Lithuanian Canadians
Total population | |
---|---|
46,6901(2006)[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Ontario[2] | 29,315 (2011) |
Alberta | 5,310 |
Quebec | 5,155 |
British Columbia | 5,740 |
Manitoba | 1,495 |
Saskatchewan | 735 |
Nova Scotia | 955 |
New Brunswick | 255 |
Languages | |
Canadian English,Lithuanian,Québécois French | |
Religion | |
Roman Catholicism,Romuva,Lutheranism,Judaism | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Lithuanians,Lithuanian Americans,andPrussian Lithuanians
1*11,425 solely of Lithuanian origin, 35,260 of mixed origin. |
Lithuanian Canadians(Lithuanian:Kanados lietuviai) areCanadianswho are of full or partialLithuaniandescent. Over two-thirds of Lithuanian Canadians reside inToronto,[3]with other much smaller populations scattered around most of theCanadian provinces and territories.
History[edit]
The first documented Lithuanians in Canada were Lithuanians who fought in the British Army in Canada (1813–1815). Lithuanian immigrants to Canada came primarily for economic reasons, arriving between 1905-1940. The second wave of Lithuanians came afterWorld War II,[4]with most of the immigrants seeking to escapeCommunismafter the unilateralSovietincorporation of Lithuania into its boundaries.The third wave of immigrants began after the restoration of Lithuania's independence (1990), and have continued to arrive.[2]
Concentration[edit]
The majority of Lithuanian Canadians reside in Toronto.[2][5]Other well-rooted populations of moderate size can be found inurban Ontario(particularlyMississaugaandHamilton),MontrealinQuebec,Alberta,Manitoba,[2]andNova Scotia.Lithuanian Canadians are present in 37 Canadian municipalities.[2]Other groups have migrated toBritish Columbia,New Brunswick,Saskatchewan,theNorthwest Territories,andYukon.
Organization[edit]
The Lithuanian Canadian Community (Lithuanian:Kanados Lietuvių Bendruomenė), the largest Lithuanian Canadian association in Canada, has 17 chapters throughout Canada.[6]
Religion[edit]
The descendants of the first and second waves of Lithuanian immigration are predominantlyRoman Catholic,while a minority areRomuvaorEvangelical Lutheran.A considerable percentage of Lithuanian Canadians have reverted to the indigenous Lithuanian religion (which has been revived asRomuva), particularly third-wave immigrants.[7]There are two Roman Catholic parishes for Lithuanian Canadians,[2]two Romuva groups,[7]one Evangelical Lutheran congregation,[2]and some minorities ofLithuanian-Jewishdescent.
Notable people[edit]
- Daina Augaitis– curator whose work focuses oncontemporary art.
- Kevin Bieksa–ice hockeyplayer
- Iggy Brazdeikis–basketballplayer for theUniversity of Michigan WolverinesofNCAA Division I
- Birutė Galdikas– biologist; contributed to the creation of a sanctuary for orangutans in Indonesia
- Ruta Lee– actress and dancer; appeared as one of the brides in the filmSeven Brides for Seven Brothers
- Paul Rabliauskas- comedian
- Andy Rautins– basketball player for theBahçeşehir Kolejiof the TurkishBasketbol Süper Ligi(Basketball Super League); one of four sons of retired NBA player Leo Rautins
- Leo Rautins– former basketball player; former head coach of theCanadian national men's basketball team;NBA analyst for theToronto Raptors;his son Andy was drafted by the New York Knicks in 2010
- Nik Stauskas– basketball player for theCleveland Cavaliersof the NBA; also plays for the Canadian national men's basketball team
- Annis Stukus– formerCanadian footballplayer, coach and general manager, and ice hockey general manager
- Alissa White-Gluz- singer-songwriter, animal rights activist and human rights activist; former lead singer ofThe Agonistand current lead singer of the Swedish metal bandArch Enemy(her grandmother was from Lithuania)
See also[edit]
- Canada–Lithuania relations
- Lithuanian diaspora
- Ethnic origins of people in Canada
- European Canadians
- Lithuanian Americans
- Lithuanians in the United Kingdom
References[edit]
- ^"2006 Census of Canada: Topic-based tabulations | Ethnic Origin (247), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data".2.statcan.ca. 2011-04-07. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-03-04.Retrieved2011-08-30.
- ^abcdefgIrena Ross (5 February 2004)."Lithuanians create cultural hub in Canada".The Baltic Times.Retrieved30 August2011.
- ^Powell, John (2005)."Lithuanian immigration".Encyclopedia of North American Immigration.Facts on File. p. 178.ISBN9781438110127.Retrieved30 November2016.
- ^Danys, Milda (1986).DP, Lithuanian immigration to Canada after the second World War.Toronto: Multicultural History Society of Ontario.ISBN0-919045-28-6.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Lietuvos Respublikos užsienio reikalų ministerija - Lithuania's Cooperation with Canada".Urm.lt.Retrieved2011-08-30.
- ^"About the LCC - Kanados Lietuvių Bendruomenė".
- ^abModern paganism in world cultures: comparative perspectivesBy Michael Strmiska, pg. 278-279
External links[edit]
Media related toCanadians of Lithuanian descentat Wikimedia Commons