Pier Perspectives Blog

At the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, we collect and tell the stories of immigrants who came to Canada and continue to come to Canada to make a new home for themselves.

During the early postwar period, Canadian officials attempted to commemorate immigration milestones.

An often overlooked aspect of Pier 21’s site history is the immigration experience of children. Young newcomers are often mentioned in relation to the immigration process and the role of the Canadian state in processing immigration.

As a Heritage Interpreter here at the Museum I have the opportunity to interact with the public on a daily basis. There are numerous reasons behind coming to Pier 21, but there is something universal I hope all visitors bring: questions.

In oral history interviews, people recount and reflect upon significant life events and experiences. Two oral history participants, Thelma Freedman and Monybany Monyang Dau, offer adult perspectives on the childhood experience of separating from their families as a result of war— the Second World War, and the Second Sudanese Civil War. Their experiences are very unique, although there are also common threads, including the role of international organizations in aiding children during periods of war.