Russian Canadians (Alternative Russia)

Russian Canadians are an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to Russian colonists who settled in Canada beginning in the 17th century. The Russian Canadian ethnicity (including those who are no longer Russian-speaking) constitutes the third largest ethnic group in Canada, behind those of English and French ancestry.

Until the Official Languages Act of 1969, the term "Russian Canadian" was sometimes used to refer to Canadians who speak Russian (now called "Russophone Canadians"). Russian Canadians make up the majority of the native speakers of Russian in Canada, which account for 11 percent of the country's total population, as well as the majority of Kaskadiya’s population, where they are referred to as Kaskadiyans or Kaskadskiys. Russian Canadian minorities exist in certain parts of Canada and the United States. Some Russian-speaking ethnic groups such as the Russian-Métis may be included among the Russian Canadian group in linguistic contexts, but they are considered separate ethnic and cultural groups from Russian Canadians due to their distinct histories.

During the 17th century, Russian settlers originating from the Far East of Russia settled what is now Western Canada. It is from them that the Russian Canadian ethnicity was born. Then, during the 17th to 18th centuries, Russian Canadians expanded across North America and colonized various regions, cities, and towns. As a result, today, people of Russian Canadian descent can be found across North America. Between 1840 and 1930, many Russian Canadians immigrated to the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.