Bernardus G. Nolte

After eight days crossing the North Atlantic Ocean, our arrival in Canada was exciting, although quite a few passengers on the boat lost a few pounds to seasickness, etc. The custom agents were friendly and very helpful to speed up the processing of the new arrivals.

We were to take a train ride (for new arrivals only) which took us three days from Halifax to Toronto, our final destination. The train would stop at some stations on the way for a period of 1-2 hours to enable passengers to stretch and buy some food, which would last to the next stop. There were no eating facilities on the train. We had to be careful how much we spent as my wife and I had only 60 dollars between us. In those days you were on your own after your admittance to Canada, there were no social programmes.

After the long trip, plus sleeping on the coach benches, we were very tired when we arrived at the Union Station in Toronto on October 31, at 6 o'clock in the morning. No one was there to meet us, however, coffee was handed out by Phillip Canada Corp. for the new arrivals. We had to find our own way for lodging, etc. and finding a job. Our knowledge of London spoken English was helpful but with the Canadian slang of English we had some difficulty.

We were able to rent a room for 3 dollars a night at McGill Street in Toronto. My wife and I found jobs the next week although not in our field. I was a Medical Instrument Maker but happy to start in my new country.

The first two years were very hard but we survived and we are glad that we took the big step. Our three daughters born here are all well educated and glad to be Canadian.

So this is my story in short, of my immigration Canada.