Community History

The Hamilton Serbian community was founded back in 1912 and Petar Miscevic was the first President. These Serbian immigrants rented a house on Sherman Avenue North and used it as a makeshift church. Their first priest was Rev. J. Kukoljevic. By 1917, the gradually growing congregation built a church on the corner of Beach Rd. and Northcote Street, thus naming it St. Nicholas. This became the second Serbian Orthodox church built in Canada (Holy Trinity in Regina: 1916). Rev. D. Kozomora became its first clergy. Being that most of them lived and worked in Hamilton's industrial core, it was only fitting that their place of worship and hall, for social functions, was accessible.

After World War II, a huge influx of Serbian immigrants settled in the Hamilton area. Like the earlier generations, many found employment in the local factories. The children and grandchildren of these hard working Serbian immigrants have found higher levels of education and careers. Their contributions have been felt not only in Hamilton, but throughout Canada as well.

For example, Nicholas Borkovich became a Superior Court Judge. Nick Bastaja won the CFL's 1985 Schenley Award as the league's Top Lineman, while with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The late Brian Linehan, known for interviewing Hollywood stars on his City Lights show on City-TV, came from an Irish and Serbian background. His mother's family were the Kotur's, who were one of the early Serb families in the area. Brian's (Serbian) stepfather, Mr. J. Rodic, arrived in Canada in the late 40's.

Even though he never played for the Chicago Cubs, Paul Vracar was drafted by them and spent time in Chicago's development system. Various Serbian entrepreneurs have enjoyed vast success. Mike Popovic and John Vujicic run Popware, a computer software firm. The Sobot brothers, Vladimir and Cedo (former Hamilton Serbian S.C. players), own Sobotec. Commercial siding is their forte.

Grimsby's Mike Uzelac had a stint, as the bassist, for the heavy metal band "Helix."

Two other local boys, Dejan Grkovic and Janko Mrksic have NCAA basketball scholarships. Grkovic with the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Mrskic at Old Dominion.

The Serbian community from Hamilton has produced six police officers most of whom are in the region, as well as, several lawyers, doctors, teachers, tradesmen and people in the business world. Today, there are two Serbian churches both bearing the name of St. Nicholas. One is located on Barton St. East (near Kenilworth Ave. N.) with Rev. V. Pavlovic officiating. and the other on Nash Rd. South (slightly north of King St. E.) has Rev. L. Vukojev and Rev. D. Samac.