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    Special Examination Report — Office of the Auditor General

    SEARCH OUR WALLS

    Do you have a brick on our Wall of Honour or Wall of Service? See it here >>

    DO YOU HAVE AN IMMIGRATION STORY TO SHARE?

    The story collection is an important part of our ongoing commitment to preserving and sharing the stories of Canadians. Share your story with us.

    Countless Journeys. One Canada.

    From Our Collection

    Dr. Elisabeth Zoffmann, arrived from Denmark, 1957

    The prairies were dreary in March and seemed to go on forever and ever given we had come from a country that one could cross by car or train in a matter of hours. The big surprise came in the middle of one night when our father shook us all awake and told us to look at the mountains. I rolled over in the berth and looked out and saw rock walls, then I rolled on my back and far above us, shining in the moonlight, were snow-covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains. Amazing! Denmark's "Heaven Mountain" is a whole 480 meters high - these mountain peaks were beyond imagining.

    S2015.23.1

    From Our Collection

    Aljas Peep, arrived from Estonia, 1949

    I was also highly amazed at the way Corn Flakes was packed and served in individual cut-open boxes. Finally I was diagnosed as having measles and released from quarantine and "landed" on Apr 5,1949. A long train trip brought us to Ajax to what seemed to be a POW camp with barbed wire around it. From there we were directed to our destinations, my mother and I to Orillia in Ontario. Thus, my arrival to Canada, never to be regretted.

    S2012.698.1

    From Our Collection

    Li Lei, arrived from China, 2002

    The door was opening and like I was curious, like let me breathe the air from Canada, okay and I feel like, hmm yeah the sky is blue, you know and the air is so fresh, I feel okay, you know, I’m in Canada now, it’s different.

    R2015.71.18

    From Our Collection

    Kevin Yip, arrived from Hong Kong, 1999

    The second I land at the airport as overseas student, my gosh, that feeling was so great that I actually, you know, I was, I couldn’t stop smiling. It sounds weird, but I couldn’t stop smiling. Yeah, ‘cause it’s just hope and excitement and change.

    R2015.71.16

    From Our Collection

    Michael A. Supino, arrived from Italy, 1954

    To Canada, we are also grateful, for allowing us the opportunity to become part of this great nation; for accepting us for what we were and for allowing us to become what we are, proud Canadians.

    S2012.708.1

    From Our Collection

    Hanns F. Skoutajan, arrived from Poland

    If Pier 21 could talk it could tell many stories. I am indeed glad that now that the docks are often lined with cruise boats rather than immigrant ships. Our country recognizes the important role in history that it played over many decades. Certainly Pier 21 is an important marker in my life's journey.

    S2012.198.1

    From Our Collection

    Leonida Zeikute, arrived from Lithuania, 1948

    I love being a Canadian. The greatest thing is not having to live in fear. I had no money but I had everything because I had peace. This wasn’t so with everyone. Some of my friends cried, cursed, etc., because they were homesick or had hard employers. Some even ran away.

    S2012.527.1

    From Our Collection

    Tehseen Ahmed, arrived from Pakistan via Afghanistan, 2010

    The airport doors opened and oh my God, the breeze of air, the cold breeze, it felt like it pierced through my body like I was like, oh my God, I’m not even wearing anything like for suitable for this, this climate and I came right back in and just sat down, I was very cold, I was, I was, like I wasn’t prepared, like I wish I would have brought like something, something warm with me, but I wasn’t really resourceful in Afghanistan either.

    R2015.71.30

    From Our Collection

    Katy Purget Reider, arrived from Yugoslavia, 1949

    I thank God many times for bringing us to Canada.

    S2012.355.1

    Are you in this Picture?

    Red Cross, 1963. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21.
    DI2014.222.3

    From Our Collection

    Mels van der Laan, arrived from the Netherlands, 1955

    I never found those gold nuggets, however, Canada gave me more than gold. A place where freedom surpasses ones’ wildest dreams, where you can look at yourself in the mirror and be thankful for what you have accomplished. This is an immeasurable country, full of opportunities. God Bless this land. In 1955, I crossed the Atlantic Ocean, landed at Pier 21 with a small suitcase, a one way train ticket west and $50 bucks in my pocket. Canada is home, what more can I say "O’ CANADA" thank you.

    S2012.386.1

    From Our Collection

    Maria Carriero, arrived from Italy, 1954

    My mother assured him that we only had personal belongings and oil and cheese, he marked the trunks with a check mark and away we went on the train. If course it wasn’t the whole truth because my grandmother was loaded up with liquor bottles sewed inside the coat she was wearing…

    S2012.1123.1

    From Our Collection

    Lynn D. Fairweather, arrived from England, 1946

    I once said "Mom, you were so brave to come to Canada as a war bride." "No", she replied, "Not 'brave' darling...just stupid.

