Bosnian Canadians are Canadian citizens whose ancestry can be traced to Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the 2011 Canadian census, 22,915 people claim Bosnian ancestry.
Contents
The majority of Bosnian Canadians emigrated to Canada as refugees during and after the Bosnian War, which lasted from 1992-1995. The history of Bosnian arrivals to Canada, however, dates back to as far as the 19th century.
History
The traditional centers of residence and culture for Bosnian Canadians are located in Toronto, Montreal, Edmonton and Calgary. Numerous Bosnian language newspapers and other periodicals are published in many states. The largest Bosnian organisation in Canada is the Congress of North American Bosniaks.
Religion
The Bosnian Islamic Association Gazi Husrev-Beg was founded in November 1977 under the name 'Association of Islamic Community Gazi Husrev-Beg'. It has been operating under its current name (BIAGH) ever since 1995. The primary reason of its foundation was to respond to the religious needs of its members. That was made possible through a full-time imam, who has been serving this community uninterruptedly since June 1982. The BIAGH caters to the needs of Bosniaks that pertain to Bosniak tradition, folklore, sport and different creative workshops.