Wishful Wednesday - The Emigrant & Immigration

Editor's note: Today's post was posted by Sandra Gardner-Benward  and written by Carolee Jones - Thank You.

The Emigrant and Immigration

 

 

NOTE: the statue shows the wife and child left behind at home while the father races to his new destiny in a new country.

 

Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Pier 21 was the port of entry for many Canadian emigrants.  Currently, cruise ships disembark passengers through the doors of the Pier 21 Museum dedicated to the history of Halifax and its emigrant population. 

 

    Pier 21, a former ocean liner terminal, is Canada's National Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It operated as an ocean liner terminal and immigration shed from 1928 to 1971. It became an immigration museum in 1999                                                    

                                                            Canadian Museum of Immigration

                                                           Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 - database
                                                                 includes Ship Arrival Database and Ship Images

Unfortunately, due to time travel constraints my traveling companions and I were unable to tour the museum.  I was able to purchase two postcards showing newly arriving emigrants to Halifax.  They were on display at the Fair Oaks Library.  The library display was dedicated to immigration and emigrants.  On display was a large trunk, satchel, copies of the ticket punched by a physician attesting to the good health of the ship’s passengers and pictures of ships, including the Mayflower.  Root Cellar Sacramento Genealogical Society members use library displays to promote genealogy and Family History Day especially during the month of September and October.

 

Like the United States the emigrants coming by ship to Canada were seeking a new life and the opportunities available to people willing to work hard.  On September 19, 2013 Halifax unveiled a new piece of art dedicated to the Canadian emigrants.  Entitled “The Emigrant” with the following explanation,

 

 

“The pain of separation he overcame,

with faith and hope his heart aflame…”

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