This website has been written to help Canadians welcome Ukrainian immigrants to Canada. You may be part of the HOST Program helping people newly arrived from Ukraine. It may also be useful for people who can offer a job or to anyone who works with Ukrainian immigrants. These immigrants can also find strong Ukrainian-Canadian communities in many Canadian cities. Ukrainians have been moving to Canada since the 1890s. They helped to open up and settle the Canadian West. Unfortunately, when Ukrainians first started coming to this country, they were subject to discrimination from other settlers. They coped with this prejudice by working hard and retaining their own identity, customs, religion and institutions. New Ukrainian immigrants to Canada will find many reminders of their home in Ukrainian churches, schools, newspapers, television programs and community groups. Like all new immigrants, Ukrainians will find much in Canada that is new and strange. They come from a country emerging from decades of Communist rule. They have lived through difficult economic times. We can help them to adjust if we know something about their country and appreciate the differences between Ukraine and Canada. Having a sense of Ukrainian culture and customs will give us some insight into the lives of our new friends. While this cultural profile provides insight into some customs, it does not cover all facets of life. The customs described may not apply in equal measure to all newcomers from this country. Did you know? Ukrainian-Canadians have made an enormous contribution to this country, from the Prairie settlers to Governors General Ed Schreyer and Ray Hnyatyshyn, Supreme Court justice John Sopinka, artist William Kurelek, writer Myrna Kostash, comedian Luba Goy, hockey goalkeeper Terry Sawchuk, marathon runner Gayle Olinekova and skier Steve Podborski.

Did you know? The Ukrainian flag of blue and yellow symbolizes a field of yellow grain with a blue sky overhead.