Federation of Russian Canadians
Encyclopedia
The Federation of Russian Canadians is a left-leaning cultural organization for Russian
immigrants to Canada and their descendants.
It is the successor of the Russian Farmer-Worker Clubs which were closed by the government at the beginning of World War II
as a suspected subversive organization due to its links with the Communist Party of Canada
. In 1942, after the Nazi invasion of the USSR
, the organization reappeared as the Federation of Russian Canadians, known also by its Russian initials as the FRK.
At its height, the FRK had 15 branches across Canada and published a newspaper, Vestnik. In 1944, the organization had around 4,000 members but, as a result of the Cold War
and the defection of Igor Gouzenko
that number fell to 2,709 by 1949. In the late 1980s the group had less than 800 members.
While Vestnik ceased publication in 1994, the FRK still has community centres in Toronto and Vancouver.
The FRK organized some 15 branches in various Canadian cities and published the newspaper Vestnik (Herald), long the only Russian newspaper in Canada.
The FRK was associated with the Labour-Progressive Party
and was affiliated with the Canadian Peace Congress
.
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
immigrants to Canada and their descendants.
It is the successor of the Russian Farmer-Worker Clubs which were closed by the government at the beginning of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a suspected subversive organization due to its links with the Communist Party of Canada
Communist Party of Canada
The Communist Party of Canada is a communist political party in Canada. Although is it currently a minor or small political party without representation in the Federal Parliament or in provincial legislatures, historically the Party has elected representatives in Federal Parliament, Ontario...
. In 1942, after the Nazi invasion of the USSR
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, the organization reappeared as the Federation of Russian Canadians, known also by its Russian initials as the FRK.
At its height, the FRK had 15 branches across Canada and published a newspaper, Vestnik. In 1944, the organization had around 4,000 members but, as a result of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and the defection of Igor Gouzenko
Igor Gouzenko
Igor Sergeyevich Gouzenko was a cipher clerk for the Soviet Embassy to Canada in Ottawa, Ontario. He defected on September 5, 1945, with 109 documents on Soviet espionage activities in the West...
that number fell to 2,709 by 1949. In the late 1980s the group had less than 800 members.
While Vestnik ceased publication in 1994, the FRK still has community centres in Toronto and Vancouver.
The FRK organized some 15 branches in various Canadian cities and published the newspaper Vestnik (Herald), long the only Russian newspaper in Canada.
The FRK was associated with the Labour-Progressive Party
Labour-Progressive Party
For the Labour-Progressive Coalition Government in New Zealand see the Fifth Labour Government of New ZealandThe Labor-Progressive Party was the legal political organization of the Communist Party of Canada between 1943 and 1959....
and was affiliated with the Canadian Peace Congress
Canadian Peace Congress
The Canadian Peace Congress is an anti-imperialist group founded in 1949 by Canadian minister James Gareth Endicott in response to the new dangers to peace posed because of the Cold War. It described itself as "a place were people of different views and faiths can meet and discuss world affairs.....
.
See also
- Association of United Ukrainian CanadiansAssociation of United Ukrainian CanadiansThe Association of United Ukrainian Canadians is a national cultural-educational non-profit organization established for Ukrainians in Canada...
- United Jewish Peoples' OrderUnited Jewish Peoples' OrderThe United Jewish Peoples' Order is a secular socialist Jewish cultural, political and educational fraternal organization in Canada. The UJPO traces its history to 1926 and the founding of the Labour League...