Refugees of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution National Historic Event

Toronto, Ontario
A child carries a suitcase after arriving in Winnipeg as a refugee from Hungary. © Canada. Dept. on Manpower and Immigration | Dept. de la Main-d'oeuvre et de l'Immigration / Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Hungarian refugee arrives in Winnipeg, 1960
© Canada. Dept. on Manpower and Immigration | Dept. de la Main-d'oeuvre et de l'Immigration / Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Halifax, NS © Canada. Dept. of Manpower and Immigration | Ministère de la Main-d'oeuvre et de l'Immigration / Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / PA-181009A child carries a suitcase after arriving in Winnipeg as a refugee from Hungary. © Canada. Dept. on Manpower and Immigration | Dept. de la Main-d'oeuvre et de l'Immigration / Library and Archives Canada | Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
Address : 1575 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Toronto, Ontario

Recognition Statute: Historic Sites and Monuments Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-4)
Designation Date: 2010-01-12

Other Name(s):
  • Refugees of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution  (Designation Name)
Research Report Number: 2008-048; 2014-CED-SDC-07

Importance: With the support of its population, Canada admitted, as immigrants, more than 37,500 Hungarian refugees during this international crisis

Plaque(s)


In 1956 and 1957, Canada received more than 37,500 refugees who fled Hungary after Soviet troops marched on Budapest to crush a revolution that sought political reform and independence from the Soviet Union. The Canadian government acted quickly to select, transport, and resettle people in cooperation with non-profit organizations, establishing an important model for the reception of future refugees in this country. Hungarian refugees settled across Canada, many choosing to live in Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, and other urban centres, where they made significant contributions to economic and cultural life.