Atlantic Canadians have a rich and distinct heritage of their own
which they have brought to Alberta. This group includes people who
have immigrated from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and
Prince Edward Island.
Atlantic Canada has experienced three general waves of emigration,
all of which were borne out of economic necessity. The first wave
began during World War I and continued through the Interwar Period
when many Atlantic Canadians began to look elsewhere, particularly
the United States, for work and
economic opportunity. Following World War II, there was a second wave
of emigration from Atlantic Canada towards Toronto for employment. It
was the third wave of emigration that would have the most impact
on Alberta largely due to the development of the petroleum industry. The decision of many Atlantic Canadians to immigrate to
Alberta is similar to the previous movements to Toronto or Boston,
based on economic opportunity. Atlantic Canadians
believed there would be a better opportunity in Alberta for
employment that paid well and, as a result, many Atlantic
Canadians have settled in areas rich in natural resources and
industry, such
as Fort McMurray. Other Atlantic Canadians, particularly
those who possess higher education, have chosen to settle in some
of the larger urban areas, such as
Edmonton and Calgary, where there is more opportunity to gain
professional employment.
Atlantic Canadians are regarded as a tight-knit group and have formed
many societies and groups, both formal and informal.
Atlantic Canadians in Calgary have formed the
Maritime Reunion Association as a place for gathering and
socializing. One of the notable concentrations in Alberta
of Atlantic Canadians is in Fort McMurray, where Atlantic Canadian
Albertans make up a large portion of the population and have
become an important part of that community.
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This digital collection was
produced with financial assistance from Canada's Digital
Collections initiative, Industry Canada.