Bulgarian Canadians ( bg, канадски българи, ''kanadski balgari'') are
Canadian citizens
Canadian nationality law details the conditions in which a person is a national of Canada. With few exceptions, almost all individuals born in the country are automatically citizens at birth. Foreign nationals may naturalize after living in C ...
or residents from
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
or people of
Bulgarian
Bulgarian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Bulgaria
* Bulgarians, a South Slavic ethnic group
* Bulgarian language, a Slavic language
* Bulgarian alphabet
* A citizen of Bulgaria, see Demographics of Bulgaria
* Bul ...
descent. According to the
2021 Census there were 33,085
Canadians who claimed Bulgarian ancestry, an increase compared to the 27,260 of the 2006 Census.
History
Origin and numbers
Mass Bulgarian emigration to Canada began in the late 1890s and the early 20th century. Bulgarians primarily settled in Canada's industrial cities, mostly
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
, which was a major centre of Bulgarian migration to
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
. Between 1900 and 1944, 19,955 people from Bulgaria settled in Canada; however, this number excludes the mass Bulgarian migration from Ottoman and later Serbian and Greek-ruled
Macedonia,
Dobruja
Dobruja or Dobrudja (; bg, Добруджа, Dobrudzha or ''Dobrudža''; ro, Dobrogea, or ; tr, Dobruca) is a historical region in the Balkans that has been divided since the 19th century between the territories of Bulgaria and Romania. I ...
, southern
Thrace
Thrace (; el, Θράκη, Thráki; bg, Тракия, Trakiya; tr, Trakya) or Thrake is a geographical and historical region in Southeast Europe, now split among Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, which is bounded by the Balkan Mountains to t ...
, the
Western Outlands
The Western (Bulgarian) Outlands () is a term used by Bulgarians to describe several regions located in southeastern Serbia.
The territories in question were ceded by Bulgaria to the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in 1920 as a result ...
and
Bessarabia
Bessarabia (; Gagauz: ''Besarabiya''; Romanian: ''Basarabia''; Ukrainian: ''Бессара́бія'') is a historical region in Eastern Europe, bounded by the Dniester river on the east and the Prut river on the west. About two thirds of Be ...
, which was indeed the bulk of Bulgarian emigration to Canada. The largest wave of migration from the
Kingdom of Bulgaria
The Tsardom of Bulgaria ( bg, Царство България, translit=Tsarstvo Balgariya), also referred to as the Third Bulgarian Tsardom ( bg, Трето Българско Царство, translit=Treto Balgarsko Tsarstvo, links=no), someti ...
to Canada was in 1912, when 6,388 people arrived in that country. Other significant waves were those of 1914, consisting of 4,512 people, and 1907–09, which numbered 2,529.
The
Canadian Census
Statistics Canada conducts a national census of population and census of agriculture every five years and releases the data with a two-year lag.
The Census of Population provides demographic and statistical data that is used to plan public servic ...
of 1921 recorded 1,765 people who identified as Bulgarians; of those, 1,378 lived in
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
. In 1931, self-identified Bulgarians were 3,160 (2,415 in Ontario), while in 1941 they numbered 3,260 (2,553 in Ontario). Other estimates, however, list 10,000 Bulgarians in Canada by 1913, of which 4,000 in Toronto alone, and 20,000 Bulgarians in Canada by 1939.
The Bulgarian colony in Toronto mostly consisted of emigrants from Macedonia and the Kostur (
Kastoria
Kastoria ( el, Καστοριά, ''Kastoriá'' ) is a city in northern Greece in the modern regions of Greece, region of Western Macedonia. It is the capital of Kastoria (regional unit), Kastoria regional unit, in the Geographic regions of Gree ...
) region in particular. According to Bulgarian diplomatic and ecclesiastical records of 1936, Bulgarians in Toronto alone numbered 3,500, while other estimates go up to 5,000.
[Колев, pp. 297–299.]
The Bulgarian community in Canada is deeply linked to the
Macedonian Canadians
Macedonian Canadians ( mk, Македонски Канаѓани) are Canadian citizens of ethnic Macedonian descent or Macedonian-born people who reside in Canada. According to the 2021 Census there were 39,435 Canadians who claimed full or ...
. Until
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, most people who today identify as
Macedonian Canadians claimed a Bulgarian ethnic identity and were recorded as part of the Bulgarian ethnic group.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the Bulgarian community in Canada spread in larger numbers to the capital
Ottawa
Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
,
Vancouver
Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...
,
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
and
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...
,
Quebec
Quebec ( ; )According to the Canadian government, ''Québec'' (with the acute accent) is the official name in Canadian French and ''Quebec'' (without the accent) is the province's official name in Canadian English is one of the thirtee ...
.
Organizations, religion and education
The first organization of Bulgarians in Canada, the Zhelevo Bulgarian Brotherhood
or Zhelevo Benevolence Brotherhood was established in 1907 in Toronto by emigrants from Zhelevo (
Antartiko
Antartiko ( el, Ανταρτικό, until 1927 Ζέλοβο - Zelovo; Macedonian Slavic/ Bulgarian: Желево / ''Zhelevo''), is a village in the Prespes Municipality in Macedonia. Nestled in the mountains to the west of Florina at an altitud ...
