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FAMILY FIRST - Contributed by Carrie-Ann Smith, Vice President, Audience Engagement

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Six staff members sit around a boardroom table. Each of them has a list of immigrants that they are championing for inclusion in a new film project about immigrant contributions to Canada. There is quick consensus on some - Tommy Douglas, Adrienne Clarkson, Donovan Bailey, Dr. Wilder Penfield - but the meeting, and the many meetings that follow, quickly turn into battles of research, persuasiveness, and sheer will. There was the Simon Chang vs Alfred Sung skirmish, and a heated debate over which invention had more impact - the walkie-talkie or the Cheezie. The less said about the Mr. Dress-Up vs Friendly Giant cage match the better - it was definitely not in the spirit of those two gentle American immigrants, Ernie Coombs and Bob Homme, who taught us better.

Selecting the well-known people was tough, but the joy of the project, and a unanimous priority for everyone involved, was the chapter we called "Family." Four vibrant and varied families were chosen to represent the country - let me tell you about them...

Moses and Adeline Oliver escaped slavery on a plantation in Maryland and settled in Nova Scotia in 1814. Their grandson moved off the family’s farm, acquired in 1827, to tend livestock for the new college, Acadia, at Wolfville. His grandson, William Pearly Oliver, attended Acadia as a student, and became a minister and advocate for the African Nova Scotian community. William Pearly Oliver’s wife, Althea Pearleen Borden Oliver, was a committed activist who worked to elevate her community through faith, education, and the pursuit of justice. Together, they were leaders in founding major institutions such as the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia.

James Waddell was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1789. He followed his dream of owning land to New Brunswick’s Kennebecasis River, where he purchased a large parcel of land at Reeds Point. He returned to Scotland to get his wife and they began to carve out their new lives by building a saw mill and grist mill. The family’s connection to his land endures. Ann Waddell recently wrote, “Mom and dad’s ashes are spread up on the hill, she picked out a spot looking down on the river, she picked out a tree that has grown very tall where she and dad wanted to go and we will all go there.”

COUNTLESS JOURNEYS. ONE CANADA.TELL YOUR STORY. BUILD OUR COUNTRY.

The Contributions multimedia experience, a film showcasing the contributions of over 100 remarkable Canadian immigrants

Photograph of the Popat family, 1975/76

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MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

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The Popats and their five children had a good life in Kamuli, Uganda, where they owned a wholesale store. All but one family member had been born there, still, when Idi Amin expelled all Asians, they were not exempt. Sponsored by a relative in Ontario, the family was accepted by Canada. Leaving everything behind except photographs and religious items, the family flew out of Kampala. An immigration officer suggested they go to Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, where there were jobs at the Michelin plant. When Mr. Popat retired the family moved to Halifax and opened Popat’s Grocery, bringing Indian fare and ingredients to their new neighbourhood.

The Hadhad family had operated a successful chocolate factory in Damascus, Syria, until it, and millions of lives, were destroyed by the civil war. The family fled to safety in Lebanon and the hope

of refugee status and a new home. That hope was realized when first Tareq Hadhad, then his parents and three of his siblings, settled in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. With the support of their adopted community, they built and continue to grow their company Peace by Chocolate, delighting Canadians with their delicious wares, inspiring story and boundless generosity.

We look forward to seeing you at the Museum and introducing you to these amazing families via the Contributions multimedia experience. We also look forward to hearing about your family's story.

The theme of ‘contributions’ has been embedded in much of our activity this past year. Reflecting on this reminded me of how the late Ruth Goldbloom often shared the quote, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” These words still ring true. Any conversation

about contributions would not be impossible without first acknowledging the impact you—our donors, sponsors, volunteers and other stakeholders have on the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Your support allows the Museum to reach across the country to collect and share the important stories of immigrants to Canada. This work is never-ending and ever changing. It is only possible because of your generosity. Thank you.

Yesterday, a school teacher in Red Deer, Alberta, tweeted about how pleased she was with the learning opportunity our Virtual Field Trips afforded her grade 5 class. Last week one of our interpreters shared the reactions from another online visit with a group of Pathfinders in Stratford, Ontario. One girl said that she had always thought that history was boring, but

that this tour had convinced her that it was interesting. I love that young people are thinking about and discussing these timely issues. Your support helped make this possible.

The Museum encourages similar conversations across numerous channels. Throughout this edition of Passages you will read how the Museum is honouring the contributions immigrants make to Canada. This winter we closed to renovate part of one of our permanent exhibitions. A new ten-minute multimedia film highlights over one hundred first and second generation Canadians. Their collective achievements in fields ranging from arts and culture to science and innovation are staggering and have touched all aspects of life in Canada. Honouring the contributions of immigrants is also the goal behind a new online exhibition and the second season of our podcast, Countless Journeys, and, in French, our balado, D’innombrables voyages. Please take a moment to listen to these incredible stories wherever you download your favourite podcasts.

This summer marks the return of visitors to the Museum and we look forward to seeing you soon. Until that time, enjoy the newsletter!

With thanks,

Marie Chapman, Chief Executive Officer

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Streaming podcasts is a solo activity with listeners often in their own headphones-on bubble. Their intimacy and conversational style lend itself perfectly to the personal first-hand accounts of immigrating to Canada (and the aftermath) collected by the Museum. Season Two of the Museum’s podcast Countless Journeys focuses on the contributions of immigrants to Canada drawing upon both oral histories from the Museum’s collection and new interviews.

