Romanian Canadian

Daniel Negreanu · Irina Lazareanu · Paul Bley · Steven Cojocaru · Lucian Bute ·
Total population
192,170 [1] 0,61% of the Canadian Population
Regions with significant populations
Quebec, Ontario, Western Canada
Languages
Romanian, Canadian English, French
Religion
Eastern Orthodox, Greek Catholic, Judaism, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Related ethnic groups
Romanians

According to the Canadian Census data of 2006, there are almost 200,000 Romanian-Canadians.^[2] Some sources estimates that this number might be as high as cca. 400,000 Canadians of Romanian descent.

Contents 1 Romanian migration in Canada 1.1 Before World War I 1.2 After World War II 1.3 After the fall of Communism 2 Community life and associations 2.1 Timeline 3 List of Romanian parishes in Canada 3.1 Alberta 3.2 British Columbia 3.3 Manitoba 3.4 Ontario 3.5 Saskatchewan 3.6 Quebec 4 Media 5 Canada–Romania relations 6 Notable Romanian-Canadians 6.1 Arts 6.2 Business 6.3 Entertainment 6.4 Fashion 6.5 Literature 6.6 Journalism 6.7 Music 6.8 Science 6.9 Education 6.10 Architecture 6.11 Politics 6.12 History 6.13 Sports 6.14 Other 7 Gallery 8 See also 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External links

[edit] Romanian migration in Canada

[edit] Before World War I

Romanians came to Canada in several periods. The first period was at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Romanians had discovered Canada towards the end of the 19th century, after Clifford Sifton – Minister of Home Affairs representing a Liberal government that had promised to populate the West – had visited Bukovina. From 1886 to 1900, a group of Romanians established themselves to the Saskatchewan, at Clifford Sifton’s advice. The first two Romanian families that migrated to Canada from the Bukovina village of Boian stopped in Alberta in 1898. Other 30 Bucovina families took their example and followed them and they gave the settlement the name of their home village.

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, many Romanians from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire (Transylvania, Bukovina, Banat, Crişana and Maramureş) migrated to the Prairie provinces of Canada to work as farmers. The Dominion Lands Act encouraged homesteaders to come to the area. The migrants from the Romanian Old Kingdom were mostly Romanian Jews. Many Romanians came to Canada and the United States between 1895 and 1920.^[3]

St Nicholas's Romanian Orthodox Church (established in 1902^[4] in Regina, Saskatchewan) is the oldest Romanian Orthodox parish in North America;^[5] St George's Cathedral (founded in 1914^[6] though the present building dates from the early 1960s), is the episcopal seat of the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Regina. Today, the Romanian school from Boian, Alberta is a museum showcasing Romanian immigration, photos of the first Romanian settlers in the area and the typical Romanian farmer's life in rural Canada.

During the interwar period the number of ethnic Romanians who migrated to Canada decreased as a consequence of the economic development in Romania, but the number of Romanian Jews who migrated to Canada increased, mostly after the rise of the Iron Guard.

According to Canada 1911 Census, in Canada lived 15,000 Romanians and in 1941: 25,000 Romanians.

[edit] After World War II

The second period was between 1945–1955, when Romanians came after the World War II, during Communist Romania, at a time when Romania was in a difficult period in its history. In this period, 1,460,000 Romanian citizens left their country. Many of them were political refugees. Many of them left for Canada.

[edit] After the fall of Communism

Another wave of Romanian emigration to Canada occurred after 1989 following the Romanian Revolution of 1989, when people obtained the right to leave Romania subsequent to the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe. The wave intensified after the Mineriad of 13–15 June 1990. After 1998, for the fourth time, a large number of Romanians were leaving Europe to come to Canada.

In 2001, there were 131,830 Canadian residents who identified themselves of Romanian origin, of which 53,320 were single-origin Romanians and 78,505 were of mixed Romanian and other origins.^[7] The largest concentrations of Romanian-Canadians are in the Greater Toronto Area (approx. 75,000) and in the Greater Montreal Area (approx. 40,000).

