Norwegian Canadian

Norwegian Canadian
Norsk-kanadiere

Melody Anderson · Melyssa Ford · Natassia Malthe · Jennifer Granholm · Glenn Anderson · Jeff Friesen · Kristina Groves · Rick Hansen · Ann Heggtveit · Cindy Klassen · Pat Onstad · Cliff Ronning · Henry Larsen · Endre Johannes Cleven · Joni Mitchell · Norman Kittson ·
Total population
Norwegian 432,515 Canadians 1.4% of the Canadian population[1]
Regions with significant populations
Alberta 144,585  British Columbia 129,425  Saskatchewan 68,650  Ontario 53,840  Manitoba 18,395
Languages
Canadian English, Canadian French, Norwegian
Religion
Predominantly Lutheranism with other notable Protestant (such as Baptist, Pentecostal, Mormon and Jehovah's Witness) and Catholic minorities.
Related ethnic groups
Norwegians, Norwegian Americans, Scandinavian Canadians, Norwegian Australians, Norwegian New Zealanders, German Canadians, Dutch Canadians, Scottish Canadians, English Canadians

Norwegian Canadians are Canadians of Norwegian descent.

There are approximately 1.2 million Canadians of Scandinavian descent living in Canada, representing around 3.9% of Canada’s population. In the Canada 2006 Census 432,515 Canadian residents claimed Norwegian ancestry,^[1] making up 1.4% of the population of Canada. Significant Norwegian immigration took place from the mid-1880s to 1930.^[2]

History

Viking exploration

L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Leif Ericson discovers Canada and North America.

Norwegians have played important roles in the history of Canada. The very first Europeans to reach North America were in fact Icelandic Norsemen, who made at least one major effort at settlement in what is today the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (L'Anse aux Meadows) around 1000 AD. Snorri Thorfinnsson aka Snorri Guðriðsson, the son of Thorfinn Karlsefni and his wife Guđriđ, is thought to be the first white baby born in Canada and North America.^[3]

In 1960 archaeological evidence of the only known Norse settlement^[4] in North America (outside of Greenland) was found at L'Anse aux Meadows on the northern tip of the island of Newfoundland, in what is now the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Although this proved conclusively the Vikings' pre-Columbian discovery of North America, whether this exact site is the Vinland of the Norse accounts is still a subject of debate. There is a consensus among scholars that the Vikings did reach North America, approximately five centuries prior to the voyages of Christopher Columbus.^[5]

The main sources of information about the Norse voyages to Vinland are two Icelandic sagas, The Saga of Eric the Red and the Saga of the Greenlanders. These stories were preserved by oral tradition until they were written down some 250 years after the events they describe. The existence of two versions of the story shows some of the challenges of using traditional sources for history, because they share a large number of story elements, but use them in different ways. For example, both sagas feature a mariner called Bjarni, who is driven off course on a voyage to Greenland, and whose authority is subsequently called into question; in "Greenlanders" he is Bjarni Herjolfsson, who discovers the American mainland as a result of his mishap, but in "Eric" he is Bjarni Grimolfsson, who is driven into an area infested with shipworms on the way home from Vinland, with the result that his ship sinks. A brief summary of the plots of the two sagas shows many more examples.

Organized immigration

The major reason for Norwegian migration appears to be one of economics. The Norwegian farms were often small and unable to support a family. Added to that was the lack of other employment to augment the family income. Between 1850 and 1910 approximately 681,011 Norwegians made their way to North America. Very few originally stayed in Canada but some, after a stay in the American Midwest, made their way across the border and settled in the present provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. One of the earliest Norwegian parties to America in the nineteenth century sailed from Stavanger on July 4, 1825. This party was led by Kleng Pedersen (Cleng Peerson). The ship, Restauration, of 45 tons, master being Helland, was a rebuilt sloop carrying 52 passengers. To that number was added baby Larson, who was born on the voyage. Many of this party were Quakers, leaving Norway for religious reasons. The voyage took 97 days and they arrived in New York on October 9, 1825. In 1836 the Norden and Den Norske Klippe sailed to America with 167 passengers. Another two vessels sailed the following year.

