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rfmcdonaldLocated on 1008 Dovercourt Road, the Belarusian Greek Orthodox Church Of St Ephrasinia of Polatsk is one of the nuclei of Toronto's Belarusian-Canadian minority. Perhaps ironically, the Belarusian-Canadian community's membership is vague, owing to the complexities of nationhood in Belarus and assimilation to larger and better-established Slavic populations in Canada.
Belarus was not listed as a source country in Canadian immigration statistics and many Belarusans were identified as Polish, Russian, or Lithuanian; available data suggest that some 12,000 to 15,000 arrived immediately after World War II. Some sources suggest that as many as 100,000 emigrated from Poland, with one-third settling in Canada. The term “White Russian,” sometimes used to refer to Belarusans, in practice became a synonym for Russians, especially those opposed to the “Red” (Bolshevik) Russians. Fear of being repatriated under the terms agreed to at Yalta also made many Belarusans reluctant to claim their country of origin, particularly among the peasant class.
The 1991 census indicates 1,015 Belarusans by single response in Canada and 1,815 by multiple response; Soviet sources estimate as many as 100,000. The actual number is probably 50,000 to 70,000, with half residing in Ontario and a majority of those living in Toronto. Large numbers are found in Hamilton, London, Oshawa, St Catharines, Sudbury, and Thunder Bay. Others live in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Montreal, Rouyn, and Winnipeg. Smaller numbers are found in British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.
[. . .]
In Canada, the Belarusan Orthodox were organized under two jurisdictions. The Belarusan Canadian Alliance initiated in 1954 the establishment of its St Cyril of Turov parish in Toronto as part of the Belarusan Autocephalic Orthodox church. The year before, and also in Toronto, the Belarusan National Association established the church of St Euphrosinia of Polatsk under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. The parish complex, housed in a new building after 1957, included the church as well as the headquarters of the Belarusan Canadian Alliance, its Social Assistance branch, and Saturday Belarusan-language classes.
Michael's Bloor-Lansdowne blog writes about the St. Cyril of Turau parish further to the west.
Belarus was not listed as a source country in Canadian immigration statistics and many Belarusans were identified as Polish, Russian, or Lithuanian; available data suggest that some 12,000 to 15,000 arrived immediately after World War II. Some sources suggest that as many as 100,000 emigrated from Poland, with one-third settling in Canada. The term “White Russian,” sometimes used to refer to Belarusans, in practice became a synonym for Russians, especially those opposed to the “Red” (Bolshevik) Russians. Fear of being repatriated under the terms agreed to at Yalta also made many Belarusans reluctant to claim their country of origin, particularly among the peasant class.
The 1991 census indicates 1,015 Belarusans by single response in Canada and 1,815 by multiple response; Soviet sources estimate as many as 100,000. The actual number is probably 50,000 to 70,000, with half residing in Ontario and a majority of those living in Toronto. Large numbers are found in Hamilton, London, Oshawa, St Catharines, Sudbury, and Thunder Bay. Others live in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Montreal, Rouyn, and Winnipeg. Smaller numbers are found in British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.
[. . .]
In Canada, the Belarusan Orthodox were organized under two jurisdictions. The Belarusan Canadian Alliance initiated in 1954 the establishment of its St Cyril of Turov parish in Toronto as part of the Belarusan Autocephalic Orthodox church. The year before, and also in Toronto, the Belarusan National Association established the church of St Euphrosinia of Polatsk under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. The parish complex, housed in a new building after 1957, included the church as well as the headquarters of the Belarusan Canadian Alliance, its Social Assistance branch, and Saturday Belarusan-language classes.
Michael's Bloor-Lansdowne blog writes about the St. Cyril of Turau parish further to the west.
