John and Dina Neevel

How It All Began: The First Year in Canada, 1949-1950

John Phillip Neevel, was born June 7, 1923 in Dinscperlo (Gld) The Netherlands; and Dina Engelina Neevel-Hengeveld was born June 5, 1921 in Gendringen (Gld) The Netherlands.

We left Holland Feb. 11 and went by train to Paris. We stayed 1 night in Paris to go the next day to Le Havre, to board the "Samaria II", owned by the Cunard line. After some rough weather, we arrived in Halifax on Feb. 23, 1949. One day we made hardly any headway: in 24 hours, we traveled just 19 miles.

From Halifax we went by train to Oshawa (lots of snow!). The first place we went to was a mixed farm owned by Cecil Disney in Brooklyn, Ont. - north of Whittley. We had sent a telegram but that did not arrive on time. We could write and talk a little English. We had 2 rooms: a kitchen / living room and a bedroom; we also had an outhouse. John had to work for $75.00 a month, and kept a garden. The first birthday present in the family in Canada was a garden hoe, a very useful gift. Our first son was born Dec. 22, 1949, so that meant spending Christmas in the hospital. A bike was our transportation, or a friend with a truck. The 2nd year we bought a car - a '39 Chrysler for $675.00.

Canada has been a good Country. We have enjoyed to live here the biggest part of our lives.