) in
Aegean Macedonia
Aegean Macedonia ( mk, Егејска Македонија, translit=Egejska Makedonija'';'' bg, Егейска Македония, translit=Egeyska Makedonia) is a term describing the modern Greek region of Macedonia in Northern Greece. It is ...
. Other Bulgarian organizations were soon established by emigrants from Zagorichani (Vassiliada), Oshtima (Trigono), Smardesh (
Krystallopigi
Krystallopigi ( el, Κρυσταλλοπηγή) is a former community in Florina regional unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Prespes, of which it is a municipal unit.
The municipal ...
), Gabresh (Gavros), Banitsa (
Vevi
Vevi ( el, Βεύη, before 1926: Μπάνιτσα - ''Banitsa'', before 1928: Μπάνιτσα - ''Banitsa''; Macedonian and bg, Баница, ''Banica'' or ''Banitsa'') is a village located in the municipal unit of Meliti in Florina regiona ...
), Buf (Akritas) and Tarsie (Trivuno), all villages in Aegean Macedonia.
Bulgarian emigrants from Murgash near
Tsaribrod
Dimitrovgrad ( sr-cyr, Димитровград) alternatively Caribrod ( bg, Цариброд, Tsaribrod) is a town and municipality located in the Pirot District of southeastern Serbia. According to 2011 census, the municipality of Dimitrovgrad ...
and
Bansko
Bansko ( bg, Банско ) is a town in southwestern Bulgaria, located at the foot of the Pirin, Pirin Mountains at an elevation of 1200m AMSL, above sea level. It is a ski resort.
Legends
There are several legends about who founded Bansko. Ac ...
also established emigrant organizations. Most such communities were founded in Toronto, though some were based in other Ontario towns like
Kitchener,
Windsor
Windsor may refer to:
Places Australia
* Windsor, New South Wales
** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area
* Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
**Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...
and Courtland.
The foundations of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Canada were laid down in 1908 with the first Bulgarian ecclesiastical mission in North America. The priests Hristo Karabashev and hieromonk Theophylactus, who first visited the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
, arrived in Toronto in 1910 and established what is today the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Macedono-Bulgarian Orthodox Parish, which until 1945 remained the only such community in Canada.
In 7 March 1957 the Bulgarian Canadian Society was found.
A Bulgarian school, funded by the Bulgarian Orthodox community, was founded in Toronto as early as 1914: this was also the first Bulgarian school in the Americas. In 1924, this school had 70 pupils and two teachers. By 1928, the number of pupils was 100. Bulgarian adult schools were established by two separate organizations in 1917 and 1920, also in Toronto. Another school for children was founded in Toronto in 1934; Bulgarian schools were also established in Kitchener and Windsor in 1932 and 1936 respectively.
Language
![Bulgaria, Ottawa2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/Bulgaria%2C_Ottawa2.JPG)
Some Bulgarian Canadians speak Bulgarian, especially the more recent immigrants, while others might not speak the language at all, or speak Bulgarian mixed with English to a lesser or greater extent. Some Bulgarian Canadians understand Bulgarian even though they might not be able to speak the language. There are cases where older generations of Bulgarians or descendants of Bulgarian immigrants from the early part of the 20th century are fluent in the Bulgarian language as well.
Notable Bulgarian Canadians
*
Ken Boshcoff
Ken Boshcoff (born June 20, 1949) was mayor of Thunder Bay, Ontario from 1997 to 2003 and a Canadian Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay—Rainy River from 2004 to 2008. He was elected Mayor of Thunder Bay again, on October 24, 2022.
Early l ...
*
Nansy Damianova
Nansy Damianova (born March 30, 1991, in Sèvres, France) is a Canadian artistic gymnast
Artistic gymnastics is a discipline of gymnastics in which athletes perform short routines on different apparatuses. The sport is governed by the Fédé ...
*
Nina Dobrev
Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva ( bg, Николина Каменова Добрева, ; born January 9, 1989), credited professionally as Nina Dobrev ( ), is a Canadian actress. She is best known for portraying Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce on ...
*
Ivan Dochev
Ivan Dimitrov Dochev ( bg, Иван Димитров Дочев) (7 January 1906 – 14 May 2005) was a Bulgarian far-right politician active either side of the Second World War.
Early years
Born in Shumen the son of an army colonel, Dochev worked ...
*
Alexandra Fol
Alexandra Fol (born July 11, 1981) in Sofia, Bulgaria is a Bulgarian-Canadian composer who resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Fol has composed more than 40 works in different mediums, which have been performed by ensembles such as Sofia Philhar ...
*
Marian Grudeff
*
Ignat Kaneff
Ignat Kaneff ( bg, Игнат Христов Кънев; 6 October 1926 – 12 July 2020) was a Bulgarian Canadians, Bulgarian-Canadian business magnate and philanthropist.
Biography
Ignat Hristov Kaneff was born on 6 October 1926 in Gorno A ...