According to the Canada 2001 Census, the number of people of Romanian mother tongue in Canada was 50,895 and 61,330 Canadians claimed to speak Romanian. The number of people born in Romania was 61,330 and 2,380 were born in Moldova.

Immigration from Romania had been increasing in recent years. Figures from Citizenship and Immigration Canada show that the annual number of new permanent residents from Romania increased from an average of over 3,700 per year in the late 1990s to an average of over 5,500 per year since 2001.

The year 2004 is most likely the peak year for Romanians seeking a place to work abroad, temporary or permanent, made Canada their favourite destination. The so-called "strippergate" scandal accentuates this evolution.

Romanian immigrants to Canada

Year	Number of people
1995	3,851
1996	3,670
1997	3,916
1998	2,976
1999	3,468
2000	4,431
2001	5,589
2002	5,688
2003	5,466
2004	5,658
2005	4,964
2006	4,393
2007	3,770
2008	2,754
2009	1,994

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

In 2002, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (Canada) accepted that exotic dancers—strippers—could be considered skilled workers. In 2002 about fifty women got these visas, and by 2005 the number of visas had risen to around 500. Ninety percent of these women were Romanians. In 2004, Opposition Conservative MPs claimed Judy Sgro had given a special immigration permit to a campaign supporter — specifically Alina Balaican, a Romanian who had initially been admitted to the country to work as a stripper. On January 14, 2005, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Judy Sgro resigned from cabinet after further allegations, in the so-called "strippergate" scandal.

[edit] Community life and associations

A few parishes and non-profit organizations – such as "Buna Vestire" Parish Montreal, the Romanian Association of Canada (A.R.C.), the Federation of Romanian Associations of Canada (F.A.R.), Women’s Society, Constantin Brancoveanu Society – deals with a series of community related issues.

In 1914-18 was built the "Buna Vestire" Church [Annunciation Church] (Chernivtsi Metropolitan seat), the oldest Romanian Orthodox Church in Montreal. Among the "Buna Vestire" Church priests: Jida, Glicherie Moraru (1930–1938), Constantin Juga (1938–1950), Petre Popescu (June 10, 1951–2003), Nicolae Stoleru, Tofan.

In 1939, on Iberville Street, in Montreal, was built "Casa Romana", where was set up a Romanian school.

In 1957, was set up the Romanian Cultural Association of Hamilton, Ontario. Cuvântul românesc is the newspaper of the association. "The Week of the Romanians" continues the tradition of almost 30 years of the "Romanian Field Week" at Hamilton, Ontario. Through the years, the place has combined cultural tributes to Romania with anticommunist manifestations from Romanians in North America. The Romanian Field covers 40 acres (160,000 m²) in a natural environment near Hamilton. The place features the Nae Ionescu Cultural Center, the St. Mary Chapel, sports fields, a pool, as well as a couple of bungalows and accommodation for mobile homes. The place for the St. Mary Chapel was chosen by Valerian Trifa. The Writers' Alley (Rotonda) includes busts (sculptor Nicăpetre (1936–2008)) of Nae Ionescu, Vasile Posteucă, George Donev, Aron Cotruş, Vintilă Horia, Mircea Eliade and Mihai Eminescu.

Another recreational and Romanian cultural facility in Canada is the Camp at Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan. Although not quite completed, the camp was blessed and opened for use by Archbishop Valerian Trifa in the summer of 1971.

On July 24, 1998 the Romanian community of Boian, Alberta celebrated its centenary. Besides religious services, there was a cultural program and demonstrations of the early life of the Romanians in Canada. The Romanian Orthodox parish in Boian has a Romanian ethnic museum housed on its premises. The museum and St. Mary Orthodox Church was proclaimed historical site by the authorities.

Association of Romanian Writers in Canada was incorporated in 2001. Association of Romanian Engineers in Canada was founded in 2003.

