Browse Tagged “Toronto” from the Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society archive, library and community collections.
People in the villiage of Dumbene saved enough money to send three boys to the United States. In 1909, my father, Demitri “Jim” Kondoff, was among the three boys. They were taken to Solun where they boarded a ship for New York. My father and his companions were not allowed to enter the United States. Without money to return to Europe, the ship’s captain had his own solution.
In celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday, Edith George delivered a captivating lecture that intertwined Macedonian immigration with local natural history. George connected her own heritage—specifically her grandfather’s journey from the village of Zhelevo to his influential role in building Toronto’s St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral—with the 350-year-old story of a great red oak in her Toronto neighborhood. By linking an ancient tree in Ohrid, Macedonia, to heritage trees in Canada, she highlighted the urgent need for forest conservation and the use of the Ontario Urban Forest Council’s "Heritage Tree Toolkit." The event, which also featured patriotic musical performances and immigrant poetry, emphasized that protecting natural landmarks is a vital way to preserve the oral and human histories of the community.
Dedo Pando Damianoff Stoyanchin emigrated from Macedonia/Turkey to Toronto in 1914, followed by Baba Gena Nikoloff Chungaroff about six years later. My father and his siblings were all born on Maria Street in Toronto. Dedo Nauom Kyrou emigrated from Macedonia/Greece to Toronto in 1922, followed by Baba Lena Papaiouannou Kyrou and my mother in 1932. My mother was born in Zhelevo; however her two younger brothers were born in Toronto.
Celebrating 25 Years - 1991-2016 On Saturday November 12th, 2016 the CMHS will be celebrating "25 Years" in serving the Macedonian community in Canada. The Gala will be held at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral. Tickets are ...
On a Sunday in September, the Canadian Macedonian Historical Society hosted "Zaedno Alex… One More Time!" at the University of Toronto to celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Dr. Alex Gigeroff. The event showcased Gigeroff’s multifaceted contributions as a philosopher, historian, criminal lawyer, and artist, featuring an exhibition of his vibrant paintings and copies of his book, Baba’s Macedonian Socks. Family, friends, and distinguished guests—including his son, artist Andre Haines, and Judge Barry Stuart—shared poignant stories of Alex’s intellectual energy, his passionate advocacy for Macedonian identity, and his unique "rules for life," which encouraged others to live dangerously and seek justice. The celebration concluded with a traditional oro dance, embodying Alex’s lifelong philosophy of "Zaedno" (Togetherness) and his enduring belief that life should be lived with color, music, and a commitment to one's roots.
The first memeber of my family to come to Canada was my paternal grandfater, Karsto Mladenoff. He arrived in 1905. He returned to his selo in 1907. His final crossing was in 1911.
Paul Bassil (Tupurkovski) was born in the village of Oshchima, Agean Macedonia, in 1908. His father Vasil was killed by the Turks at a young age and his mother, Sultana had to raise his brother, Spero, his baby brother Micho and sisters Velia, Sandra, Elena and Ilinka all alone. His mother was killed by the Germans during the second world war.
On September 7, 1894, in the Macedonian town of Radovish, a son was born to the poor meat-peddler Daffe Antonoff and his wife Gona. They named him Christo and as he was always called Christo Dafeff (Daffe's Christo) that became his name in after years. Christo was a sickly but talented child. At six he started school and was an exceptionally good student, but was forced to stop school because of his health ... Young Christo couldn't take his studies easily, he was too intense. At seven he started to play the flute-. His father couldn't afford a musical instrument, so Christo "borrowed" 15 Turkish coptseta from his father's meagre store and went into partnership with a neighbour's boy, who also put in 15 coptseta, to buy a mandolin. One week, Christo had it, the next his partner. One day his mother sent the boy up to the attic to fetch something. There, among things left in storage by an uncle who had gone to Canada, Christo found a violin! He tuned it. He drew the bow. And, in that dusty attic, his errand forgotten, on his first try Daffe's Christo played a popular Macedonian air. There were no two ways about it. Music was his vocation. Poor as they were, his parents determined to do what they could to help him.
Despite the fact than Baba wasn’t born in Macedonia, culture was maintained by both both parents in several ways. - Involvement with the Macedonian church - Virtually all attendance at social gatherings such as picnics, weddings and name day celebration revolved around the Macedonian community - Sending our Jimmy and Kathryn to Macedonian (Bulgarian) school
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.
