Dec 7-Kobzar Fella- The Canadian Oblast
Ukie-Canucks & their contribution, eh, thread published December 4, 2022
Thread by Kobzar Fella- The Canadian Oblast
YA HOSER FELLAS! This thread is gonna be a bit different than usual. Put on your toques, grab a crispy boy, and maple syrup. Today we will talk about Canada Oblast and the Ukrainian Canadians! This one is for my fellow Ukie-Canucks, and in particular @pure_prairie
Today's shout out goes to the heroes at @BrigadeNormand, an official brigade in the Ukrainian armed forces! How bout that eh? They are raising funds for some new equipment, so fellas, how bout sending a fiver or two to help em out eh?
There was an old joke in 2000's Ukraine, "if you speak Russian, you are from Kyiv. If you speak Ukrainian, you are from Toronto". This emphasizes not only the massive impact Ukrainians had in Canada, but what it means to be Ukrainian.
The first Ukrainians are rumoured to have immigrated to Canada as early as 1812. Ukrainians were alleged to have fought in the Swiss French De Watteville's Regiment during the War of 1812.
The 1st wave of Ukrainian arrived in 1891. Largely farmers, Ukrainian settlers would break open the west and were an agricultural powerhouse in the prairie provinces. The pairies were an ideal settlement for Ukrainians as it was very similar to the Ukrainian steppe.
For those good with dates, Ukrainians were arriving in Canada before Canada, Ukraine, the Soviet Union and Russia were countries. So the next time Russians say "Ukrainians never existed" or "The Soviet Union invented Ukraine" - well, sorry eh, thats wrong.
Unfortunately, the first wave would face significant hardships. Because many Ukrainian came from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, during World War I, the Canadian government detained thousands of Ukrainians were deemed "enemy aliens" and detained in interment camps.
The second wave and third wave of Ukrainian immigration began in after WWI and after WWII respectively. Unlike the first wave, many were professionals and began to settle in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and other urban centres. Below is a photo from Toronto circa 1930.
This group of Ukrainians were particularly unique as many were born, raised and fought in the first independent Ukrainian State and never lived under the Soviet occupation or through soviet Russification - something very different than most Ukrainians today.
These Ukrainians championed their Ukrainian identity and culture. Institutions were established such as the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Cheremosh and many others. In fact, Ukrainian Canadian dancers are regarded as the elite folk dancers rivaling those from Ukraine.
Ukrainian Canadians would be "more Ukrainian than Ukrainians" by building the world largest pysanka in Vegreville, Alberta in 1974. A record that was only beat recently. We will have our revenge.
One significant impact Ukrainians brought to Canada was a concept synonymous with Canada - Multiculturalism. During the 1960s the Canadian government was deciding whether or not Canada was a "bicultural" country as official policy.
However, during the census, the Canadian government discovered that Canada was not "bicultural" as most in the prairie provinces identified neither as French or English - but Ukrainian. In many cases, some towns spoke primarily Ukrainian.
In 1963, Ukrainian-Canadian politician Senator Paul Yuzyk championed the concept of "multiculturalism". Prime Minister Trudeau adopted this policy and since Canada has embraced and promoted a multicultural (not bicultural) identity. Bud laska Canada.
Astronauts, like Roberta Bondar:
A certain charitable organization who has raised millions of dollars saving Ukraine and mememing the Russians, @saintjavelin.
…and of course the most handsome, dashing, witty, suave, intellectual, sexy and sensual bandura playing kobzar this side of the Dnipro - yours truly.
The fourth wave of Ukrainian immigrants started in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. We are now seeing a fifth. To my displaced brothers and sisters of Ukraine - you will always have a home here. We will do everything in our power to help you.
Ukrainian Canadians stand firmly with our ancestral homeland and our people. As the furthest west oblast of Ukraine, we proudly stand in our unwavering support our land for as long as it takes until we are free. SLAVA UKRAINI!
In Canada, there is a food called "Patuchky". It is as Ukrainian to us as Borsch. Any event, wedding or Ukrainian household you go to in Canada will serve this. However, THIS DOES NOT EXIST IN UKRAINE! I was shocked when I discovered this.
Ok so this may also be only an eastern Canadian Ukrainian food! Many out west don't have this either?????
Surprised no reference to former Governor-General and Premier of Saskatchewan Ray Hnatyshyn.