Language, War, and Identity

The Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora, with its origins tracing back to immigration waves beginning in the 1890s, has undergone significant transformations, particularly since the early 2000s. These changes have been accelerated by the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution of Dignity, Russia’s subsequent annexation of Crimea, and the war instigated by Russia against Ukraine in 2014. The escalation of this war into a full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, led to a substantial increase in the number of Ukrainian citizens fleeing their homeland. Canada has emerged as a key destination for many of these refugees. Among them, some view their stay in Canada as temporary, while others plan to settle permanently, thereby contributing to the development of a new segment within the broader Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora.