To Ms. Bryan

Preview audio:

storyj.mp/ah6qg3fnc4vd

*Dan-EE-tsa

This is Danica* Cûnko.

She is my grandmother, or Baka in Croatia. She is a 1st generation Canadian, and this is her story of how she came to Canada.

My Baka was born on June 7th, 1948 in a small village in Varaždin*, Croatia, which was part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.

She really wanted to move to Canada because she thought it was a really good opportunity, and there was very little hope for a successful future for young people back in Croatia. Her home had no heat or running water. Her family did not have a car. She was working on the small family farm in the village of Bjelovar.

*Var-AJ-deen

Here she is saying goodbye to her cousin Nena

This was the flag of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, which eventually collapsed in 1992.

She first arrived in Toronto on March 5th, 1966 when she was almost 18 years old, then moved to live in Hamilton.

Another reason she immigrated to Canada was that her brother Stephan lived here. He sponsored her move to Canada.

My grandmother in Hamilton. (1966)

Here is Josip with his two kids, Joseph and Susie (left to right) (1972)

In Canada, she met her husband Josip, also from Yugoslavia, who immigrated here via Germany where he finished carpentry school.

His carpentry skill would then help support the new family.

He arrived in Montréal on January 25th, 1964, when he was 33 years old.

Danica and Josip made a very happy life together.

Here are some facts about my Baka's Croatian heritage!

Croats are huge Soccer/Futbol enthusiasts.

During the 2018 FIFA World cup in Russia, the Croatian futbol team made it to the very last game where they unfortunately lost to France.

Croats are very, very proud of their food.

Some examples of foods Croats make are Schnitzel, Coleslaw, Potatoes and Palatschinke, a thin crepe-like pancake that first originated in the Greco-Roman world.

Another good example of a nice dish is Ĉavap, which is like a Croatian-style Shish Kebab.