The Contribution of the Ukrainian Diaspora to the Formation of Canadian Multiculturalism

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In this article, the author aims to define the place and role of representatives of the Ukrainian ethnic group in Canada in the development of such a phenomenon as Canadian multiculturalism. It is well known that Canada's population consists of virtually all races and peoples. Over the centuries, immigrants from Europe, Asia, and Africa have joined the indigenous population. The first Europeans who appeared in what is now Canada were searching for new lands for the rulers of their countries, gaining wealth and fame for themselves. As they moved into the interior of the country, they came into conflict with the indigenous population, displacing them from their native places, destroying their way of life and taking their property. These were mostly the British, other natives of the British Isles, and the French. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, they were joined by other immigrants, including representatives of all European nations, including Ukrainians. In addition to Europeans, immigrants from other continents also came to Canada. Arriving in Canada, the new immigrants had already found a state in the form of a British dominion, rich in abundant natural resources and unlimited land for agriculture. New settlers were involved in the economic, political, and social development of the country. Given the multicultural composition of the population, as well as the desire of ethnic groups, including the Ukrainian one, the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism in 1969 recommended a process of integration instead of assimilation of ethnic and cultural communities into Canadian society.