| 
Slovenian Immigration
to Canada
by Peter Urbanc and Eleanor Toutel
The chronology of Slovenian immigration to Canada falls into
three distinct periods: from 1924 to 1930, from 1947 to 1951,
and from 1957 to 1970. Before World War I, practically all overseas
emigration from Slovenia moved in the direction of the United
States. The country was quite well known in Slovenia, whereas
little, if anything, was known of Canada. However, there was
some indirect emigration from the United States to Canada. It
is known, for example, that a small number of Slovenian miners
settled in British Columbia and some farm labourers took up
residence in other parts of Western Canada. The pay for seasonal
farm work in Canada was considered satisfactory four dollars
per day, including room and board. Records show that many of
the Slovenian emigrants living in Canada were members of the
Slovenian National Benefit Society of Chicago or of the Krainer
Slovenian Catholic Union of Cleveland (Krarjska Slovenska Katoliska
Jednota K.S.K.J.), known since 1966 as the American Slovenian
Catholic Union. Because Slovenia was then part of the Austro
Hungarian Empire, and since Canadian registration showed only
immigrants' citizenship, there are no official records of Slovenians
in Canada before the First World War.
1924 to 1930
New American immigration laws in 1924 effectively stopped massive
immigration to the United States, and significant numbers of
Slovenian emigres arrived in Canada between 1924 and 1930. A
prospective Canadian immigrant would contact a travel agent
in Ljubljana, buy his passage to Canada, and travel to the New
World with just twenty five dollars in pocket money. However,
passports of that time indicate that specific Canadian immigration
requirements had to be met before embarkation was permitted.
This process eliminated the possibility of rejection on arrival
in Canada. A prospective immigrant who failed to meet the criteria
had only to pay his return railway fare from the embarkation
point back to Slovenia. Canada accepted any Slovenian who was
in good health, free of military obligation in his own country,
without a criminal record, and who would accept employment as
a labourer or farmer. Those with relatives in the United States
were not eligible. Doors to Canada were closed to unlimited
immigration only with the onset of the economic Depression in
1930.
The contracts of most immigrants required them to settle the
land along Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway lines.
They received assistance in the form of tools and food, which
was given for a limited time only. If during this time, an emigre
settled and became self sufficient, 160 acres of land were sold
to him for ten dollars. It was also possible to purchase land
commercially for fifty cents an acre. Those who preferred not
to settle, accepted contracts to work on farms for three dollars
a day plus board and lodging. After the initial contract was
completed, some moved to mines in northern Ontario and Quebec,
where they earned four dollars a day. Industrial workers received
twenty six cents an hour and worked for ten hours a day. Forest
industry and railway workers received two dollars a day plus
board and lodging, and worked twelve hours daily. Forestry,
railway, and farming work was only available seasonally.
It is believed that approximately three hundred Slovenians settled
in Trail, B.C. in 1928 and began working in lead mines or on
farms. These immigrants were mainly from Dolerjsko (Lower Carniola),
Notranjsko (Inner Carniola), Bela Krajina (White Carniola),
and Prekmurqe (the region beyond the Mura). It was originally
their intention to earn sufficient money to pay debts in Slovenia
and then return to their native land. However, most decided
to stay in this country. The families or fiances of many of
this group joined them at a later date, anticipating a better
life in Canada than in Yugoslavia. Due to wartime conditions,
some families were not reunited until after the Second World
War.
During the late nineteen thirties there was a move of Slovenian
workers away from the mines of Northern Ontario and Western
Quebec. Although their remuneration was such that they could
accumulate some capital, their jobs were not secure. The whole
country was affected by the economic Depression of North America
and Western Europe, which lasted from 1929 to 1939. Besides,
their work was often difficult and dangerous and a hardship
for those who had come from farming environments in the Old
Country. As a result, a great number of the miners moved to
the Ontario fruit belt between Hamilton and St.Catharines. The
Ontario Government offered favourable loans at four percent
to encourage them to develop fruit farms. Many immigrants had
previous experience in fruit tree cultivation in their homeland,
so this was a fitting opportunity.
