#47 THE MACEDONIAN COMMUNITY | Toronto's Many Faces

The Macedonian Community

Toronto is a centre for one of the largest Macedonian communities in the world. Macedonia is now a nation state that broke away from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. Macedonians also live in the region that stretches through Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania.

On the first weekend in August, Toronto’s Macedonians participate in a memorial service at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto to honour the heroes of Macedonia’s past. The 1903 Ilinden Uprising of the Macedonians against the Ottoman Empire is commemorated with a picnic and a ceremony that includes the placing of a wreath at a stone monument dedicated to the Unknown Soldier, at the National War Memorial, Ottawa.

Relatively few Macedonians immigrated to Canada before the turn of the century. With the failure of the Ilinden Uprising, many people emigrated to escape the aftermath; others arrived following the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913.

Early Macedonians found work in tannery and fur-processing plants located in Cabbagetown. Machine operators and labourers were employed by the garment industry on Spadina Avenue or in the iron and sheet metal industries, silk mills, and knitting factories. Macedonians worked as railroad navvies and in the meat-packing industry. As slaughterhouses and abattoirs moved westward in the city, the Macedonian community settled near the Municipal Abattoir in the Niagara Street district or near the west-end railway junctions. Many factory workers became supervisors and union stewards, while entrepreneurs started their own small businesses such as meat markets, barber shops, shoeshine parlours, grocery stores, and haberdasheries. Having gained experience as waiters and busboys, many ventured into the restaurant business. The Dufferin Grill was one of the first Toronto Macedonian-owned restaurants.

Macedonian organizations in the city included Slave Petroff and Company, a steamship and banking agency which offered the services of a labour bureau. The Baptist church in Toronto also established a labour exchange and information bureau at the Macedonian and Bulgarian Mission Hall.

The third wave of immigration resulted from the expulsion between the two World Wars. By the end of the Second World War, there were an estimated 50,000 Macedonians in Canada. Today, that number has grown to over 200,000. Macedonians are found in all jobs and professions, from doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, nurses, and teachers to factory workers, business leaders and industry giants.

Places to Go

Macedonian national foods such as stuffed peppers, cabbage rolls, musaka, gjuvech, tavche gravche, and skara, are served in restaurants. California Restaurant & Bar, 914 Pape Ave, East York, (Tel 416 461 1251)

Religious Centres, Schools and Other Institutions

In addition to the following churches, Macedonians also attend several other Eastern Orthodox churches.

ST. CLEMENT OF OHRID MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL (Tel. 416-421-7451) 76 Overlea Blvd. The first Macedonian Orthodox Church in Canada, built in 1964. The congregation features the twenty-voice Canadian Macedonian Choir, and Macedonian Language heritage classes are held at the church.
ST. ILIJA MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL, (Tel. 905-821-8050) 1775 Bristol Rd. W, Mississauga). Groups at the church include the Ladies Auxiliary and Ilinden Folklore Group.
ST. DIMITRIJA OF SOLUN MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, (Tel. 905-471-5555), 188-201 Main St. N., Markham).
ST. NEDELA MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, (Tel. 905-426-5355), 485 Bayly St. W., Ajax.
ST. NICHOLAS MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, (Tel. 529 966 6257) 5225 Howard Ave, LaSalle, ON N9H 0J2
ST. NAUM OF OHRID MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, (Tel: 905 387-0111)1150 Stone Church Rd. E. Hamilton, ON L8W 2C7
ST. MARY’S MACEDONIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH, (Tel. 1-519-622-1725) 50 Augusta St. Cambridge, ON N1R 1G1

