• The Children’s Trunks
    … Since the Museum opened in 1999 we have been collecting stories, pictures, interviews and friends. … the new exhibition. It will include the many images of her crossing as well as vintage clothes and toys like those she and her sister brought … Evacuee Child Trunk. Tibor Lukacs Credit: Courtesy of Tibor Lukacs We became friends with Tibor Lukacs when his travelling exhibit …
  • Volunteers at the Pier
    … serving volunteer in the history of Pier 21, Sadie Fineberg helped welcome countless immigrants and refugees over more than three decades … and Poland). Echt’s daughter, Marianne Ferguson, later reported: “We were met by Mrs. Sadie Fineberg, who was so welcoming and friendly … other from volunteering together for the IWK Health Health Centre. “We’d chat about how great the Pier was and talk about how fortuitous …
  • Erika Hertel Danner
    … Alumni Type: Immigrant Country of Origin: Germany Ship Name: Seven Seas Port of Entry: Halifax, Nova Scotia … 26 Erika Hertel was born Sept 23, 1934, the oldest of four siblings. Walli, the youngest, passed away at eleven years of age in 1955 …
  • Historical Thinking (7) : Ethical Dimensions
    … events? Ethical Dimension of Historical Interpretations Today, we are going to discuss the sixth concept presented in the Historical … controversial historical events and must understand the difference between what they know to be common ethical ground in contemporary society … events of the past. The Chinese Immigration Act of 1885 is a powerful symbol of racial discrimination and exclusion . The Act became …
  • New school, new country, new challenges
    Imagine going to a school in a new country where you don’t speak the language. Where the teaching methods and curriculum are different. Where you don’t know anybody. The Museum’s collection features lots of stories of people starting school in Canada. Some are funny, some are sad, and all show the …
  • Ina van Teunenbroek
    … of Origin: Netherlands Date of Arrival: February 5, 1968 Port of Entry: Queenston, ON Age on Arrival: 32 Pier 21 - Ina Vrugtman Ina's story … Koninklijk Technicum PBNA in Arnhem. 1958 to 1961 she took MOEnglish (BA level) at the School voor Taal- en Letterkunde, The Hague, while … Ina van Teunenbroek …
  • Postwar Immigration through Pier 21
    by Jan Raska, PhD, Historian (Updated October 26, 2020) Introduction V-E (Victory in Europe) Day, May 8, 1945, marked not only the beginning of the return home from Europe for Canadian military personnel, but also a new period in immigration to Canada. During the war, immigration had slowed almost …
  • Anything to Declare? Part 2 - Reflections on Immigration and Customs Experiences at Pier 21
    … to man. They came with almost no items of value; their few belongings were carried in sacks of various kinds and a few battered cardboard … may be imagined, there was very little work for the customs staff and we knew that we would be working merely as aides to help them through the required …
  • Reflections on Oral History Interviews from Prague Spring Refugees
    … Intern here at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, as well as a History and Masters of Library and Information Studies … nothing I love more than hearing people’s personal histories! However, oral histories are still relatively new to me, which has made … life history interviews with a focus on immigration. They have allowed me to better understand the different perspectives, conflicting …
  • The Chinese Immigration Act, 1885
    … (plus amendments: 1887, 1892, 1900, 1903) Following the recommendations published in the Royal Commission on Chinese … the basis of their ethnic origin. [1] The only Chinese individuals exempted from the entrance fee were diplomats, government representatives, … Amendments to the act in 1887 expanded the list of individuals exempted from the duty. Chinese women married to non-Chinese men were …