Bosnian Canadians
Bosnian Canadians () are Canadian citizens whose ancestry can be traced to Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the 2016 Canadian Census, there were over 38,000 people in Canada who identified as having Bosnian ancestry. In the 2011 Canadian census, 22,920 people stated that they are of Bosnian descent. The traditional centers of residence and culture for Bosnian Canadians are located in Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton and Calgary. History The history of Bosnian arrivals to Canada, however, dates back to as far as the 19th century. The 1891 Canadian census recorded two individuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina living in Canada. The census records show that they were both men, working as laborers in Ontario. World War I During World War I, Canada, as part of the British Empire, declared war on the Central Powers, including Austria-Hungary, which then included Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a result, many Bosnians living in Canada at that time were considered enemy aliens and faced discrimination and internment. According to historical records, there were a few Bosnians living in Canada at the time of World War I, but their numbers were relatively small. Some of them may have been classified as Austro-Hungarian or Yugoslavian immigrants, depending on the period of their arrival. The most well-known case of Bosnians being interned in Canada during World War I is that of Mustafa Golubic and his brother Ibrahim, who were both interned in a camp in Kapuskasing, Ontario. Mustafa Golubic had arrived in Canada in 1912, and his brother Ibrahim had followed him a year later. When the war broke out, the Golubic brothers were arrested as enemy aliens and interned for the duration of the war. World War II While there were no specific Bosnian-Canadian military units during World War II, many Bosnian-Canadians served in the Canadian armed forces and contributed to the war effort. Some of them may have also been involved in resistance movements in Bosnia and Herzegovina against the Independent State of Croatia. At the same time, Bosnian-Canadians also faced discrimination and suspicion during the war due to their origins, and some of them were even interned, similarly to what happened during World War I. For example, in 1940, over 100 Bosnian Muslim men were interned in a camp in Petawawa, Ontario, alongside other enemy "aliens". After the war, a small number of Bosnian-Canadians who had fought with the Yugoslav Partisans against the NDH returned to Bosnia and Herzegovina to help rebuild the country. However, most Bosnian-Canadians remained in Canada and continued to build their lives there. In addition to their military service, Bosnian-Canadians also contributed to the war effort in other ways. For example, some worked in factories that produced war materials, such as ammunition and aircraft parts. Others worked in agriculture, helping to produce food for Canadian troops and civilians. Despite their contributions, some Bosnian-Canadians also faced discrimination and suspicion during the war due to their origins. Cold War After World War II, Canada opened its doors to many displaced persons and refugees from war-torn