Macedonian Canadians

Macedonian Canadians
Македонци во Канада
Makedonci vo Kanada

File:Stavro.jpg Jose Theodore • Steven Stamkos Ed Jovanovski Steve Stavro • John Bitove
Regions with significant populations
Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Vancouver
Languages
Primarily Macedonian and English
Religion
Eastern Orthodox Church
Related ethnic groups
Macedonians, Macedonian Americans

Macedonian Canadians (Macedonian: Македонски Канаѓани, Makedonski Kanagjani) are a group of ethnic Macedonians who live in Canada.

History

Many Macedonians emigrated to Canada as "pečalbari" (seasonal workers) in the late 19th and early 20th century. Thousands of Macedonians emigrated to Canada after the failure of the Ilinden Uprising. An Internal Census counted 1910 Macedonians in Toronto, who were principally from Florina and Kostur. During this period many Aegean Macedonians emigrated to Canada. The first Macedonian church was built in 1911. By 1940 there were claims that over 1200 Macedonian families were in Canada. Post World War II and Greek Civil War migration cause the numbers of Macedonians in Canada to swell. Many early Macedonian immigrants found industrial work in Toronto, either as factory hands or labourers in abattoirs, or in iron and steel foundries. Many ended up running and owning restaurants, butchers and groceries. Macedonian entrepreneurs and their descendants eventually employed their numerical strength within the food service industry as a catapult into a variety of larger and more sophisticated ventures. Today, most Macedonian Canadians have moved out of cities and into the suburbs, and are employed in the professional, clerical, and service sector of the economy. The 2001 census recorded 31,265 Macedonians, while the 2006 census recorded 37,705 people of Macedonian Ancestry. Although Community Spokesperson's claim they number over 100,000. The "Institute for Macedonian's Abroad" claims that there are 120,000 Macedonians in Canada. The Macedonian Government estimates that there are 150,000 Macedonians in Canada. Other sources claim that there are over 300,000 Ethnic Macedonians in the Greater Toronto Area alone.

Aegean Macedonians

Many thousands of Aegean Macedonians emigrated to Canada in the 20th century. They settled primarily in Ontario, especially Toronto. Many early Aegean Macedonian immigrants found industrial work in Toronto or set up Market Gardeners. Later migrants found work as factory in abattoirs and foundries. Many Aegean Macedonians are parishioners of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. They set up many organizations such as The Lerin Region Macedonian Cultural Association of Ontario. In 1979 the "The Association of Refugee Children from Aegean Macedonia" (ARCAM) was set up in order to unite the former child refugees from all over the world. It was reported that chapters had been set up in Toronto, Melbourne, Perth, The Republic of Macedonia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Poland.

Settlement patterns

Many Macedonians originally settled in industrial areas. Most Macedonians came to Canada via the process of Chain Migration.

Organizations

Many Macedonian Organizations have been set up by the Macedonians in Canada. Village associations from villages such as Banitsa, Osčima, Bouf and Želevo have been set up. A Macedonian Boys club was founded in Toronto in 1915. Community picnics were also very common amongst Macedonian emigrants. Macedonian basketball and hockey team were founded. Fundraisers for assistance for the Greek Civil War and the 1963 Skopje earthquake were held. Other Establishments such as the Canadian Macedonian Restaurant Co-op (1970), Canadian Macedonian Business and Professional Association, Canadian Macedonian Historical Society and Macedonian Canadian Medical Society (1992) have been founded in recent years. Youth organizations such as "Macedonian Association of Canadian Youth", "Ryerson Association of Macedonian Students" and the "Association of Macedonian Students at the University of Toronto" are also in operation.

Religion

Originally Macedonian churches were established under the Bulgarian Diocese of America, Canada and Australia. The church Saint's Cyril and Methodius was consecrated in Toronto in 1910. This was followed by the St. George Macedono-Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the Holy Trinity Macedono-Bulgarian Church. Post War immigrants built churches under the jurisdiction of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. They were St Clement of Ohrid, St Demetrius of Salonica, St Ilija, St Nedela and St Naum of Ohrid. The Only Macedonian Cathedral is also the largest Macedonian church community in Canada is St Clement of Ohrid in Toronto.

Notable Macedonian Canadians

• Chris Kotsopoulos - Retired professional Ice-hockey player.
• Dan Jancevski - Ice-hockey defenseman.
• Daniel Nestor - Tennis player with partial Macedonian heritage.
• Ed Jovanovski - NHL player.
• John Bitove - Businessman and sportsman.
• John Bitove, Sr. - Businessman.
• José Théodore - NHL goaltender
• Justin Peroff - Drummer of Broken Social Scene.
• Lui Temelkovski - Liberal MP Oak Ridges-Markham 2006-2008
• Mike Zigomanis - Ice-hockey player
• Steve Staios - NHL player
• Steve Stavro - Businessman and philanthropist
• Boris Stoicheff - Canadian physicist
• Steven Stamkos - NHL player
• Ziya Tong - Television producer
• Dusko Janusev - Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs - Food Safety Program Support

External links

• Macedonia Canadian Newspaper
• Headquarters of the Macedonian Community in Canada
• United Macedonians of Canada
• Macedonian Human Rights Movement
• Canadian Macedonian Historical Society
• United Macedonian Diaspora
• Macedonian Embassy in Canada
• St Clement of Ohrid, Toronto
• Macedonian Centre of Culture and Social Integration