    S2012.135.1

    From Our Collection

    Helmut Max Erxleben, arrived from Germany, 1952

    My parents died in Penticton, BC in February 1988 within three days of each other. Fate had brought them together at the right time and in the right country. I owe a great debt to both of them and to Canada.

    S2012.1900.1

    From Our Collection

    Lewis Borg, arrived from Malta, 1948

    In 1948, over sixty years ago, Canadian representatives of the Immigration and Employment Department came to Malta to select young tradesmen to immigrate to Canada. I, Lewis Borg, was one of the 500 select to immigrate.

    S2012.2248.1

    From Our Collection

    Mirja S. Bishop, parents arrived from Finland, 1929

    The sights and sounds of Pier 21 will remain with me forever. I felt closer to my parents and grandmother than ever before because I was able to share in this memorable experience. This was truly a great day for Canada and for me. Thanks Pier 21!

    S2012.274.1

    From Our Collection

    Luigi Antonucci, arrived from Italy, 1954

    My father had left everything and everybody that he knew to give his family an opportunity at a better life. It worked.

    S2015.132.1

    From Our Collection

    Zohra Mawji, arrived from India, 2013

    I'm proud of my new country Canada, because of the culture, diversity positive people; it feels like home away from home. Some things that I appreciated about Canada were that Canadians stand up for what’s right and they work hard to keep the environment clean and safe. They’re also friendly and will do anything to help each other and the stores open early rather than at one in the afternoon. Now that I think about it, I feel very happy and grateful to live in Canada. Canada feels like home.

    S2016.227.1

    From Our Collection

    Betty Bursey, arrived from England, 1948

    Heads or tails" father said as he balanced the coin on his fingertips. "Tails", mother said without hesitation. The coin flipping ceremony was decided upon after many hours of heated discussion, ending in a stalemate. They had agreed to emigrate, the choice was between Australia and Canada. Mother opted for the former because her sister had emigrated to Free mantle in the late thirties. She married an Aussie soon after her arrival; her letters were filled with glowing commentaries of life down under. Father, on the other hand, had relatives in Canada, who also wrote urging him to take advantage of the many opportunities waiting in Canada. They agreed to let the coin decide.

    S2012.425.1

    From Our Collection

    Ole Falkeisen, arrived from the Netherlands, 1955

    At Pier 21, I was met by Immigration officials and after clearing the necessary paperwork, I received my landed immigrant stamp and boarded a train for Lethbridge, Alberta. My first recollection of a good Canadian meal came in the form of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes served in a mini-box. Never having seen this before, I wondered in amazement if everyone in Canada ate out of little one-meal boxes!

    S2012.299.1

    From Our Collection

    Laszlo Galambos, arrived from Hungary, 1957

    My first feelings about Canada, Halifax and the new world, were a mixture of confusion, terror and curiosity. While on board the Britannic waiting to dock I became aware of the requirement that upon arrival we were to be taken to a "hall". To my Hungarian ears that notion sounded unusual. You see in Hungarian, "Hal" with one "L" means "fish", so I imagined that we were all to be taken into a giant fish! And the smells upon arrival at Halifax did not do much to convince me otherwise.

    S2012.154.1

    From Our Collection

    Yolan Bencsik, arrived from Hungary, 1947

    After 12 days of just being sea sick, losing weight on my already frail frame, we pulled into Halifax, January 1957. The army cadet band greeted us. We were then ushered into the immigration building to be examined by doctors. We watched TV and ate corn flakes for the first time without milk as one would eat potato chips. My parents were very enthusiastic, full of life, and had plans for the future.

    R2015.189.1

    From Our Collection

    Annette Petrovich, arrived from Poland, 1950

    We are grateful and thankful that we immigrated to Canada. If we had stayed in post-war Europe, none of us would have had the opportunities that Canada offered. As soon as it was legally possible, we became Canadians. Canada became our country and we love Canada.

    S2012.198.1

    From Our Collection

    Uma Jillellamudi, arrived from the United Arab Emirates, 2011

    It was a nervous and exciting experience to enter the new world with lots of hopes and countless confusions. The confusion was how will this country be for us, is it worth leaving everything back, the settled life, luxury and employment to face an unknown world of no one known to us. Going through rigorous immigration procedures and exploring the city to get the PR card, SIN card, opening bank accounts, housing and schooling relying on the internet and immigration flyers was an amazing experience, the smooth completion of all these procedures made us understand that Canada is no more a land of unknown. We are a diverse family here living in harmony. People here are very warm and friendly offering every help they could. Government trying its best for quick settlement of immigrants and strengthening the ties of humanity is highly commendable. Now we feel we are in the land of our own.