The British Government repealed the navigation laws in 1849 and from 1850 on, Canada became the port of choice as Norwegian ships carried passengers to Canada and took lumber back to Norway. The Canadian route offered many advantages to the emigrant. "They moved on from Quebec both by rail and by steamer for another thousand or more miles for a steerage fare of slightly less than $9.00. Steamers from Quebec brought them to Toronto, then the immigrants often traveled by rail for 93 miles to Collingwood on Lake Huron, from where steamers transported them across Lake Michigan to Chicago, Milwaukee and Green Bay." In 1855 there were eight vessels reported from Norway to Canada in the immigration report, averaging a 45 day crossing. These vessels carried 1,275 passengers. The following year, 14 vessels made the voyage averaging 54 days, and carrying 2,821 passengers. One of these vessels, the Orion from Stavanger, was said to carry 50 paupers all heading for the American west but, due to a lack of funds were sent to Buffalo. The passengers of the Gifion, all proceeded to Wisconsin.

There were a considerable number of deaths among the Norwegians in 1857. Of the 6,507 immigrants who arrived in that year there were 100 deaths. In 1859, however, emigration dropped off with only 16 vessels arriving from Norway carrying 1,756 passengers. Of the over 28,460 Norwegians who came to Canada in the 1850s it is estimated that only 400 remained in Canada the majority moved on into the American west. A small settlement of Norwegians was begun at Gaspe Peninsula, Lower Canada, in 1854. A report in 1859, stated that 25 families, totaling 126 persons, were settled in the Gaspe. They were joined in 1860 by another 50 persons. However, the Norwegians were not content, and after a very hard winter in 1861-2 they began to make their way to the American Midwest. About 14 families who arrived on the ship Flora from Kristiania in 1856 went to the Eastern Townships, near present day Sherbrooke. They were following in the footsteps of two other Norwegians who settled in this area in 1853. Johan Schroder, who travelled in the United States and Canada in 1863, reported that a group of Norwegian immigrants, led by an agent, settled in Bury in the Eastern Townships in 1856. One of the first settlers in this area was Captain John Svenson who died in 1878.

Settlements

New Norway, Alberta circa 1915

Settlements in Canada which were primarily created by Norwegian immigrants:

• Birch Hills, Saskatchewan
• Rose Valley, Saskatchewan
• Hagensborg, British Columbia
• Tallheo, British Columbia
• Quatsino, British Columbia
• Pemberton, British Columbia (originally Agerton)
• New Norway, Alberta
• Norway, Ontario

Today

A map of the United States and Canada with number of Norwegian Americans and Norwegian Canadians in every state and province including Washington, D.C..

A map of the United States and Canada with percentage of Norwegian Americans and Norwegian Canadians in every state and province including Washington, D.C..

Little Norway, a Norwegian Army Air Service/Royal Norwegian Air Force training camp in Canada during the Second World War.

Canada is also the home of Little Norway and Camp Norway, both Norwegian military training facilities, during the Second World War, and the port of Halifax was a refuge for the Norwegian merchant marine and Royal Norwegian Navy during the same conflict.

Norwegian population in Canada

7.6% of the population in Saskatchewan is of Norwegian ancestry.

According to Statistics Canada figures from the 2006 census, 521,390 Canadians reported themselves as having Norwegian ethnic background (multiple responses were allowed). The figures are also broken down by provinces and territories for Norwegians:

Province	Norwegian Canadian	Percent Norwegian Canadian
Canada	432,515[1]	1.6%
Alberta	144,585[6]	4.9%
British Columbia	129,425[7]	3.6%
Saskatchewan	68,650[8]	7.6%
Ontario	53,840[9]	0.5%
Manitoba	18,395[10]	4.2%
Quebec	6,350[11]	0.09%
Nova Scotia	4,675[12]	0.5%
New Brunswick	2,625[13]	0.3%
Newfoundland and Labrador	1,510[14]	0.3%
Yukon	1,340[15]	4.7%
Northwest Territories	670[16]	2.0%
Prince Edward Island	390[17]	0.3%
Nunavut	55[18]	0.2%

