Immigration of rusins to Canada in the late 19th - early 20th centuries: the diaspora formation and adaptation

The first inflow of immigrants in 1896-1914 was the largest, so it laid the foundations for the Rusin community in Canada. The first wave immigrants came from Eastern Galicia, Transcarpathia, and Northern Bukovina, which suffered from land hunger more than other territories. In Canada they were referred to as "Rusins", "Galicians", "Bukovinians". The increase of the immigration inflow contributed to the agricultural and industrial growth of Canada. It explained a comparatively easy entry into the country; however, it did not remove initial difficulties of economic, linguistic and cultural adaptation. The Rusins formed dense enclaves that helped to preserve and reproduce their cultural identity through the traditional household, habitual toponymy of new settlements, national language education, publishing houses, religious and public organisations. The landscape and climate that reminded Rusins their native land allowed their quickly adaptation to new areas and contributed to the economic growth of Canada.

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