Pier Perspectives Blog

For generations, families have arrived as immigrants to Canada. This journey leads to major changes in people's lives. So, what does the journey entail?

The end of the year is the most preferred time for most people. At least it may be for some people, but for others it is not the greatest time.

One of the things I love most about working in the Scotiabank Family History Centre (SHFC) at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is that every interaction is wildly different.

Canadian immigration histories are built on a wide range of sources. Among these, the personal reflections of immigration officials are valuable as they may offer insight into the contexts for operation at immigration sites, or the differences between policy and practice at entry points. Fenton Crosman’s memoir, published by the Canadian Immigration Historical Society, offers such a set of personal insights, delivered with the occasional snap of wicked humour.

Our family histories are the stories that we decide to repeat and share, editing out the parts that were unclear or unseemly, and over generations those stories become our truths. But what if there was someone who could help decipher family facts from family lore?