The first documented Lithuanians in Canada were Lithuanians who fought in the British Army in Canada (1813–1815). Lithuanian immigrants to Canada came primarily for economic reasons, arriving between 1905-1940. The second wave of Lithuanians came after World War II,[4] with most of the immigrants seeking to escape Communism after the unilateral Sovietincorporation of Lithuania into its boundaries. The third wave of immigrants began after the restoration of Lithuania's independence (1990), and have continued to arrive.[2]
The Lithuanian Canadian Community (Lithuanian: Kanados Lietuvių Bendruomenė), the largest Lithuanian Canadian association in Canada, has 17 chapters throughout Canada.[6]
Religion
The descendants of the first and second waves of Lithuanian immigration are predominantly Roman Catholic, while a minority are Romuva or Evangelical Lutheran. A considerable percentage of Lithuanian Canadians have reverted to the indigenous Lithuanian religion (which has been revived as Romuva), particularly third-wave immigrants.[7] There are two Roman Catholic parishes for Lithuanian Canadians,[2] two Romuva groups,[7] one Evangelical Lutheran congregation,[2] and some minorities of Lithuanian-Jewish descent.
Alissa White-Gluz - singer-songwriter, animal rights activist and human rights activist; former lead singer of The Agonist and current lead singer of the Swedish metal band Arch Enemy (her grandmother was from Lithuania)