    S2016.212.1

    From Our Collection

    Finn Sander, arrived from Denmark, 1953

    My mother decided that our first meal would simply be wieners and mashed potatoes, since, indeed, we had problems locating ingredients for a fancier meal. The wieners seemed rather short, and when we got home and boiled them, we also discovered that they were neither as tasty nor as firm as Danish wieners. However, our greatest disappointment was with the mustard, which looked exactly like European mustard, but which was probably the worst brand of mustard that we had ever encountered. In fact, we were totally baffled by its taste and consistency, and the beastly stuff certainly didn’t go very well with the wieners either. As we were later to discover, that was our first introduction to peanut butter.

    S2012.363.1

    From Our Collection

    The light of the bright moon illuminated the cemetery walls. At this point my eyes were dimmed with tears. I kissed my son on the forehead and I whispered. Son, I promise you that in Canada I’ll do my best to help my family. I’ll work hard to bring a piece of bread to our table and some day, we’ll have our own home.

    S2012.578.1

    From Our Collection

    Gertrude Froese (Friz), arrived from Poland, 1951

    With all the hardships we went trough, my parents never complained. Every year got better and better. Canada is a great country. We all love our new homeland, its people and open spaces. From the seven people that arrived on Pier 21 on May 15th, 1951, we are now 57 proud Canadians. Thank You Canada!!!

    S2012.673.1

    From Our Collection

    Carmen Larsen-Grijalva, arrived from Venezuela, 2007

    I arrived in Canada on July 1st, on Canada Day and it was very, very meaningful. In South America, we believe in signs and for me was a good sign that, that everything was going to be okay.

    S2014.297.1

    Are you in this Picture?

    Pier 21 airing gallery. Origins unknown.

    From Our Collection

    Hans C. Andersen, arrived from Denmark, 1957

    I was born in Denmark (1931) and raised in Jylland. As a teen-ager I was endowed with an adventurous spirit; as I read stories of pioneering in Canada, I determined that I would someday emigrate to that country.

    S2012.255.1

    Are you in this Picture?

    Image courtesy of Rina Caron.

    From Our Collection

    Irene Chambers, arrived from England, 1949

    It was the Canadian Red Cross that came to our aid when our house in London was bomb damaged during the war. I was 11 years of age and vividly remember the boxes of clothing and food they delivered to our door. I promised myself that I would go to Canada one day.

    S2012.2483.1

    From Our Collection

    Cecil Harrison, arrived from Scotland, 1951

    While we sailed away from Ireland I stood at the stern of the ship and watched Ireland disappear over the horizon, a sad moment. During the crossing of the North Atlantic, I was standing at the rail of the ship with an old English fellow, who was a farmer from Saskatchewan returning home to Canada (he had emigrated many years before) we were looking out over the water and that's all you could see in any direction. I said to him "boy that's a lot of water" and he said "yeah and that's only the top.

    S2016.230.1

    From Our Collection

    Olaf E. Kraulis, arrived from Latvia, 1948

    I thank God for Canada and the life my family has enjoyed here. It has been a terrific country to grow up in and to live. There's no place on earth I'd rather live.

    S2012.160.1

    From Our Collection

    Berthold Schaefers, arrived from Germany, 1952

    Coming to Canada was the best thing that could have happened to me. "Thank You Canada!" for the opportunity and the many flavours along the way.

    S2012.423.1

    From Our Collection

    Luigino Zanatta, arrived from Italy, 1957

    What I remember most about the trip is the dolphins following the ship, there was so many of them. One day I was on deck looking over the side when one the ship crew who was on the bow called over to me. The area was roped off, but he said it was ok to come and see. You could see all the dolphins missing the bow by inches, maybe leading our ship not following us to the new land, I wondered what was waiting for us on the other side.

    S2012.1845.1

    From Our Collection

    Philip Gunyon, arrived from England and survived the 1939 Athenia Sinking

    Arriving in New York harbor on 12th October, shipyard workers re-painted the huge American flag on each side of Washington’s hull, advertising her neutral status. Andrew’s underpants, hung out the porthole to dry, received a coat of red paint. I never learned which of the original 13 colonies they were baptized by.

    S2016.289.1

    From Our Collection

    Riad Hassan, Palestinian refugee from Lebanon, 2005

    You imagine how, how it’s going to look, the land. You start looking from the window of the airplane, see a big land, you say for sure I’m going to fit somewhere in this

    R2015.71.25

    From Our Collection

    Mary Yacano, arrived from Italy, 1953

    Canada was part of our greatest journey on this earth, being welcomed in this land gave us the freedom to shape us into individuals that have contributed much, and so therefore, the sacrifice of leaving our native land, facing many trials and overcoming many hurdles, says it all for us and our posterity.

