Македонци во Канада | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Total population | |
| 39,440 (by ancestry,2021 census)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Toronto,Ottawa,Montreal,Vancouver | |
| Languages | |
| Macedonian,Canadian English | |
| Religion | |
| Eastern Orthodox Church | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Macedonian Americans,Bulgarian Canadians,[2]Yugoslav Canadians |
| Part ofa series on |
| Macedonians Македонци |
|---|
 |
| Culture |
| By country |
| Subgroups |
| Religion |
| Language |
| Other |
Macedonian Canadians (Macedonian:Канадски Македонци) areCanadian citizens ofethnic Macedonian descent, who reside inCanada. According to the2021 census there were 39,440 Canadians who claimed full or partial Macedonian ancestry.[3]
In the first half of the 20th century, most of the Macedonians were largely classified asBulgarians orMacedono-Bulgarians.[5][6][7] UntilWorld War II, most people who today identify themselves as Macedonian Canadians claimed a Bulgarian ethnic identity and were recorded as part of the Bulgarian ethnic group.[2][5][8] The termMacedonian was used as a geographic/regional term rather than an ethnic one.[8] At that time the political organization by the Slavic immigrants from theregion of Macedonia, theMacedonian Patriotic Organization, also promoted the idea of Macedonian Slavs beingBulgarians.[9]
Many Macedonians emigrated to Canada as "pečalbari" (migrant workers) in the early 20th century.[10] Thousands of Macedonians emigrated to Canada after the failure of theIlinden Uprising.[10]
The first Macedonian organizations were the Zhelevo Benevolence Brotherhood and the Oschima Benefit Society St. Nicholas, both established in 1907 in Toronto by emigrants from Zhelevo (Antartiko) and Oschnima (Trigonon) inAegean Macedonia.[11][12] Other Macedonian organizations were soon established by emigrants from Zagorichani (Vassiliada), Oshtima (Trigonon), Smardesh (Krystallopigi), Gabresh (Gavros), Banitsa (Vevi), Buf (Akritas) and Tarsie (Trivuno), all villages in Aegean Macedonia.[12][10]
An internal 1910 census counted 1090 Macedonians in Toronto, who were principally fromFlorina (Lerin) andKastoria (Kostur) then inOttoman empire.[10] During the same year, they established the Sts. Cyril and Methody Macedono-Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Toronto.[10] and that church publishedThe First Bulgarian-English Pocket Dictionary in 1913.[13]
By 1940 there were claims that over 1200 Macedonian families were in Canada. Post-World War II andGreek Civil War migration cause the numbers of Macedonians in Canada to swell.[citation needed]
Many early Macedonian immigrants found industrial work inToronto, 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.[14]
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.
The2001 census recorded 31,265 Macedonians,[14] while the2006 census recorded 37,705 people of Macedonian ancestry. However, community spokespersons claim they number over 100,000. The Institute for Macedonians Abroad claims that there are 120,000 Macedonians in Canada.[15] The Macedonian government estimates that there are 150,000 Macedonians in Canada.
Many thousands ofAegean Macedonians emigrated to Canada in the 1890s.[citation needed] They settled primarily inOntario, especiallyToronto. Many early Aegean Macedonian immigrants found industrial work in Toronto. Later migrants found work as factory in abattoirs and foundries.Chatham andWindsor attracted many Macedonian immigrants who worked along the railroads. Many later settled inDetroit, Michigan.
Many Aegean Macedonians are parishioners of theMacedonian Orthodox Church.[citation needed]
They set up many organizations, such as the Lerin Region Macedonian Cultural Association of Canada. In 1979 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 inToronto,Melbourne,Perth, theRepublic of North Macedonia,Slovakia,Czech Republic andPoland.[16]
Many Macedonians originally settled in industrial areas. Most Macedonians came toCanada via the process ofchain migration.
Many organizations have been set up by the Macedonians in Canada. Village associations from Banitsa, Osčima, Bouf and Želevo have been set up. A Macedonian Boys' club was founded in Toronto in 1915.[citation needed] Community picnics were also very common amongst Macedonian immigrants. Macedonian basketball and hockey teams were founded. Fundraisers for assistance for theGreek Civil War and the1963 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, along with the Macedonian Film Festival (2006). 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.
Originally Macedonian churches were established under theBulgarian 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 theMacedonian Orthodox Church.[citation needed] They wereSt Clement of Ohrid,St Demetrius of Salonica,St Ilija, St Nedela and St Naum of Ohrid. There are two Macedonian cathedrals in Canada – Toronto being the location of the largest Macedonian church community in Canada: St Clement of Ohrid in Toronto.[18]
.svg)