Macedonian Canadians

Macedonian Canadians (Македонски Канаѓани) are Canadian citizens of Macedonian descent or Macedonian-born people who reside in Canada. According to the 2011 Census there were 36,985 Canadians who claimed full or partial Macedonian ancestry.

History
Many Macedonians emigrated to Canada as "pečalbari" (seasonal workers) in the mid 19th and early 20th century. Thousands of Macedonians emigrated to Canada after the failure of the Ilinden Uprising.

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) in Aegean Macedonia. 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.

An internal census counted 1910 Macedonians in Toronto, who were principally from Florina (Lerin) and Kastoria (Kostur) in Aegean Macedonia.

In 1910 they established Sts. Cyril and Methody Macedono-Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Toronto, and that church published The First Bulgarian-English Pocket Dictionary in 1913.

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. However, community spokespersons claim they number over 100,000. The Institute for Macedonians Abroad claims that there are 120,000 Macedonians in Canada. The Macedonian government estimates that there are 150,000 Macedonians in Canada.

In the first half of the 20th century, most of the Macedonians were largely classified as Bulgarians or Macedono-Bulgarians. At that time the political organization by the Slavic immigrants from the region of Macedonia, the Macedonian Patriotic Organization, also promoted the idea of Macedonian Slavs being Bulgarians.

Aegean Macedonians
Many thousands of Aegean Macedonians emigrated to Canada in the 1890s. They settled primarily in Ontario, especially Toronto. Many early Aegean Macedonian immigrants found industrial work in Toronto. Later migrants found work as factory in abattoirs and foundries. Chatham and Windsor attracted many Macedonian immigrants who worked along the railroads. Many later settled in Detroit, Michigan.

Many Aegean Macedonians are parishioners of the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

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 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 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. Community picnics were also very common amongst Macedonian immigrants. Macedonian basketball and hockey teams 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. 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.

Academia

 * Chris Paliare - lawyer, named one of the 50 most influential in Toronto
 * Andrew Rossos - historian
 * Boris P. Stoicheff - physicist

Art

 * Michael Close - painter

Arts

 * John Evans - actor, producer, Toronto, Ontario
 * Virginia Evans - Artistic Director of the Macedonian Film Festival, Toronto, Ontario

Business

 * John Bitove - Chairman and CEO of Obelysk, the Mobilicity, Scott's Real Estate Investment Trust, and SiriusXM Canada
 * John Bitove, Sr. - businessman and philanthropist
 * Lou Naumovski - Vice President, Commercial and General Director, Russia, for Kinross Gold Corporation
 * Susan Niczowski - CEO and founder of Summer Fresh Salads Inc.
 * Steve Stavro - businessman and philanthropist; founder of Knob Hill Farms, owner of Toronto Maple Leafs, director of Liquor Control Board of Ontario

Music

 * Donna Grantis - composer and guitarist
 * Justin Peroff - drummer for Broken Social Scene

Politics

 * Paul Christie - Toronto City and Metropolitan Councillor, TTC Chair
 * Lui Temelkovski - Liberal MP, Oak Ridges, Markham 2004-2008

Sports

 * Tommy Ivan - NHL coach, winner of four Stanley Cups
 * Dan Jancevski - NHL defenseman
 * Ed Jovanovski - NHL player
 * Chris Kotsopoulos NHL player
 * Steve Staios - NHL player
 * Steven Stamkos - NHL player
 * Alek Stojanov - NHL player
 * Christopher Tanev - NHL player
 * Michael Zigomanis - NHL player

Television and entertainment

 * Ziya Tong - television producer