Norwegian language by province

Province	Norwegian language[19]	Percent
Canada	7,710	0.02%
British Columbia	3,420	0.08%
Alberta	1,360	0.04%
Ontario	1,145	0.00%
Saskatchewan	895	0.09%
Quebec	370	0.00%
Nova Scotia	175	0.01%
Manitoba	160	0.01%
Newfoundland and Labrador	95	0.01%
New Brunswick	80	0.01%
Yukon	10	0.03%
Northwest Territories	0	0.00%
Nunavut	0	0.00%
Prince Edward Island	0	0.00%

List of Canadians of Norwegian descent

Part of a series on Norwegians
Culture
Architecture · Art · Cinema · Cuisine Joni Mitchell, one of the most famous Norwegian Canadians. Actors Melody Anderson, social worker and public speaker specializing in the impact of addiction on families. Also widely known as an actress. Melyssa Ford, model/actress. Natassia Malthe Norwegian model/actress who grew up in Canada. John Qualen - actor: "He was Hollywood's stock Scandinavian character actor but could also play just about any other ethnic type imaginable. He was born Johan Mandt Kvalen in Vancouver, British Columbia on December 8, 1899, the son of Norwegian immigrants. His father, a Lutheran minister, changed the spelling of their name to Qualen."[20] Rachel Skarsten, actress. Athletes Glenn Anderson, retired professional hockey player. Jeff Friesen, professional hockey player. Kristina Groves, Olympic speed skater. Rick Hansen, wheelchair celebrity and philanthropist Anne Heggtveit, alpine skier. Herman "Jackrabbit" Smith-Johannsen (1875–1987), a Norwegian-Canadian cross country skier, who lived to be 111 years old. George Knudson, CM, was a professional golfer, who along with Mike Weir holds the record for the Canadian with the most wins on the PGA Tour, with eight career victories. Karen Magnussen, Olympic figure skater, North Vancouver, BC. Christine Nordhagen, Norwegian-Canadian Olympic female wrestler Pat Onstad, professional soccer goalkeeper. Terry Puhl, former professional baseball player. He is currently the head coach of University of Houston-Victoria's baseball team. Cliff Ronning, professional hockey player. Ryder Hesjedal, professional road cyclist Svein Tuft, professional road cyclist Ryan Rishaug,former ice-hockey player. He is currently sports-commentator on TSN. Explorers Henry Larsen Norwegian born Canadian Arctic seaman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Second to traverse Canada's Northwest Passage in the famous St. Roch. Filmmakers Torill Kove, Norwegian-Canadian film director and animator. Academy Awards winner for the animated short film The Danish Poet. Journalists Roger Petersen, reporter for CTV Toronto. Mostly of German heritage. Musicians Endre Johannes Cleven, musician/composer and founder of the Canadian Viking Regiment (197th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force) Mitch Dorge, musician. Bruce Haack, Norwegian-Canadian musician and composer. Joni Mitchell, singer/songwriter. John K. Samson, musician Politicians Ione Christensen, CM, is a former Canadian Senator. Nellie Cournoyea, former Canadian politician, who served as Premier of the Northwest Territories from 1991 to 1995. David Eggen, Alberta NDP MLA for Edmonton-Calder. Colin Hansen, British Columbia's Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the 2010 Winter Olympics.. Hans Lars Helgesen, MLA for Esquimalt, 1878-1886. The first non-Briton to serve in the BC legislature and prominent in the establishment of the commercial fishery in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Chuck Strahl, MP for Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon and Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Writers Holly Nelson, poet, writer and political activist. Martha Ostenso, novelist, poet and screenwriter. Sonja Skarstedt, poet, short story, playwright writer, painter and illustrator. Fred Stenson, writer of historical fiction and non-fiction relating to the Canadian West. Others Gerda Hnatyshyn, president and chair of the Hnatyshyn Foundation, an arts granting organization. Norman Wolfred Kittson, was variously a fur trader, steamboat-line operator, and railway entrepreneur. Peter Norman Nissen, inventor Paul Thorlakson, was a Canadian physician and Chancellor of the University of Winnipeg. See also Norwegian diaspora Canada–Norway relations References ^ a b c "Canada: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ Multicultural Canada ^ Smithsonian Magazine | History & Archaeology | The Vikings: A Memorable Visit to America ^ Ingstad, Helge; Ingstad, Anne Stine (2001). The Viking Discovery of America: The Excavation of a Norse Settlement in L'Anse Aux Meadows, Newfoundland. Checkmark Books. ISBN 0-8160-4716-2. ^ Jones, Gwyn (1986). The Norse Atlantic Saga: Being the Norse Voyages of Discovery and Settlement to Iceland, Greenland, and North America. