Olga Mykolajchuk

Alumni Type: Immigrant
Country of Origin: Ukraine
Ship Name: Hellig Olav
Port of Entry: Halifax
Date of Arrival: April 5, 1929
Age on Arrival: 17

In 1929, because of her youth,and travelling alone (she was sponsored by her aunt already in Canada), she was chaperoned by a UK family until the ship made port in Halifax.

My mother married on Feb 9, 1937 (now Olga Harwood) and returned to Europe to visit her family aboard CP steamship lines ship the Duchess of York in Oct 1937. She returned in 1938 aboard the Duchess of Atholl from Liverpool to Halifax.

She gave me the ships menus, ships programs, passenger lists, the Canadian’s guidebook to London 1937, guidebooks to scenes in London, a book and map of Westminster Abbey, Evan Evan's sightseeing tours programme, Liberty's Tudor shop, Handbook to the Prince Consort National Memorial, The Imperial London Hotels brochure, etc. My mother never returned to Europe again due to WWII, having children, and finally too old to travel. She was though everything Canadian. Her desire was to become the best Canadian she could be, dedicated to learning English and French, learning about Canada and its history, adopting a new way of dressing, mannerisms, contribute to society,etc. She wanted to assimilate, not be a hyphenated Canadian. She was extremely proud to get her Canadian citizenship and she always said those who choose to come to Canada must give Canada their undying gratitude and respect, and give it their all to continue to promote our great nation, instead of just seeing it merely as a place to come and exist as they did from their country of origin. She lived until 95 years of age and was thankful every day to have lived those years in Canada.