Slovak immigrants

in British Columbia

Their settlements were based mostly on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean and then along the Fraser River Valley: Vancouver, New Westminster, Burnaby, Port Moody, Surrey, Richmond, Queensborough, Cloverdale, Langley, Pitt Meadows, Haney, Chilliwack, Whonnok and Agassiz. Numerous Slovak groups also began

appearing in the eastern areas of British Columbia, like Osoyoos, Kelowna, Rutland, Grand Forks, Trail and Nakusp.

From the beginning of the 20th century the Slovaks began settling in various areas of British Columbia. They worked primarily in logging, at mills, in

construction, the steel industry and a great number in agriculture as farmers.

According to the 1951 British Columbia Census 2,606 people reported their nationality as Slovak. Most of them lived in the cities of Vancouver, New

Westminster and Victoria. The city of New Westminster, in the second half of the 20th century, became the most important center of community and national

cultural life of Slovaks in British Columbia.

Not everyone that hears the name “Canadian Lumberjack” realizes

what it really means. On this photograph from 1939 on the left is Jozef Otrosina, one of the founding

members of the Slovak parishIn New Westminster.

The lumberjack on the right is not identified, yet.

This rare photograph from 1939 is from the personal photos of Bertha Palko, nee Otrosina. The group of fallers from the former Czecho-Slovakia is holding before them a 2 man cross cut saw a “bruchacku”, on which is written: Pioneer TB Co. Czecho-Slovakia Fallers Log Camp Sept.

24/ 39. Lying beneath is Andy Shofranko. Jozef Otrosina is second from the left in the first row. Second row second from left is Andrej Onderko and first from the right is Mike Fecko.

On the photograph from the late 40’s are Slovaks that belong to the Canadian Slovak League. Their meetings were held on a farm in New Westminster that belonged to the Vitkaj family. The photo falls in the time when the Canadian

Slovak League was first organized in Vancouver and most likely one of the very first meetings. Standing from the left: Paul Nociar, Milan Vitkaj, Emil Nociar, John

Segec, and Jozef Vitkaj Jr. Sitting from the left: John Kapralik, John Kikta, Paul Segec, Jozef Vitkaj Sr., and Michael Petrencik, Driver of the truck is Anna Vitkaj.

Slovak Jesuit Father Ján Sprušanský lived in Port Moody in 1954

1956

Wedding of Maria Kikta and Frank Benes in 1956 at Our Lady of Good Council Church in Surrey. In this church and in Holy Spirit in Queensborough many Slovaks from

New Westminster and the surrounding areas met once a month. Fr. Lacko, a Slovak Jesuit, encouraged the local Slovaks to start their own parish in 1960.

Mrs. Maria Benes is one of the oldest living members of this St. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Parish in New Westminster.

The „Older generation“ of Slovaks in New Westminster used every opportunity to familiarize local citizens about their roots, about

Slovakia. This photograph is most likely from a Canada Day celebration July 1, 1971. In the car decorated with the Slovak insignia, Canadian

and Slovak flags you can see John Varga, Joanne Benes, Regina Tobias, Marni Varga, Teresa Tobias, John Krocko and Jozef Racko

Amateur theatre was one of the cultural activities and hobbies, which the Slovak immigrants loved to spend their time on. „Stone Path“ (Kamenny

chodnicek) is a much loved play, that was rehearsed by the Slovak immigrants in the 1950’s and also by many new immigrants that came after Soviet

invasion to Czecho-Slovakia in 1968. The photograph was taken at the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish in New Westminster at the beginning of the 70’s.

Slovak school in New Westminster, 1973

Hokey team “Slovak 1974” in North Vancouver

Sts. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Church in New Westminster

Slovak Hunter Club of St. Hubertus in New Westminster

Slovenská komunita v New Westminster

Teatro Tatro – Winter Olympic Games 2010

RCMP Cdt. Karen Čedík

Slávik – Slovak Folklor Group

Slávik – Slovak Folklor Group

The Great Moravia Choir

European Festival, Burnaby 2012

Czech and Slovak hockey players, the winners of The 2012 Adult Safe Hockey League

Burnaby, 2. division

Ján (John) Jambor, born 1902 in Košice, Slovakia

Immigrated to Canada in 1928 with $14.04 in his pocket

Moved to BC in 1948 and began a prosperous real estate career

Died in 1991 after building a real estate empire

VANCOUVER, May 24, 2012 The BC Cancer Foundation announced the largest charitable bequest

to a single beneficiary in B.C.'s history today. William P. J. McCarthy, businessman and

grandson of the late John Jambor and creator and executor of his estate plan, gifted an astounding

$21.4 million in the Jambor-McCarthy legacy to the BC Cancer Foundation.

My grandfather’s motto was:"work hard, live well and give back."

Presentation: by Jožo Starosta

Pictures: archive of Slovo z Britskej Kolumbie