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THE SHIFTING IDENTITIES OF THE BULGARIAN-CANADIAN DIASPORA, 1900-2015
Figure 1 below takes into consideration only the statistics on Greek and
Bulgarian immigration to Canada in the period 1900-1940.
Year Bulgarians Greeks Year Bulgarians Greeks
1900 7 81 1920 4 297
1901 2 161 1921 26 195
1902 N/A 193 1922 15 187
1903 N/A 191 1923 163 294
1904 N/A 98 1924 170 215
1905 18 254 1925 N/A 214
1906 92 545 1926 87 274
1907 1884 1053 1927 240 557
1908 63 174 1928 265 685
1909 495 461 1929 301 684
1910 985 784 1930 353 530
1911 1664 584 1931 14 23
1912 6338 1523 1932 12 34
1913 1270 898 1933 12 29
1914 4512 1506 1934 5 39
1915 1 124 1935 12 49
1916 0 274 1936 21 73
1917 0 59 1937 31 97
1918 0 5 1938 25 121
1919 1 31 1939 23 128
1940 7 49
Figure 1: Bulgarian and Greek Immigrants in Canada, 1900-1940”
Regardless of their relatively small number, Bulgarians maintained their
ethnic identity through their churches, cultural and political organizations
and ethnic press, including the Sts. Cyril and Methody Macedono-Bulgarian
Cathedral, Macedonian Political Organization (MPO), Banitza Benevolent
Society, Oshchima Benefit Society, Zhelevo Benevolent Society, Zagorichane
Mutual Benefit Society, St. Elijah Mutual Benefit Society, Napredak
[Advancement] Mutual Benefit Society, Bulgarian Economic Mutual Benefit
2 Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism, The Cultural Contribution of the
Other Ethnic Groups-Book IV, Ottawa, Queen’s Printer, 1969, 238-242.
+ 59 +