Ukrainian Canadians - Definition and Overview

A Ukrainian Canadian is a person of Ukrainian descent or origin who was born in or immigrated to Canada. In 2001 there were 1,071,060 Canadians of Ukrainian descent, making them Canada's eighth largest ethnic group.

Ukrainian Canadians are concentrated in the Prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, whose frigid terrain has many similarities with the steppes of Ukraine.

The Ukrainians have long been at the heart of Canadian socialism. Most Ukrainians were anti-Soviet, but a significant minority were communists and made up the largest block in the Communist Party of Canada. Ukrainians also played a central role in the formation of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the New Democratic Party.

There are a number of Ukrainian Canadian institutions such as:

• Ukrainian Canadian Congress, a national organization representing the Ukrainian Canadian community
• Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
• Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies at the University of Manitoba
• Embassy of Ukraine in Canada

Famous Ukrainian Canadians

• Peter Dmytruk - World War II hero
• Ernie Eves - former Ontario Premier
• Gary Filmon - former Manitoba Premier
• Luba Goy - comedian
• Ramon John Hnatyshyn - Governor-General
• Stephen Juba - former Winnipeg mayor
• Gerard Kennedy - Ontario cabinet minister
• Filip Konowal - Victoria Cross winner
• Peter Liba - former Lieutenant-governor of Manitoba
• Steve Peters - Ontario cabinet minister
• Roy Romanow - former Saskatchewan Premier
• Marsha Skrypuch - writer
• John Sopinka - jurist
• Judy Wasylycia-Leis - MP
• Borys Wrzesnewskyj - MP