[edit] Timeline

• 1896-1900 – A group of Romanians established themselves to the Saskatchewan, at Clifford Sifton’s advice.
• 1898 – The first two Romanian families that migrated to Canada from the Bukovina village of Boian stopped in Alberta. They gave the settlement the name Boian, Alberta.
• 1939 – On Iberville Street, in Montreal, was built "Casa Romana", where was set up a Romanian school.
• 1952 – The Romanian Association of Canada (A.R.C.) founded in Montreal by Gheorghe Loghiade ( -1986), Gheorghe Stanciu, Petre Sultana, Miron Georgescu, Nichita Tomescu, Florin Marghescu, Ion Ţăranu (1921–2009), Alexandru Fonta (1922–2004) and Mihai Pop. The association was incorporated in 1953.
• 1965 – The Romanian Association of Canada launches fund raising events in order to build the Romanian Orthodox Church "Buna Vestire", situated on Cristoph Colomb Street in Montreal.
• 1970 – launches fund raising events to help flood victims in Romania.
• 1970 – Alexandru Fonta (1922–2004), Vasile Posteucă (1912–1972) and Jean Ţăranu (1921–2009) donate a piece of land known today as "The Romanian Camp" in Val-David, Quebec. In 1980 in Val-David are inaugurated two Romanian landmarks, the Predeal-Trudeau Street and the Romanians Bridge.
• 1971 – A.R.C. launches the first Romanian Radio Show called "Ora de radio". Since 1999 the show airs with a different name, under the supervision of the Federation of Romanian Associations of Canada (F.A.R.).
• 1973 – A.R.C. participates at The Folk Festival in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec, taking 1st place in the competition.
• 1974 – A.R.C. joins other Romanian community associations to form the Federation of Romanian Associations of Canada (F.A.R.).
• 1981 – Together with other organizations - Buna Vestire Parish, Women’s Society, Constantin Brancoveanu Society, Romanian Radio Show and F.A.R. Canada - A.R.C. launches a series of fund rasing events to build The Romanian Cultural Center. F.A.R. obtains a grant of $100.000 from the Quebec Government for the construction of the Center. The money were given to F.A.R. in the name of the Romanian Community of Montreal and all its members.
• 1988 – A.R.C. creates the first Romanian TV Show called "Tele-Roumanie".
• 2000 – A.R.C. resigns from F.A.R. Canada after illegal elections are held by this Association on October 5, 1999.
• 2001 – A.R.C. and Nova.TR (The Young Romanians Association) launch a pilot project to help new immigrants upon their arrival. The project helped about 40 families of newcomers, offering them a low cost housing for a period of two weeks. The project came to an end a year later, due to lack of funds. In 2002, A.R.C. accepts the assimilation request of Nova.TR
• 2003 – A.R.C. celebrates 50 years of existence with a series of cultural and social events.
• 2003 – On June 11, 2006, a bust of Mihai Eminescu was unveiled at 'Saint George Church' Windsor, Ontario.
• 2004 – Opposition Conservative MPs claimed Judy Sgro had given a special immigration permit to a campaign supporter — a Romanian citizen who had initially been admitted to the country to work as a stripper. On January 14, 2005, Judy Sgro resigned from cabinet after further allegations, in the so-called "strippergate" scandal.

[edit] List of Romanian parishes in Canada

[edit] Alberta

• St. Andrei Romanian Orthodox Church, Calgary (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Nativity of the Ever-Virgin Mary Church, Calgary (ROEA-OCA)
• Sts. Constantine and Elena Romanian Orthodox Church, Edmonton (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church, Hamlin (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, Hairy Hill (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church, Malin (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church, Manning-Peace River (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church, Pierceland (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, Boian, Alberta (Romanian Orthodox Church)

[edit] British Columbia

• St. Gheorghe Romanian Orthodox Church ^[8][9] (Romanian)
• Holy Trinity Church ^[10] (OCA - Romanian)
• St. Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Church [2] (Romanian)
• St. Andrew the Apostle Mission ^[11] (OCA - Romanian)
• Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Mission ^[12] (Romanian)

[edit] Manitoba

• St Demetrios Romanian Orthodox Church, Winnipeg (Romanian Orthodox Church)

