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All news & events

Browse All news & events from the Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society archive, library and community collections.

Democracy & The Rule of Law in Macedonia

At a well-attended community lecture on April 6, Macedonian parliamentarian Pavle Sazdov provided a detailed overview of the political and electoral system in the Republic of Macedonia, focusing on the role of the diaspora in the democratic process. Speaking as the elected representative for Macedonians in North and South America, Sazdov explained voter registration requirements, the structure of parliament, the role of political parties, and the functions of the president and judiciary. He emphasized the opportunities available to Macedonians abroad to participate in elections through newly established consular offices, while noting that voter turnout among the diaspora remains low despite these efforts. The presentation also explored Macedonia’s multi-party political landscape, the historical development of its democratic institutions, and the challenges of engaging a globally dispersed population. Attendees welcomed the opportunity to ask questions and gain a better understanding of contemporary Macedonian politics, highlighting the importance of such educational events in strengthening connections between the diaspora and their ancestral homeland.

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Sojourners, Settlers, and a Lasting Legacy: Remembering Dr. Lillian Petroff

The First Annual Celebration of Macedonian Immigration to Canada served as a heartfelt tribute to the late Dr. Lillian Petroff, a pioneering academic who dedicated her career to documenting and validating the distinct identity of Macedonian immigrants in Ontario. Attendees, including family, colleagues, and community leaders, shared stories that painted a portrait of a brilliant, quick-witted, and defiant woman who successfully navigated political pressures to ensure her heritage was recognized independently of neighboring ethnic labels. Through her seminal work, Sojourners & Settlers, and her leadership at the Multicultural History Society of Ontario, Petroff became the definitive voice for early Macedonian "pechalbari" (sojourners), establishing a historical legacy that the Canadian Macedonian Historical Society aims to preserve through this recurring memorial event.

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16 Century Macedonian Lexicon Found at the Vatican

On October 27, 2013, the Canadian Macedonian Historical Society hosted a lecture at the East York Civic Centre featuring professors Joseph Schallert and Kosta Peev, who presented a significant 16th-century Macedonian lexicon discovered in the Vatican archives. Originally found in the late 1940s and written in the Greek alphabet, the manuscript was eventually identified as the Old Kostur dialect of Macedonian rather than Greek, as evidenced in the 1954 study Un Lexique Macédonien du XVIe Siècle. Odyssey Belchevsky, the Director of Cultural Events, noted that a copy of this scholarly work was personally delivered to the Society by Macedonian President George Ivanov, serving as vital historical proof of the Macedonian language's long-standing existence centuries before the formation of the modern state.

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One Hundred Years of Occupation

Lecture - presented for the Historical Society in Toronto on January 27, 2013 In spite of the Macedonian people having risen in 1903 to fight for their freedom and to create an Independent Macedonian state, only ten years later, Macedonia was brutally invaded, occupied and partitioned by its neighbours Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria; a partition validated by the European Great Powers on August 10, 1913 by the Treaty of Bucharest. Why did this happen? What were the factors leading ...

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Translating Balkans - Professor Christina Kramer, author, translator, linguist

On March 3, Professor Christina Kramer—Chair of Slavic languages at the University of Toronto—presented a lecture and book launch titled "Translating the Balkans," where she detailed the intricate and often "agonizing" process of translating Macedonian and Bulgarian literary works into English. Focusing on her translations of authors Luan Starova and Goce Smilevski, Kramer described her methodology as a multi-stage evolution: beginning with a raw "blast" of words followed by months of meticulous polishing to balance English fluency with loyalty to the original tone and intent. The event, supported by the Canadian Macedonian Historical Society and the Albanian Canadian Community Association, highlighted the cultural significance of these works and featured a live Skype appearance by Starova, as well as a tribute to Smilevski’s award-winning novel Freud's Sister. Kramer's expertise was underscored by praise from critics and authors alike, emphasizing her ability to make translated prose feel as though it were originally authored in English.

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The Consulate General of the Republic of Macedonia

The July 2012 donation of a 130-title virtual library by Consul General Dragan Gjurceski represents a landmark achievement in making Macedonian literature accessible to the Canadian diaspora. This extensive collection, featuring translations by over 80 scholars including Dr. Christina Kramer, bridges the gap between traditional Macedonian narratives and English-speaking audiences through a diverse array of fiction, poetry, and drama. Complemented by the personal donations of local author Patsy Sider, the acquisition strengthens the Canadian Macedonian Historical Society’s role as a cultural hub, though its long-term success relies on community volunteers to ensure these newly acquired resources remain available through a regularly open library.

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Macedonian Children of the Greek Civil War

The Greek Civil War occurred in the aftermath of WWII between royal government forces supported by Great Britain and America and the Communist forces supported by Yugoslavia and Russia. During the Second World War, the royalists fled Greece and set up a government in exile in Egypt, while the communist movements played an important role in fighting German and Italian occupying troops.

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