Since the turn of the 20th century, Canada has been a major destination for Macedonian émigrés. Currently, there are an estimated 250,000 Canadians of Macedonian heritage. UMD Canada works to represent their interests and needs in collaboration with many Macedonian faith-based, cultural, and benevolent organizations that have been serving the Canadian-Macedonian community for decades, including the Macedonian Orthodox Churches, the Canadian Macedonian Heritage Society, the Canadian Macedonian Place, the Bitove Foundation, United Macedonians of Canada, and the Macedonian Film Festival.

To harness the potential of the Canadian-Macedonian community, UMD Canada, and its young leaders program, Generation M, host a Canadian-Macedonian Leadership Conference at the University of Toronto. Social gatherings include UMD’s networking events for professionals, as well as the annual UMD Rockin Party at Ashbridge’s Bay Yacht Club.

UMD Canada administers the UMD John L. N. Bitove, C.M. Macedonian Heritage Scholarship Program, which has given out close to $60,000 in merit-based scholarships to Canadian and international students.

In 2010, UMD held its 2nd Annual Global Conference in Toronto, which was attended by over 1,000 Macedonians and friends of Macedonia from close to 20 countries. The pillar of the Canadian-Macedonian community, the late John L. N. Bitove, C.M. received the first-ever UMD Lifetime Achievement Award at the conference-closing Gala.

In 2014, UMD together with the Canadian Macedonian Place held a Macedonian Tribute Ball bringing over 500 guests to honor our community’s finest Vonna Bitove (UMD Macedonian Heritage Public Service Award), and Chris Paliare (UMD Lifetime Achievement Award).

Last but not least, UMD Canada has an open-door policy and conducts bridge building and dialogue with Canadian governmental and non-governmental entities to better serve the community and strengthen Canada-Macedonia relations. In 2007, after the community collaborative efforts conducted by UMD, Canada, under the leadership of then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper, recognized Macedonia by its constitutional and rightful name. In 2010, UMD Canada led a delegation of Canadian-Macedonian leaders to Ottawa to meet and bestow upon Prime Minister Harper UMD’s highest honor the UMD Goce Delchev Award.

Volunteering with UMD Canada is an excellent way to contribute to the development of the diaspora community and bilateral Canada-Macedonia relations. If you are interested in learning more about the Canadian-Macedonian community, or in volunteering for UMD Canada, please e-mail canada@umdiaspora.org for more information.