[edit] Ontario

• Holy Resurrection Romanian Orthodox Church (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Sts Peter and Paul Romanian Orthodox Church (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St Apostle Andrew Romanian Orthodox Church (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, Timmins (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St Matthew Romanian Orthodox Church (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• All Saints Romanian Orthodox Church, Toronto (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St. Dumitru Romanian Orthodox Mission, Toronto (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church, Windsor, Ontario (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral, Windsor, Ontario (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Church, London, Ontario (Romanian Orthodox Church)

[edit] Saskatchewan

• St George's Cathedral, Regina, Saskatchewan (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St Nicholas's Church, Regina, Saskatchewan (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, Kayville, Saskatchewan (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Sts. Peter and Paul Romanian Orthodox Church, Kayville, Saskatchewan (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Holy Transfiguration Romanian Orthodox Church, Moose Jaw (Wood Mountain) (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Ascension of our Lord Romanian Orthodox Church, Old Post (Elm Spring) (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church, Saskatchewan (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Romanian Orthodox Deanery Centre of Canada, Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan (OCA)
• St John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Church, Marcelin, Saskatchewan (Romanian Orthodox Church)

[edit] Quebec

• St John the Baptist Romanian Orthodox Cathedral, Montreal (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel Romanian Orthodox Church, Saint-Laurent, Quebec (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St. George Romanian Orthodox Mission, Brossard, Quebec (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Monastère Orthodoxe De La Protection De La Mère De Dieu, Lachute (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Nativity of the Ever Virgin Mary Mission, Laval, Quebec (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St Andrew Mission, Laval, Quebec (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Annunciation Church, Montreal (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Ascension of the Lord Mission, Montreal (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Holy Brancoveanu Martyrs Mission, Montreal (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• St Nicholas Mission, Montreal (Romanian Orthodox Church)
• Sts Peter & Paul Mission, Quebec City (Romanian Orthodox Church)

[edit] Media

Newspapers:

• Acasa (Toronto) (biweekly newspaper in Toronto since 2005)
• Accent Montreal (bimonthly)
• Actualitatea Româno-Canadiană (monthly)
• Agenda Românească (Kitchener) (weekly)
• Cuvântul românesc [The Romanian Voice] (Hamilton, Ontario, 1976).
• Faptu' Divers (weekly newspaper in Toronto, since 1997).
• Impact (Montreal - bimothly)
• Luceafărul (Montreal, 1987).
• Observatorul (Toronto) (weekly)
• Pagini Româneşti (biweekly newspaper in Montreal since January 2001).
• Reper românesc (Quebec City - monthly)
• Revista Atheneum, (Vancouver, 2006), www.atheneum.ca
• Românul-Canadian
• Tribuna Română (Toronto, 1920)
• Zig Zag Român-Canadian (Montreal), (Toronto) and (Calgary)

TV:

• Adhoc Roumanie (Montreal)
• Romanii din Alberta ( Calgary)
• Nostalgia (Toronto)

[edit] Canada–Romania relations

Clifford Sifton visited Bukovina in 1895. From 1912 to 1913 Robert W. Service was a correspondent for the Toronto Star during the Balkan Wars.

Joseph W. Boyle served the king and queen of Romania during the World War I, helping to protect the country from the Central Powers and to operate Romania's railroads. He was awarded the special title of "Saviour of Romania" for these and many other deeds. He remained a close friend, and was at one time a possible lover of the Romanian Queen, British-born Marie of Edinburgh.

The formal Canadian-Romanian relations were established on August 16, 1919 when the General Consulate of Romania was established in Montreal^[13] by Vasile Stoica. Before, the consulate worked without the consent of Canadian authorities, D. Constantinescu and I. Toma, the employees of unauthorised consulate (Biroul de Pregătire a Paşapoartelor româneşti din Montréal) were arrested for this reason on August 14, 1919.

Canadian general, diplomat and peacekeeper John de Chastelain was born in Bucharest to a Scottish father and an American mother.

Bilateral relations at embassy level were initiated on April 3, 1967. Canada commissioned its first resident ambassador in Romania in December 1967. The Embassy of Romania in Ottawa^[14] was opened in 1970. In 1991, the General Consulate of Romania started to operate in Toronto, while the General Consulate in Montreal regained its initial functions.