    S2015.7.1

    From Our Collection

    Don Bapst, arrived from the United States of America, 2007

    I came to Canada from the U.S. in 2007 after a more than two-year intake process that began shortly after same-sex marriage was legalized at a national level in Canada.

    S2012.2245.1

    From Our Collection

    Mayse Al-Haboobi, arrived from Iraq, 2009

    I immigrated with my family (my dad, mom, and two brothers), we all were thrilled and amazed by the green beautiful nature of Halifax upon the landing of the plane. It was the best day of our lives, our reasons for immigrating were many but mostly, a home! We were looking for a place to settle in a safe, friendly and peaceful place to call home, I'm glad that place was Canada for us.

    S2014.110.1

    From Our Collection

    Milan V. Gregor, arrived from Czechoslovakia, 1951

    We were lead to other tables and received our fist nourishment on Canadian soil. Many were still seasick and the texture of the nourishment did not help. Compared to European wieners, the hot dogs were tasteless and the mustard too sweet. Along with the hot dog came a slice of white, square pieces of tasteless sponge. All of us, used to European rye bread or white rolls, did not recognize it as a standard Canadian bread.

    S2012.215.1

    From Our Collection

    Ewald (Ede) Koops, arrived from Germany, 1956

    At that time we had 3 choices for immigration: Australia, South Africa and Canada. We decided on Canada because it was closer and a return trip to Germany would have been less expensive. It also seemed more interesting than the other two countries.

    S2012.2004.1

    From Our Collection

    Samina Tabassum, arrived from Pakistan, 2001

    As soon as we landed at Toronto airport, that was amazing the peace and the comfort, I had in my heart, in my body, I cannot explain, I was just standing outside the airport and I was just shivering, like oh my God, so finally we are in Canada.

    R2015.71.26

    From Our Collection

    Maria Grace, arrived from Italy, 1957

    The day was cold and grey. Finally, there was Canada on the horizon and we were soon going to go ashore to our new country. For a child, it couldn't get better then this - the adventure and excitement just kept coming. If I ever make it back to Halifax, there's no way that I'd miss visiting Pier 21. Thanks for the site!

    S2012.1077.1

    From Our Collection

    Fedor Szugalew, arrived from Russia, 1951

    I felt like a small grain of sand washed up on the shores, with many thousands of others. Many had stories, similar to mine, coming for refuge and with high hopes, to Canada. Fortunately, my story has a happy ending. I fell as though some greater power must have been leading my unpredictable steps to the right places through the years. I am grateful to Canada for giving me the life I now enjoy.

    S2012.1050.1

    From Our Collection

    Zahra Al-Harazi, arrived from Yemen, 1996

    It was very different coming here in the way you got treated. I remember just being totally shocked by how welcoming and open people were.

    R2015.71.34

    From Our Collection

    Wazhma Sahle-Mohammad, arrived from Afganistan, 2007

    My brother was waiting for me in the airport, so. It was nice to see him after 17 years and then we came here and I got sick because it was so cold, and yeah that was one of the happiest day in my life, I think. And I never forget the day.

    R2015.71.32

    From Our Collection

    Cathy Bos, arrived from the Netherlands, 1953

    We had our first corn flakes and potatoes with the skin on (my mother always peeled the potatoes). Bacon and eggs, Canadian style, went down very well. My mother insisted we eat all the food, to show our appreciation.

    S2012.559.1

    From Our Collection

    Kevin, Yip, arrived from China, 1999

    I came to Canada to visit my uncle and it didn't take me long to fall in love with this great Nation after stepping off the airport. The air, the environment, the people, the culture and the lively vibe of the city, things I have never experienced before.

    R2015.71.16

    From Our Collection

    Paul Callaghan, arrived from Scotland, 2007

    It was all done within the course of a flight and the 30 minutes in the airport. That was it. And that was me, at that point, a permanent resident of Canada and it was like: wow! This is, this is it! I’m free to work, I’m free to do anything here. So, no, there was nothing to hold me back.

    R2015.71.23

    From Our Collection

    Margherita Facchin writing about her grandfather Vincenzo Armenti, arrived from Italy, 1953

    The year was 1953 as the ship pulled away from the docks of Naples. Leaving family, friends and possessions; Vincenzo Armenti said goodbye to his homeland. He also left behind memories of unemployment and destitution in a country still suffering from a devastating war. He set out for Canada in hopes of finding prosperity with a chance to work and earn money so his family could have a better life other than the certain poverty they faced in Italy.

    S2012.1558.1

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    Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
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    1055 Marginal Road, Halifax NS B3H 4P7
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    Toll Free: 1-855-526-4721 • info@pier21.ca