
[edit] Notable Canadians of Dutch descent
[edit] Academia
- Parzival Copes (1924 - ) economist with a particular interest in regional science and specialization in fisheries economics and management
- Sidney van den Bergh (1929 - ) astronomer[1]
[edit] Arts and Entertainment
- Pamela Anderson (1967 - ) actress (Dutch maternal side[citation needed] and Finnish on paternal side)
- Neve Campbell (1973 - ) actress.
- David Cronenberg (1943 - ) film director
- Sarah de Leeuw (1973 - ) writer. (Dutch descent[citation needed])
- Aart Kemink (1914 - 2006) painter.
- Kristin Kreuk (1982 - ) actress.
- Cornelius Krieghoff (1815 - 1872) painter.
- Sonja Smits (1958 - ) actress. (Dutch descent[citation needed])
- Johnny Terris - filmmaker.
- Cobie Smulders (1982 - ) actress.
- Dorothy Stratten (1960-1980) model.
- Kristen Hager (1984 - ) actress. (Dutch descent)
[edit] Politics and Civil Service
- Roméo Dallaire (1946 - ), senator, humanitarian, author and general[2]
- Simon De Jong (1942 - ) former parliamentarian
- John Gerretsen (1942 - ) politician
- Samuel Holland (1728 - 1801) Royal Engineer and first Surveyor General of British North America
- John Oostrom (1930 - ) first Dutch born MP[3]
- Case Ootes - city councillor in Toronto. He served as deputy mayor under Mayor Mel Lastman and represents one of the two Toronto—Danforth wards.
- Peter Stoffer (1956 - ) NDP MP Sackville-Eastern Shore
- Bill Vander Zalm (1934 - ) politician and entrepreneur in British Columbia, Canada. He was the 28th Premier of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991[4]
- Elizabeth Witmer (1946 - ) Ontario cabinet minister
[edit] Sports
- Petra Burka (1946 - ) Olympic figure skater[5]
- Karl Dykhuis (1972- ) Icehockey player; first cousin of Mark Brodwin (1974 - ) astrophysicist.
- Steve Yzerman (1965 - ) retired NHL player for the Detroit Red Wings
- Eric Staal (1984 - ) ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Carolina Hurricanes
- Jordan Staal (1988 - ) ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins
- Trevor Linden (1970 - ) ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Vancouver Canucks
- Dwight Lodeweges (1957 - ) footballer and coach
- Joe Nieuwendyk (1966 - ) ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida Panthers
- Beorn Nijenhuis (1984 - ) speed skater, who represents the Netherlands at the 2006 Winter Olympics[6]
- Evert van Benthem (1958 - ), speed skater, won the Elfstedentocht in 1985 and 1986
- Adam van Koeverden (1982 - ) Olympic gold medalist in K-1 500 m.
- Mike Vanderjagt (1970 - ) the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Played for the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys and is currently a Free Agent.
- John van 't Schip (1963 - ) footballer
- Kelly VanderBeek (1983 - ) Alpine Skier
[edit] References
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] Web sites
- Canadian Encyclopedia - Dutch
- DCA: Dutch Canadian Association - Dutch Canadians
- CAANS: Canadian Association for the Advancement of Netherlandic Studies - Dutch Canadians
- Maandblad de Krant, Monthly Magazine for Canadians and Americans of Dutch Origin
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