The Ambassador of Canada in Bucharest,^[15] Marta Moszczenska, presented her credentials on August 30, 2006. The Ambassador of Romania in Ottawa, Elena Ştefoi presented her credentials on December 13, 2005. Liviu Maior was the ambassador between 2002-2005.

Romania has a Honorary Consulate General in Moncton.^[16]

[edit] Notable Romanian-Canadians

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

[edit] Arts

• Sorel Etrog - sculptor (received the Order of Canada)
• Betty Goodwin - One of Canada's outstanding visual artists (received the Order of Canada)

[edit] Business

• Murray Koffler - businessman (received the Order of Canada)

[edit] Entertainment

• David Steinberg - comedian
• Catherine Pogonat - actress ^[17]
• Paul Kligman - actor
• Vladimir Radian - actor, poet

Alexander Muir's 1867 up-the-Empire standard, which was Canada's unofficial national anthem until the arrival of O Canada, has new lyrics. The updated, politically sensitive The Maple Leaf Forever, with lyrics by Romanian émigré Vladimir Radian, received its first full orchestral treatment on June 27, 1997 at a free concert by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Radian, a mathematician turned songwriter/actor/poet, came to Canada a decade ago, completely unaware of The Maple Leaf Forever and its crowing lyrics. He discovered the song while listening to CBC Radio's Metro Morning show in Toronto when it ran a contest to replace the old lyrics, which were distasteful to some ears and merely comical to others.

[edit] Fashion

• Irina Lazareanu - supermodel
• Steven Cojocaru - fashion critic, and celebrity interviewer

[edit] Literature

• Irving Layton - poet
• Dan Fornade - author and teacher
• Ernest Klein - linguist, author and rabbi; received the Order of Canada in 1978
• Ovidiu Creangă

[edit] Journalism

• Lawrence Solomon

[edit] Music

• Paul Bley - pianist (received the Order of Canada)
• Uri Mayer - violist and conductor

[edit] Science

• Jacob Viner - economist
• Eduard Prugovečki - physicist and mathematician
• Mircea Steriade - professor of neuroscience at Université Laval in Quebec

[edit] Education

• Lucian Turcescu

[edit] Architecture

• Dan Hanganu - architect and businessman

[edit] Politics

• Corneliu Chisu, current MPP for Pickering-Scarborough East
• Maurice Hartt, Member of the Canadian Parliament for Cartier
• William Yurko, MPP for Edmonton East
• David Popescu (politician)
• David Iftody, MPP for Provencher

[edit] History

• George R. Ursul

[edit] Sports

• Joffrey Lupul - Forward for The Toronto Maple Leafs
• Ion Croitoru - former wrestler
• Lucian Bute - boxer
• Adrian Diaconu - boxer
• Leonard Doroftei - boxer; lightweight world champion
• Daniel Negreanu - poker legend (one of the greatest names in poker)
• Larry Zeidel - retired NHL player
• Sharon Fichman - tennis player
• Marina Radu - water polo
• Carmen Ionescu (athlete) - former discus thrower and shot putter
• Ben Bassarab - wrestler

[edit] Other

• Canadian general, diplomat and peacekeeper John de Chastelain was born in Bucharest to a Scottish father and an American mother.
• Samuel Bronfman
• Ala Mândâcanu
• Sydney S. Shulemson

[edit] Gallery

• 

  Irina Lazareanu

• 

  Dan Hanganu's Éperon building, Pointe-à-Callière Museum

• 

  Maurice Hartt, MP

• 

  Daniel Negreanu, poker champion

• 

  Daniel Negreanu

• 

  David Steinberg

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Canadian Embassy, Bucharest

• Boian, Alberta
• Romanian-American
• Canadian-Romanian relations
• Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of America and Canada
• Orthodox Church in America Romanian Episcopate

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

• Place de la Roumanie
• Informatii.ca - Romanian Canadian Community portal
• A List of Relatively Famous Romanian-Canadians

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