Sape and Aaltje Post and Children

Country of Origin: The Netherlands
Ship Name: Volendam
Port of Entry: Pier 21, Halifax
Date of Arrival: July 22, 1951

Post Family Immigration Story

It was July 11th, 1951 when Sape (Sam) and Aaltje (Elly) Post boarded the Volendam in Rotterdam with four children in tow. Kees (Keith) 15; Afke (Anne) 10; Betty 8 and Auke (John) 5 anxiously awaiting a new adventure, with our only known English being "Thank You Very Much".

Our Father owned his own bakery in Dokkumer Nieuwe Zijlen in the northern Province of Friesland, Holland. After the Second World War our parents were despondent with war time rations; opportunities and therefore were seeking a better life for their family. Yes of course it was difficult to leave our extended family, friends and all that was familiar to us. I still have memories of seeing our Tante Bet standing on the road and waving to us as our bus passed by Scheveningen on our way to the sea port in Rotterdam.

Once on board and ready for life boat drill I panicked and wanted off (so my Mother later told me) I needed to retrieve my handkerchief I had left behind at Pakes (grandad) in Veenwouden. Keith, Anne, with John in tow soon made numerous friends, but I stuck pretty close to Mom. We were separated on board; Dad and older son Keith slept toward the bow of the ship in a large dormitory and Mom and us younger children were in another dormitory with bunk beds and hundreds of passengers sharing the same facility.

Before we left Holland Dad was told there would be a job for him along with housing for us in the Whitby/Oshawa area. On our arrival July 22nd at Pier 21 in Halifax we were met by Rev. Niermyer from the Christian Reformed Church, who informed our parents there was not a job or house as promised! After a long train ride to Oshawa we were taken to the Reverend's home for lunch and to freshen up. We were then taken to Mr. and Mrs. Vliegers farm in Nestleton where we slept in an attic on straw. Within a day or two the family Rienstra arrived with 11 children, so definitely a full house and full attic! I thought how strange to be sleeping in an attic with all these people after having such a nice bedroom which I shared with my sister Anne in our cozy home in Holland. That summer Dad and Keith helped on the Vliegers farm, also worked at the tobacco farm in Burketon where they were driven in an old Model A car owned by John De Vries who also worked there.

In the fall of 1951 we moved to Pickering Beach and lived in a poorly heated summer cottage. Our water was retrieved from a community pump and carried back in buckets. But our parents were grateful!!! That first winter was very difficult and our Mother was dreadfully homesick. When our kist (crate) finally arrived with our family furniture, dishes and personal belongings, it somehow made it nice after all!! Dad was employed at Todds Bakery in Oshawa. He would ride his bike from Pickering Beach across the 401 Hwy to Hwy 2, then catch the bus to Oshawa. After he was hired at the Psychiatric Hospital in Whitby on April 2nd, 1952 as a night cook, he again rode his bike from Pickering Beach along the service road (Base line, a dirt road) to the hospital. We the younger children started school that fall in a one room school house and as youngsters do, we soon picked up the English language. That same year we moved to Whitby; first to 301 Byron Street North, in an apartment on the main floor which had one bathroom which we shared with two other families; then eventually to 809 Athol Street, a two story home we rented from Mr. and Mrs. Hardy and our Mother loved it there. After a lot of savings and hard work our parents purchased a lot on St. Peter Street and had a lovely bungalow built. Mom also applied to the Psychiatric Hospital and worked in the Occupational Department. In addition to Dad’s employment at the hospital he also picked apples along with our Mother at Red Wing Orchards, and Dad worked in the cannery (Stokely Van Camp) on his days off or during shift work.

As siblings we all contributed to the family finances, with our brother Keith doing the absolute most!!! First Keith worked in the tobacco fields at a very young age (grueling, hard work) and then in General Motors. I remember Mom and Dad going to English classes and practicing with them at home. After being in Canada for five years we all obtained our Canadian Citizenship. This was such a memorable and proud event for our family!!! Yes we kept some Dutch traditions but our Dad’s motto from the time we arrived was "We're in Canada now and we do as the Canadians do".

Over the years it was wonderful to see our parents make numerous trips back to Holland, visiting family and friends. They also spent many winters in Florida after retirement. Mom and Dad were blessed with 12 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren and they were all such a joy in their lives!!! Mom passed away January 27th 1998 and Dad February 4th 2000. Dad was able to return to Holland with his children one more time in his 90th year; a trip we will never forget!!!

We thank our parents for having the courage in 1951 to make such a dramatic move and giving us children the opportunity so we could have a better life. We LOVE YOU Mom and Dad and are eternally thankful for your sacrifices!!!

Submitted by Betty Post Emm