Foundation launches site on Hungarian-Canadians

A new website about Hungarian-Canadians went live in June. The site, www.hungarianpresence.ca, features the richness and diversity of Canadian culture by showcasing Hungarian-Canadian artistic and intellectual contributions, both past and present. The first phase of the website displays work by and about a number of notable artists, musicians, writers, scientists, business people and athletes who came to Canada or who are second generation Hungarian Canadians.

“From theatre and the arts to business and to sport, Hungarian-Canadians have had a visible impact on Canadian society,” remarks Judy Young-Drache, President of the Canada-Hungary Educational Foundation. “Now we can use an interactive medium, the internet, to share the stories of these remarkable people not only with the general public, but also with young Canadians who may never have heard about the events of 1956.”

Ms. Young-Drache, who is also a member of the editorial board for the website, says the idea for the project originated from the activities that took place in fall 2006 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution in 1956. Its suppression by the Soviet army was the main reason why more than 38,000 Hungarian refugees arrived in Canada to find freedom and safety in 1956 and 1957.

While the website already offers access to hundreds of webpages about the contributions of Hungarian-Canadians, the project will be updated and enriched on a continuous basis for the next three years at least.

The Canada-Hungary Educational Foundation/Fondation éducative Canada-Hongrie (CHEF) is a registered educational charity set up in December 2005 to create awareness for Canada’s role in accepting more than 38,000 Hungarian refugees in 1956-57 and highlighting the contributions those refugees eventually made to Canadian life.

The website’s editorial board includes: Christopher Adam, Mark Curfoot-Mollington, John Miska, and Judy Young-Drache.