Toon and Trees Maas

Antonius Jozephus Mass (Toon Maas) born February 20, 1923 in Oosterhout, Noord Brabant, Holland. Theresia Maria Helena Mass (Trees Maas) need Holdrinet, born November 16, 1925 in in Oosterhout, Noord Brabant, Holland.

After returning from a five year stay in Indonesia, Toon Mass courted Trees Holdrinet for a short period before prosing marriage and immigration abroad. Toon and Tress were married in a civil ceremony on Oosterhout on September 16, 1952. Two days later Mr and Mrs Mass boarded the Groote Beer in Rotterdam for Canada. Their eight days or so was rather eventful, as the newly married couple was required to sleep in separate quarters for the entire journey! On at least one night the seas were so rough that Trees elected to forgo the rules of the ship and seek comfort with her husband. On arrival in Halifax the couple was greeted with the news that their Canadian sponsors had withdrew, leaving Toon no work. They were required to spend the night at Pier 21, again in separate quarters and were advised by the Canadian Immigration officials to move onto Flin Flon Manitoba for employment. At this point Toon, with a railway ticket issued by the Canadian Embassy in the Hague for travel to Dartmouth via TRURO-New Glasgow- Antigonish! Took matters into his own hands and talked the immigration official into letting him go out for the day to seek employment in Halifax. Within hours he had landed a mechanic's job at the local Studebaker car dealership and the couple were released from Pier 21 to begin their lives in Canada. Trees had however, decided that the sight of dreary 1950's Halifax was not for her and offered to go back to Europe with the money they had on the next ship! Unwilling to return to crowded Holland Toon talked his wife into giving Halifax a try and the rest is history as they say!

Since this rather unorthodox beginning, Toon and Trees Mass grew to love Halifax and Canada. While working at several jobs, the couple saved enough money to purchase a home and start a successful automotive business, Mass Motors will be remembered my many foreign car enthusiasts from the 1960- 70's in Halifax. In 1967 they became very proud Canadian citizens as their tribute to Canada in this special year. They bore four children, Michael, George, Sheila and Tony who are all very proud of their parents and all they have accomplished here in Canada. Our wish is that they be remembered as people who came to this country and made a difference. This short history is meant to give an idea of starting a new life and the eventual outcome of becoming Canadian!