Holidays and Celebrations

Easter and Christmas are celebrated according to the Gregorian and Julian calendars.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST DAY is January 18. It is celebrated with a baptismal ceremony, usually held in front of the church.
BIRTHDAY OF MACEDONIAN FREEDOM-FIGHTER, GOTSE DELCHEV is celebrated on February 4. Delchev led the 1903 Ilinden Uprising against the Ottoman Empire,
SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODY DAY is May 24. Macedonians worldwide pay tribute to the two brothers from Salonika. Apostles to the Slavs, they are best known for creating the first Cyrillic alphabet, which later became known as Cyrillic script, used by many Eastern European countries.
ILINDEN UPRISING. August 2 commemorates the anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising of 1903 against the Ottoman Empire. Festivities include dances, a beauty contest, and a picnic held the first Sunday in August.
SEPTEMBER 8 is the celebration of the independence of the Republic of Macedonia in 1991.
THE FORMATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA in 1944 is celebrated by some members of the community on October 11.
ST. CLEMENT’S DAY, December 8, is in honour of St. Clement of Ohrid, a disciple of Saints Cyril and Methody. St. Clement Church in Toronto holds a dinner and dance and other celebrations on the nearest weekend to the day.

MEDIA

CANADIAN-MACEDONIAN NEWS, (850 O’Connor Drive). newspaper distributed six times a year. Editor and publisher: Liljana Ristova.

EMPOWERED Host & Producer, Elizabeth Naumovski on Wednesday & Friday at 6:30 pm on The News Forum www.empoweredtv.ca

MACEDONIAN EDITION, Informative & Entertaining TV program, (Tel. 416-503-2285) This program now appears on Facebook. Producer & host: Pobeda Piskaceva. www.macedonianedition.tv

MACEDONIAN HERITAGE, OMNI-TV, (Tel. 416-260-0047) Producer: Bill Yancoff. The Macedonian Heritage Hour airs on OMNI Television in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta and on satellite throughout Canada.

MACEDONIA (Tel: 416-827-0954) a monthly newspaper. Editor and publisher, Sonia Lozanovska, www.macedonianewspaper.com 1840 Bloor Street, Mississauga, ON.

MACEDONIA RADIO, (Obedineta Makedonija) (Tel. 905-265 2197) CHKT 1430 AM Fairchild Radio, CHKT 1430 AM, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Host: Dragitsa Dimovska

VOICE OF MACEDONIA, oldest radio program in the Diaspora, on air for 55 years. Sunday from 6 pm to 7 pm on CMR, 101.3. Live broadcast can be heard by dialing 416 593-0055, plus YouTube for "The Voice of Macedonia” Producer and Host: Dragica and Nikola Belchevski (647-780-6549)

ZDRAVETZ, (Tel. 416-755-9231) 850 O’Connor Dr, a periodical newsletter published by Canadian Macedonian Place. Editor: Zlatka Cokov

Organizations

CANADIAN MACEDONIAN PLACE 850 O’Connor Dr.( 416-755-9231)www.CanadianMacedonianPlace.com Zlatka Kajcevska Cokov, Administrator

CANADIAN MACEDONIAN HERITAGE SOCIETY (416-755-3117) 850 O’Connor Dr. www.macedonianhistory.ca Macedonian costumes and artifacts are housed in the Society’s Museum. A collection of over 3,000 Macedonian history and literature books in the Library Resource Centre. Some books in English on Macedonian history may be purchased through the Society.

MACEDONIAN COMMUNITY CENTRE, (Tel. 416-421-7451) 76 Overlea Blvd). With three halls and a library, the Centre houses several organizations, including: the award-winning Makedonka, Macedonian Folk Ensemble with over 200 dancers; the Ladies’ Auxiliary; the Brakja Miladonov Brothers, a Macedonian literary association; Macedonian Language School, Macedonian Canadian Choir, Macedonian Information and Youth Association.

UNITED MACEDONIANS OF CANADA ORGANIZATION, (Tel. 416-823-6520) Established in 1959 to promote unity and friendship among Macedonians and their friends in North America and overseas. Sponsors cultural days, banquets, dances and picnics. Ilinden picnic is held on the first Sunday of August.

Facebook: United Macedonians Organization of Canada.

