ACTIVITIES OF THE UKRAINIAN AID SOCIETIES IN CANADA IN 1918–1939s

Abstract

The article analyses and systematizes the information about the charitable work of Ukrainian public organizations in Canada in the interwar period, with the purpose to facilitate the complicated process of removal, departure and further settlement of compatriots overseas. In general, such aid societies were divided into three types, namely those that fulfilled their functions to simplify the immigration process, those who financially supported their members in case of illness, accident, or death, and those who were founded for social and political purposes, but also directly supported their supporters, built orphanages, shelters, and schools, as well as fed and provided clothing to the extremely impoverished countrymen. Thus, the first aid society gave as much help as possible to everybody willing to leave for Canada, the second engaged in mutual insurance of their membership, and the third donated funds for the benefit of the diaspora. Immigration aid societies were promoted by the Canadian authorities, funded by shipping and railway companies that were particularly interested in immigration from Eastern Europe after the 1925 railway agreement with the Canadian government, and received dividends from it. The organizations that provided the mutual insurance service operated at the expense of mandatory membership fees. In addition to membership fees, other public organizations received funds from voluntary donations from members, supporters, and sponsors. And finally, this type of activity was not the main one. These organizations were both local and dominion in nature, both working on a temporary and permanent basis. Despite of common goal, they could be divided by religious or political affiliation. And yet they combine