Albanian-Canadian
Encyclopedia
A Abanian Canadian is a Canadian of Albanian origin or an Albanian who has Canadian citizenship. According to 2006 estimates, there are currently 22,395 ethnic Albanians in Canada.
or Toronto
. There were also some Albanian workers who resided in Calgary
and Ontario
(eg
Peterborough
). Despite of this migration, by 1986, the Albanians was recorded at just under 1,500. However, in 1991, these figures nearly doubled. The number of Albanians in Canada peaked in the late 1990s as they fled economic and political crisis in both Albania and Yugoslavia.
Later, at the beginning of XXI century, a new war prompted a second wave of immigration of Albanians in Canada. This armed conflict was a clash between Albanian and Serb military and police, which caused that many Albanians feel compelled to leave Kosovo
as refugees, many of them emigrating to Canada. Thus, in 1999, the Government of Canada established a residency program to allow 7,000 refugees Kosovar Albanians.
, London and Peterborough
are areas on the outskirts of Toronto who also have Albanian communities.
However the 2nd and 3rd generation Canadians of ethnic Albanians can not specifically name their ethnicity. Therefore, the number of people who descended from Albanians in the country, must be higher than the figure shown. Most socio-cultural activities and festivals representing local communities and family groups. The Albanians are very patriarchal and often live in extended family households. Currently, Albanian Canadians still appreciate their ethnicity, and national history of their country of origin, although their ancestors may have left Albania for centuries. The Albanians of Albania are working on their business and social organizations, often found in the food industry. The Albanians do not come only from Albania and Kosovo, as they come, at least, also from others five different countries: Macedonia
, Greece
, Italy
, Serbia
and Montenegro
. The Albanian-Canadians belong (as the Albanians) to three religious groups - Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim .
History
The first Albanians who settled in Canada arrived in the early twentieth century, due to internal uprisings that occurred in their country of origin. However, after World War II (1938 - 1943) came to Canada a few Albanians. Most Albanians who emigrated to this country after the war decided to settle in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
or Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. There were also some Albanian workers who resided in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
(eg
Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
). Despite of this migration, by 1986, the Albanians was recorded at just under 1,500. However, in 1991, these figures nearly doubled. The number of Albanians in Canada peaked in the late 1990s as they fled economic and political crisis in both Albania and Yugoslavia.
Later, at the beginning of XXI century, a new war prompted a second wave of immigration of Albanians in Canada. This armed conflict was a clash between Albanian and Serb military and police, which caused that many Albanians feel compelled to leave Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
as refugees, many of them emigrating to Canada. Thus, in 1999, the Government of Canada established a residency program to allow 7,000 refugees Kosovar Albanians.
Demography
According to the 2006 census, there were 22,395 Canadians of ethnic Albanians living in Canada, most of which 11,385 (51%), residing in Toronto. Hamilton, KitchenerKitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, London and Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
are areas on the outskirts of Toronto who also have Albanian communities.
However the 2nd and 3rd generation Canadians of ethnic Albanians can not specifically name their ethnicity. Therefore, the number of people who descended from Albanians in the country, must be higher than the figure shown. Most socio-cultural activities and festivals representing local communities and family groups. The Albanians are very patriarchal and often live in extended family households. Currently, Albanian Canadians still appreciate their ethnicity, and national history of their country of origin, although their ancestors may have left Albania for centuries. The Albanians of Albania are working on their business and social organizations, often found in the food industry. The Albanians do not come only from Albania and Kosovo, as they come, at least, also from others five different countries: Macedonia
Macedonia
Macedonia may refer to:*Republic of Macedonia, a modern country in southeastern Europe*Macedonia , a region of Greece*Macedonia , a wider geographical and historical region covering both of the above, as well as parts of Bulgaria, Albania, and SerbiaHistorical entities*Macedonia , also known as...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. The Albanian-Canadians belong (as the Albanians) to three religious groups - Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim .
Organizations
Over the years, Albanian Canadians established many organizations in Canada, to maintain their language and culture. These associations, however, have also helped other immigrants adapt to Canadian life. Many of these partnerships are in Toronto, a major city of Albanian population. In this city, the largest associations are better organized and Albanian Muslim Society of Toronto (founded in 1954) and the Canadian Association of the Albanian community (founded in 1991).External Links
- http://www.albcan.org/p?id=19 Albanian-Canadian Community Association - AlbCan.org