The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Debrecen (UDFH) and the Consulate General of Hungary in Montreal signed a memorandum of agreement at the end of 2023 centred on researching the past and present of the Hungarian diaspora in Montreal, while also preserving, mapping and presenting the community’s heritage both to the general public and the scholarly community.
The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Debrecen (UDFH) and the Consulate General of Hungary in Montreal signed a memorandum of agreement at the end of 2023 centred on researching the past and present of the Hungarian diaspora in Montreal, while also preserving, mapping and presenting the community’s heritage both to the general public and the scholarly community.
In the past months, the Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling at Concordia University joined the project as a partner, and representatives of several Hungarian organisations in Montreal also contributed to the success of the first phase of the cooperation.
After various activities related to the project, such as archival research, networking, interviews, and conference presentations, an event was organised at Concordia University on June 13, where the Consulate General and Balázs Venkovits, Director of the Institute of English and American Studies of UDFH and the head of the project in Debrecen, presented the latest results and next steps of the project.
“What makes this work truly special is the diversity of the participants; the interdisciplinary research group established recently at the Faculty of Humanities of UD is an important pillar with the participation of scholars of Canadian studies, sociologists, linguists and librarians,” Balázs Venkovits told the portal hirek.unideb.hu.
The director of IEAS highlighted that archival research, the digitalisation of materials, oral history interviews, and the preparation of a questionnaire also started and these were strongly facilitated by the organizing and supporting activities of the Consulate General, the contribution of Concordia University in the form of know-how and equipment, and the active participation of the Hungarian community of Montreal.
The aim of the project is to survey the more than hundred-year-long history of Hungarians in the city, to identify the most important Hungarian locations, venues and events and to present them on an online, interactive map where visitors can learn about the history of each place through interview excerpts, archival documents, recordings and historical descriptions. The scientific study of the history, immigration, integration, and acculturation strategies of Hungarians in Montreal also has a prominent role.
In addition to Hungarian-Montrealers, Consul General Helga Pritz, Barbara Lorenzkowski, Head of Concordia’s Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling, and Francesca Scala, Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, were also present at the event and welcomed the attendees.
General Consul Helga Pritz said, “The Canadian diaspora is significant in the Hungarian national consciousness, not only because of its size, but due to its history also. This community arrived in various waves and from different regions. After the First World War, a considerable number of Hungarians immigrated here from neighbouring countries as well. The community has cherished and recreated its traditions many times, and while preserving its roots, it was able to provide value to the welcoming new homeland as well.
“It is our common task to preserve and cultivate these memories and values, which is why it is important for the Consulate General of Hungary in Montreal to support this project which started out by focusing on the St. Stephen’s Ball and will hopefully grow into to a long-term, comprehensive, multidisciplinary research project on the large Canadian Hungarian diaspora with outcomes reaching both the general public and scholars,” emphasized the Consul General.
The research work began last year, after the signing of the memorandum of agreement, followed by a partnership with Concordia University’s COHDS.
“We have been delighted to learn of the extent that the city’s Hungarian-Canadian community have embraced this project by so graciously sharing memories and life-stories; stories of the importance of food in building and nurturing ties of family and community, alongside stories of displacement, of survival, of new beginnings, of hard work, of suffering and joy. These are the very kind of life-stories and memories that we – at our Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling – are dedicated to gathering and preserving. ” Barbara Lorenzkowski said.
At the event, Sonya Di Sclafani, MA student at Concordia University, presented her research project focusing on Hungarian immigrants and especially women’s histories of Hungarian foodways in Montreal.
The first results of the research project will soon be available to the general public. The first publication is planned to be presented at the Debrecen University Symposium organized by the Institute of English and American Studies in October.
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