Other Organizations include:

AMSUT- Macedonian Students at University of Toronto amsut.utsg@gmail.com

(647-688-2001) V. Bakreska

THE BITOVE METHOD is registered and not-for-profit. (V. Bitove, Executive Director) A place of creativity, engagement, learning and connection in which a respectful, meaningful, and supportive community aims to inspire, and enrich the lives of older adults living with memory loss and their caregivers. CarePartner Gatherings are offered free of charge to those in our participants' care circles via Zoom. www.thebitovemethod.com

CANADIAN MACEDONIAN BUSINESS NETWORK, (Tel. 905-764-7816)

3-100 West Beaver Creek Rd). President: Nick Kuburovski

CANADIAN MACEDONIAN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION Dr. D. Mallin (416 219 8144) or Dr. Chris Stefanovich. (647-505-4417)

LERIN REGION MACEDONIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF CANADA is a Toronto-based organization which brings together Macedonians from the Lerin Region in Aegean Macedonia (northern Greece) to promote and preserve the Macedonian heritage through culture, music and dance. (M. Outow)

MACEDONIAN FILM FESTIVAL Established in 2006 as a charitable and cultural organization, the only one of its kind globally. The goal is to broaden awareness of Macedonian talent and culture through film. Films can include Macedonian directors, producers, writers, actors, storyline or location. (English subtitles) Annually presented in October at Imagine Carlton Theatres.www.macedonianfilmfestival.com

MACEDONIAN HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT INTERNATIONAL Supporters of human & national rights issues for Macedonians since 1986. MHRMI demands respect for Macedonia's name, identity and human rights for oppressed Macedonians in the Balkans. For information: www.mhrmi.com

MACEDONIAN CHILDREN’S RELIEF FUND (416 735 2401) Funding for relief of poverty, deprived and orphaned children in both Macedonia and Canada. A.Plukov. For information see Facebook.

MACEDONIA 2025 Vision is to shape Macedonia’s future by promoting economic growth that will improve opportunities for citizens, companies and foreign investors. It is international, independent and non-political. www.macedonia2025.com

NAS: nas@stclementofohrid.com (416) 421-7451) organization for young adults

19-35 Zoe Dimoff or Christian Rostankovski

NOVA GENERATION is a Canadian charity based in Toronto that provides scholarships to college and university students of Macedonian descent, across the globe. Please visit the scholarship page for more information, at www.novageneration.ca

Consulates, Trade Commissions and Tourist Bureaus

CONSULATE GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA IN TORONTO, (Tel. 416-322-2196, 90 Eglinton Ave. E., Suite 210). Consul General: Sead Sadikoski.

Prominent Torontonians

Thea Andrews, TV personality; John Bitove, Chairman & CEO, Obelysk Group; Jordan L. Bitove, O.Ont, Publisher, Toronto Star, owner of Torstar Corporation and Chairman, Nordstar Investments; Thomas John Bitove, O.Ont., Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2nd generation businessman, numerous Boards including business, sports and non-profit, (e.g. ProAction Cops and Kids); Michael Close, artist; Georgi Danevski, iconographer; Elizabeth Naumovski, financial literacy & female empowerment advocate, speaker, host/producer of Empowered, national weekly tv show on The News Forum, 2022 Queen's Platinum Jubilee Award for Community Service, 2021 & 2019 Wealth Professional Awards Financial Literacy Champion; 2020 Mohawk Alumni of Distinction Award; Susan Niczowski, Golden Pencil Award 2023 (Academy Award of Food Industry); Canada Best Managed Last 23 Years; Top 10 Canada Entrepreneurs 2021; RBC Momentum Awards; Vaughan Chamber of Commerce 2015, CEO of the year 2014. Ema Nikolovska, mezzo soprano and international opera star; Dr. Andrew Rossos, historian and author; Risto Stefov, translator and author, Chris Paliare, O.Ont, LSM; Dr. David Siderovski, pharmacologist, Chair of HSC Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience at the University of North Texas; Steve Stamkos, NHL, Captain, two Stanley Cup Championships with Tampa Bay Lightning 2020/21; Paul Stoyan, K. C.; Judge Louis P. Strezos; Brandon Tanev, Winger, NHL; Christopher Tanev, Defense, NHL; David M. Tanovich, FRSC.; Michael Zigomanis, former NHL, co-host SportsNet590, morning radio show.

V.A. Evans