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-285160-8. ^ "Alberta: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=48&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "British Columbia: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=59&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Saskatchewan: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=47&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Ontario: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=35&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Manitoba: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=46&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Quebec: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=24&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Nova Scotia: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=12&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "New Brunswick: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=13&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Newfoundland and Labrador: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=10&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Yukon Territory: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=60&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Northwest Territories: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=61&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Prince Edward Island: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=11&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ "Nunavut: Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data". Canada 2006 Census. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-562/pages/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=62&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000. Retrieved 2010-03-26.  ^ Detailed Mother Tongue (148), Single and Multiple Language Responses (3) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2006 Census – 20% Sample Data. 2007. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/tbt/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=1&LANG=E&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=0&GK=0&GRP=1&PID=89186&PRID=0&PTYPE=88971,97154&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=70&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=.  ^ [1] Statistics Canada (2003). "Ethno-Cultural Portrait of Canada, Table 1". http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/ETO/Table1.cfm?Lang=E&T=501&GV=1&GID=0. Retrieved 2006-01-04.  Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая? HVDC Norway–Great Britain Swedish-Norwegian War (1814) Look at other dictionaries: Canadian (disambiguation) — Canadian usually means a person or thing from Canada. It can also refer to:People*White Canadian *Black Canadian *Indo Canadian *Dutch Canadian *English Canadian *Scottish Canadian *Irish Canadian *Welsh Canadian *French Canadian *Native Canadian …   Wikipedia Norwegian Australian — Norskaustraliere …   Wikipedia Norwegian New Zealander — Norsknewzealender …   Wikipedia Norwegian Elkhound — A Norwegian Elkhound, showing the standard tightly curled tail – photographed on 29 August 2003. Other names Norsk Elghund Grå Norsk Elghund Gray Norwegian Elkhound Small Grey Elk Dog Norwegian Moose Dog Harmaa norjanhirvikoira Country of origin… …   Wikipedia Norwegian Armed Forces — Forsvaret Service branches Army Navy (Coast Guard) Air Force …   Wikipedia Norwegian Buhund — A wheaten Norwegian Buhund. Other names Norsk Buhund Norwegian Sheepdog Country of origin Norway Traits …   Wikipedia Norwegian Lundehund — Other names Norsk Lundehund Norwegian Puffin Dog Nicknames Lundehund Country of origin …   Wikipedia Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) — Norwegian Wood redirects here. For other uses, see Norwegian Wood (disambiguation). Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) Song by The Beatles from the album Rubber Soul Released 3 December 1965 Recorded 12 and 21 October 1965, EMI Studios …   Wikipedia Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition — (also known as NBSX or NBSAE) (1949 – 1952) the first Antarctica expedition involving an international team of scientists. The team members came from Norway, Sweden and the British Commonwealth of Nations.Personnel*John Giaever Norwegian, leader… …   Wikipedia Norwegian people — Ethnic group group=Norwegians(Nordmenn) caption= Peder Tordenskjold • Niels H. Abel • Frederik Stang • Fridtjof Nansen Roald Amundsen • Eivind Groven • Liv Ullmann • Ari Behn poptime=10 to 12 million including ancestry (est.)… …   Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”