Morris Ladenheim

Alumni Type: Immigrant
Country of Origin: Poland
Ship Name: Pilsudski
Port of Entry: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Date of Arrival: November 12, 1935
Age on Arrival: 7

What did immigrating to Canada mean to Morris Ladenheim in 1935? For a 7 year old boy, it meant being separated from his extended family including his grandparents with whom he had lived his entire life. It meant leaving behind everything he knew in Zaleszyczyki, Poland. It meant a rough but exciting 8 day voyage on the ship The Pilsudski with his mother and sister - leaving from Gdynia, Poland and arriving on November 12^th at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His 33-year old mother Chippa had $20 in her pocket, and each child had $5. They were amongst the 404 3^rd class passengers (there were also 355 tourist class and 257 crew on this ship that had its maiden voyage on September 15, 1935.) It meant a train ride on the CNR from Halifax to Montreal to be reunited with a father he didn’t remember. Their first home was at 4385 Clarke Street. It meant playing with the other immigrant kids on St. Urbain Street who were all poor, but didn’t know it. It meant being placed into school with kids 2 years younger since he knew no English. It meant finding a home away from home at the YMHA in Montreal where membership was cheap, but still barely affordable. It meant safety.

What did Morris Ladenheim eventually learn about those who did not come to Canada? He learned of the murder of his grandparents by the Nazis in their town of Zaleszczyki. He learned of the concentration camps that his mom’s sister Elka and her family were imprisoned in, with only Elka surviving. He learned of the escape from a camp by his mom’s brother Shaya who at the end of World War 11 was found in Siberia living with his wife and 2 children. He learned that Canada had said “no” to many Jews trying to escape the Nazis and their “Final Solution”. He learned that in May 1939, Canada refused entry to the 907 desperate German Jews on board The St. Louis ship, with Prime Minister Mackenzie King stating that this was not a Canadian problem. He learned that 254 of these passengers were murdered by the Nazis in the gas chambers and crematoria when they returned to Europe. He learned how lucky he was to be Canadian, but he also learned that anti-Semitism was rampant in Canada in the 1930s and that his new country Canada was willing to turn a blind eye on the desperate.

What kind of life did Morris Ladenheim make for himself in Canada? He worked hard at school including Barren Bing High School. He worked part-time as a box packer at the grocery giant Steinbergs. He went to the Y for basketball and badminton, and most of all for friendships. Over the years, he married and had 2 children and 5 grandchildren. Over the years, he climbed the corporate ladder at Steinbergs due to innate intelligence and hard work. Over the years he gave back to the Y, by coaching and then participating on committees. In 1956-57, Morris was the Chairman of the Phys Ed Commission at the Y, when the Snowdon Blue Basketball team was the Canadian Senior Basketball champions with a record of 29-0. Over the years, he taught his children and grandchildren how lucky they are to be Canadian.

When Morris Ladenheim went back to Pier 21 in Halifax for the first time at the age of 87, he created a word illustration and chose 3 words – adventure, happy and thank you.

We are all grateful for the life that Canada has provided to us. And it all started with a young boy who spoke no English, looked different in his religious garb, and came from a family with no money. How grateful we are that Canada provided him and us with a home of safety and opportunity.

Thank you Canada.

With gratitude,
Morris Ladenheim and Family

November, 2015, the 80^th anniversary of Morris Ladenheim’s arrival at Pier 21