• History
    … leaving many Italian labourers stranded in Canada with no money to buy return passage to Italy. During the winter months, the seasonal …
  • Oral History
    By recording peoples’ immigration stories through oral history interviews, the Museum contributes important documentation on the human facet of immigration and makes it possible to share these stories with the greater public. Transcript We can learn a lot about immigration from government records …
  • Eva Kende nee Varadi
    … Families 1956 The journey began with a trip to a luggage shop to buy 2 bags to hold our most prized worldly possessions. The revolution … made her set aside all her fears and phobias and she declared that we are going. I was 15 years old. Her decision was not made lightly. …
  • Carmine, Antonietta Perri and Family
    … my brothers Achille (age 14), Silvio (age 12), and Egidio (age 7). We came to join my father, Carmine Perri and older brother, Giuseppe in … My mother also had 3 salamis hidden in her purse. The young boy traveling with his sister motioned to hand them to him and he hid …
  • Peeled to the Core by Roya
    Time 0:04:02 Transcript It was one bright sunny day when a man with flip flop changed my life. He was a revolutionary guard who came to our door. You see I was a Baha’i and it was not a right religion to have then and there in Iran of 1983. Within a day, revolutionary court ruled that I am a …
  • Peter Hessel
    … Salén, which was to sail for Halifax on the 16th. In the movie theatre we listened to a talk about our voyage, presented by the 2nd Escort … Marriage Swindler) which was 20 years old and really not a very good way to say goodbye to German films. The sound was impossible. This was …
  • Mirdza Grikis Dambergs
    … and to show appreciation for the impact she had on all of our lives as we studied and learned, we, her students are proud to share her story with Pier 21. Any ongoing … National Opera came to Halifax with her family from Riga Latvia by way of Paris in 1954. They chose to stay in Halifax because they loved …
  • Margot Rita Kienle Tarajos
    … I don't quite believe it, I'm actually going to Pier 21, Halifax NS. Ever since I heard about the creation of this new historical site I've been on a mission. You see its been some 46 1/2 years since I've …
  • Leonard Palmer
    … reserved and his father was much easier and accessible to the growing boy. At age 15, the Army would not take him as he was adopted, and he had no job prospects. In such cases, boys were sent off to the ‘colonies’ to earn a living. At that time, the … Canada to learn farming in hopes that they would stay and eventually buy a farm of their own. This was necessary as so many Canadians were …
  • The Alois Kienle Family
    … I don't quite believe it, I'm actually going to Pier 21, Halifax NS. Ever since I heard … village in Germany for the adventure of our lives. Some neighbours were there to say farewell. Most of them thought we were out of our …