Drawing on decades of research and his own lived experience as a Ukrainian Canadian, Thomas M. Prymak illuminates the history, culture, and legacy of one of Canada’s most influential ethnic groups

The story of Ukrainian immigration to Canada is nearly as old as the nation itself. From agrarian “Ruthenian” immigration to the Prairies in the nineteenth century, to waves of refugees fleeing wars, revolution, Soviet repression, and today’s Russian invasion of Ukraine, each generation has helped shape Canada’s social and cultural landscape. All the while, Ukrainian Canadians have worked to preserve their fascinating history, rich folklore, and endangered language. Despite non-preferred immigration policies, discrimination, and language restrictions, Ukrainian Canadians established cultural centres, newspapers, churches, labour movements, and political advocacy groups that nurtured their communities, amplified their voices, and testified to the existence of a nationality whose rights were repeatedly threatened or denied in its European homeland.

These networks of mutual support fostered a distinctive Ukrainian Canadian identity while enabling the community to play a significant role in shaping Canadian politics. Ukrainian Canadians asserted their linguistic and cultural rights during national conversations about bilingualism and biculturalism, and were cultural pioneers in coining the term “multiculturalism” and advocating its enshrinement in the country’s constitution—now a vital and indelible part of Canada’s identity at home and abroad.

What is Our Name, Where Do We Come From is a rich, accessible history that expands and deepens our understanding of the Ukrainian Canadian experience and the profound impact of this community in the making of modern Canada.