During the Second World War, the Canadian Yugoslav Federation
was organized among the emigrants from Yugoslavia. Its main
purpose was to support the new government of that country. There
was opposition to it from people who saw a leftist dictatorship
in postwar Yugoslavia. However, Communist propaganda in favour
of the new regime resulted in the return to their homeland of
about two hundred Slovenians. On arrival they changed their
Canadian savings into Yugoslav currency only to discover a considerable
financial loss. Tractors, brought from Canada for individual
use, were confiscated by customs officials for communal fanning.
Some of the disillusioned people later returned unobtrusively
to Canada.
1947 to 1951
The second phase of immigration began in 1947 and lasted until
1951. The number of immigrants to Canada at that time is estimated
at 7,500 people. They were political refugees who fled to Austria
and Italy in May, 1945, and did not want to return to a Communist
Slovenia. It is thought that about 25,000 Slovenian political
refugees emigrated to overseas countries during those years.
Due to after effects of the Depression and postwar conditions,
it was still difficult to procure a visa for immigration to
Canada, hence many of the emigrants went to Argentina, Australia,
and the United States. Since Canada accepted only young labourers
and farmers in that period, many Slovenian students declared
themselves as such to come to this country. The men were under
contract to work for one year on farms, in forests, or as part
of railway crews, while the women were engaged in domestic work.
After a year they were free to leave their original positions.
Most of them headed for Toronto, while smaller numbers went
to Montreal, London, Kitchener, Hamilton, and St. Catharines.
Many of the young men were married, but their wives and families
remained in Europe due to the reluctance of the Yugoslav Government
to grant leave for entire families. Most were eventually reunited
in Canada.
The immigrants of the second phase arrived in the order chosen
by the ad hoc commissions established by the Canadian Government
in the refugee camps. For instance:
In October, 1947, the first group arrived from the camps and
worked as lumbermen, mainly in Western Canada.
The second group arrived in January, 1948 young women who took
employment as domestic and hospital workers. Most eventually
settled in Toronto.
Groups of textile workers came to Canada at the end of March,
1948. Some were sent to Montreal and others went to Toronto.
Among these people was the first group of families.
The month of April, 1948, saw the arrival of eighty two Slovenian
men who worked on the railway. They were followed by farm and
sugar cane workers for Alberta and British Columbia. A large
group arrived at the end of September, 1948, consisting of young
Slovenian women who were engaged in domestic work, mainly in
the Ottawa area. After completing their initial contracts many
of the workers found employment in London, Windsor, Ottawa,
and Hamilton.
A considerable number among the political refugees were professional
people who, after meeting Canadian requirements, continued to
practise in Canada as doctors, lawyers, engineers, and high
school teachers. Others who were craftsmen in Slovenia initiated
home building enterprises and other construction projects, engaging
immigrant employees. They were community conscious people who
established ambitious building programs including Catholic churches,
Slovenian clubs, and resorts for sports and social functions.
1957 to 1970
By 1957 socialized economic policies in Yugoslavia resulted
in a great deal of unemployment. In order to avoid social unrest,
the Yugoslav Government opened the borders for the departure
of many of its unemployed or poorly paid citizens. Canada had
an open door immigration policy at the time. Approximately 15,000
persons entered Canada during this phase of "economic"
emigration from Slovenia. A good portion, especially at the
beginning, were people from Prekmurje, a region with a strong
emigration tradition. For the most part, they were people with
good technical educations. They joined their predecessors in
Canada, fortifing family businesses and other enterprises. Many
were able to obtain positions in the Hamilton steel industry,
in Toronto industries and trades, or with the Ford Motor Company
and General Motors elsewhere in Ontario. By the end of 1970
approximately 1,200 immigrants had settled in the Hamilton area,
2,000 in St. Catharines, Kitchener, London, and Windsor combined,
about 1,000 in Montreal, and several hundred more throughout
the West and other parts of Canada.
(excerpted from "Slovenians In Canada" by Peter Urbanc
and Eleanor Toutel (1984: Hamilton: Slovenian Heritage Festival
Committee) ISBN: 0-919-357-41-5)
|
