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Families 1953 – Groote Beer When my parents decided to come to Canada in 1953, I was faced with a huge dilemma. I had become a career soldier in the Dutch Air force the year before and signed on for a minimum 5 years. Pappa told me that I was to come to Canada with them, otherwise he would not …
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Families April 9, 1954 – Groote Beer I was educated in The Netherlands (University Utrecht BSc 1951, geology and geophysics). There was no particular reason for me to leave the Netherlands. I had a good position at the National Research institute, was (am) married with one small daughter. However, …
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Families February 22, 1951 – Volendam Immigration is not something you get just up and do, you talk about it, think about it and talk about it again, you go to all kinds of bureaus for information. When it gets to be pretty serious you start praying a lot about it. The time comes that you only pray …
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Families September 26, 1956 – Skaubryn Our journey to Canada began with a dream of opportunity and space to raise a large family. The prospect of immigrating to a new county proved to be both exciting and frightening as well as a lot of work. At the time we had six children, all of whom were housed …
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Families March 1954 – Waterman My name is Johanna Schel. I left Rotterdam on March 2, 1954 with my husband, Johannes, whom was called Jan, and my three year old son also named Johannes but known as Jan Willem. I vividly recall boarding the S.S. Waterman. I can still see my mother standing between …
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Photographs-Leaving the Netherlands …
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… Photographs-Leaving the Netherlands …
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Photographs-Travelling On Ship …
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… Photographs-Travelling On Ship …
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Photographs-Arriving in Canada …