*
Ted Kotcheff
William Theodore Kotcheff (born April 7, 1931) is a Bulgarian-Canadian film and television director, writer and producer, known primarily for his work on British and American television productions such as ''Armchair Theatre'' and '' Law & Order ...
*
Ivan Kristoff
Ivan Kristoff (born Ivan Hristov; June 6, 1968) is an aviator and rescue worker. He has helped improve the safety of vertical and aerial rope manoeuvres.
Early life
At the age of 15 Kristoff made his own improvised climbing tools and started rock ...
*
Mesut Mert
Mesut Mert (born 18 March 1978) is a Bulgarian-born Canadian football coach and former player who serves as an assistant coach for HFX Wanderers and as head coach of the Saint Mary's University men's soccer team.
Playing career
Mert made his U ...
*
Alice Panikian
Alice Panikian ( hy, Ալիսա Փանիկյան; bg, Алис Паникян) (born May 23, 1985) is a Bulgarian-Canadian journalist, TV host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Canada 2006 and Miss Reinado Inte ...
*
Kroum Pindoff Kroum Pindoff ( bg, Крум Пиндов) (1915 – 16 January 2013) was a Bulgarian Canadian businessman.
Pindoff was born in Emporio, Eordaia municipality, Kozani regional unit, Greece, and raised in Bulgaria. Pindoff participated in the S ...
*
Mirela Rahneva
*
Ralitsa Tcholakova
*
Theodore Ushev
Theodore Asenov Ushev ( bg, Теодор Асенов Ушев; born 4 February 1968) is a Bulgarian animator, film director and screenwriter based in Montreal. He is best known for his work at the National Film Board of Canada, including the 2 ...
See also
*
European Canadians
European Canadians, or Euro-Canadians, are Canadians who were either born in or can trace their ancestry to the continent of Europe. They form the largest panethnic group within Canada.
In the 2021 Canadian census, 19,062,115 Canadians self-i ...
*
Macedonian Canadians
Macedonian Canadians ( mk, Македонски Канаѓани) are Canadian citizens of ethnic Macedonian descent or Macedonian-born people who reside in Canada. According to the 2021 Census there were 39,435 Canadians who claimed full or ...
*
Bulgarian Americans
Bulgarian Americans ( bg, Американски българи) are Americans of Bulgarian descent.
For the 2000 United States Census, 55,489 Americans indicated Bulgarian as their first ancestry, while 92,841 persons declared to have Bulgarian ...
*
Bulgarians in the United Kingdom
Bulgarians in the United Kingdom include citizens of the United Kingdom who trace their Bulgarian ancestry. The number of Bulgarian-born people resident in the UK has risen from 5,351 at the time of the 2001 Census to an estimated 103,000 in 201 ...
*
Immigration to Canada
According to the 2021 Canadian census, immigrants in Canada number 8.3 million persons and make up approximately 23 percent of Canada's total population. This represents the eighth-largest immigrant population in the world, while the proport ...
*
Ethnic groups in Canada
According to the 2021 Canadian census, over 450 "ethnic or cultural origins" were self-reported by Canadians. The major panethnic origin groups in Canada are: European (), North American (), Asian (), North American Indigenous (), African (), ...
*
Foreign relations of Bulgaria
The Republic of Bulgaria is a country in Southeast Europe, and a member of both NATO (since 2004) and the European Union (since 2007). It maintains diplomatic relations with 181 countries.
Bulgaria has generally good foreign relations with its ne ...
*
Foreign relations of Canada
The foreign relations of Canada are Canada's relations with other governments and nations. Canada is recognized as a middle power for its role in international affairs with a tendency to pursue multilateral solutions. Canada's foreign policy b ...
*
Bulgaria–Canada relations
*
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Ottawa
This is a list of the diplomatic missions (including embassies, high commissions and Apostolic Nunciatures) in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Diplomatic missions in Ottawa
Countries without an embassy in Ottawa
* Andorra, U.N. Mission in New Y ...
*
Bulgarian diaspora
The Bulgarian diaspora includes Bulgarians living outside Bulgaria and its surrounding countries, as well as immigrants from Bulgaria abroad.
The number of Bulgarians outside Bulgaria has sharply increased since 1989, following the Revolutions ...
*
References
Footnotes
Sources
*
*
* Peykovska, P. (2022)
The First Generations of Bulgarians in Canada(in Bg). - In: Migration and Social Development, Vol. 2, Sofia: BAS IHS, pp. 15-64.
External links
Bulgarite v CanadaBulway Bulgarian CanadiansBG TorontoBG Canada National Capital Region Bulgarian Community Ottawa – Gatineau, CanadaBulgarian–Canadian Society of British Columbia, Vancouver''Macedonian Tribune'', Bulgarian newspaper issued out of Toronto Bulgarian honorary consulate in Montreal Bulgarian consulate in TorontoCanadian Foreign Affairs and International Trade Office about the relations with Bulgaria
{{Portal bar, Bulgaria, Canada
European Canadian
Ethnic groups in Canada