The English version of episode Generation 1.5 features the stories of three women who had to figure out a whole new life and a whole new identity - before they even knew who they really were. Among them is playwright Trey Anthony best known for her breakout play Da Kink in My Hair. It was the first play by a Canadian to be performed at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. It was also the first TV series in Canada to be written and created by a Black woman. In her story she describes history repeating itself and the difficulties of being reunited with a mother she barely knew upon arriving in her new country.

Episode one of the French version of our podcast also has a story of reunification, this time of a newly married

PERSONAL STORIES IN A PERSONAL SPACE - Contributed by Jennifer Sutherland, Vice President, Communications and Partnerships

couple. Cajun Angie Cormier moved from Louisiana to Prince Edward Island to join her Islander husband. Her story covers the culture shock she experienced upon arrival, to her transition from complete Anglophone to passionate promoter of her Acadian heritage and the French language. Angie has contributed to her adopted home in countless ways from building tourism opportunities in her community, to running a non-profit supporting Francophone immigration to Canada’s smallest province.

It is through the generous support of our donors that we are able to create this content and make it available to Canadians across this country. Thank you and subscribe now so you don’t miss the fascinating personal stories of former BC Lions Coach Wally Buono, Montreal Chef Nantha Kumar and others!

Countless Journeys, the Museum’s own podcast. Use the camera app on your smartphone to scan the QR code and be redirected to the podcast

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The Museum took to the ‘virtual stage’ for Asian Heritage Month 2021. Thanks to generous funding from TD Bank Group, we were able to offer an exceptional series featuring Museum based story telling, film screenings and very special guests . . .

Opening the series was Stories of Chinese Immigration, featuring Museum Heritage Interpreter, Joy Xu, followed by Canada’s Storytellers: Asia x Canada Documentaries. The three films for this event included: Becoming Labrador, a production about diverse Filipino experiences in small-town Labrador, Behind the Bhangra Boys, an exploration of Maritime Bhangra Group’s commitment to dancing their way to social change, and Why Halifax, an interview-focused study of past and present Chinese immigration to Halifax.

Concluding our Asian Heritage Month celebration was Canada’s Storytellers: Nhung Tran-Davies – The Doll, which highlighted Nhung’s personal story of arrival in Canada as a refugee from Vietnam and her recently published children’s book detailing her experience. Nhung’s book recounts the moment when Nhung received the gift of a special doll on arrival at the airport

RECOGNITION, RESILIENCE AND RESOLVE - Contributed by Rebecca MacKenzie-Hopkins, Public Programs Manager

Photograph of author Nhung Tran Davies and the cover of her children’s book, The Doll

in Edmonton, how that small act of kindness affected her into adulthood and the opportunity she took to pay it forward by giving a similar doll to a young Syrian refugee. This program had an added connection to the Museum as Nhung’s doll is part of our Refuge Canada travelling exhibition, which is currently on display at the Pumphouse Museum in Kingston, Ontario.

Nhung said, “It was such an honour and privilege to be a part of this series. I was so moved to see the amazing efforts the staff at the Museum put in to honour my little story. As an Asian refugee and immigrant, it meant so much to me to have the opportunity to share my story to a wide audience. I felt I had a voice and my voice was valued and respected. I believe it is only through diverse stories that we together as a community and nation know our past, reflect on the present, and be inspired to build a better future.”

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The job of a Heritage Interpreter has always been very connected to the exhibits. We tell the stories presented in the Museum and encourage our visitors to engage with this content in new and meaningful ways. When COVID-19 hit, suddenly our exhibits were empty and dark – no visitors, no interpretation, but not for long. Back in March of 2020, if you had told me that we would eventually find a way to engage, not only our regular audience, but also a new national audience, I would never have believed you.

I am lucky enough to work with an incredible group of talented interpreters. They are detail oriented, undaunted by challenge and very passionate about their jobs; a great combination of attributes in a time like this. Together and with the help of the Beatrice Crawford Family, we created the framework for the Virtual Field Trips. We started getting bookings quickly and as the months went by, we developed more topics, which brought in more bookings. Since November, we have delivered 50 virtual field trips to over 350 people. From elementary schools in Vernon, British Colombia, to synagogue congregations in Laval, Quebec; we’re reaching audiences we never thought possible.

JOURNEYING BEYOND THE EXHIBITS - Contributed by Kristine Kovacevic, Interpretation and Visitor Experience Manager

Stephanie Webb, Heritage Interpreter, presenting the Virtual Field Trip, Teddy Bear’s Journey

Our virtual field trips give all Canadians an opportunity to connect and learn together about the history of immigration in Canada – a history that provides a context for how we live today.

Here is what Museum Heritage Interpreter, Ann Marie, had to say about the impact of their virtual field trip to a group of Pathfinders:

“At the end of the tour, the girls said that it gave them a whole new perspective on what it means to be Canadian, and gave them a lot to think about. We ended up spending an hour and 15 minutes together because they had so much to discuss during and after the tour. It was such a wonderful experience.”

We are very excited to continue building on this offering and sharing the Museum’s mandate across Canada. Go to Pier21.ca to learn more.

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Since the opening of Pier 21 as an immigration facility in 1928, volunteers have played an integral role welcoming and assisting people. At that time, it was individuals with voluntary aid, service organizations and a variety of religious groups who were assisting newcomers upon arrival in Canada. The working immigration facility closed in 1971, but the spirit of volunteerism at the Pier never ended. In the 1980’s, J.P. Leblanc began to raise awareness of Pier 21 as a site of history and memory. He founded the Pier 21 Society and later engaged Ruth M. Goldbloom to take over for him as chair. Volunteers tirelessly took up the charge and, on July 1, 1999, Pier 21 reopened as an interpretive centre. Throughout these years, volunteers engaged in all daily operations including assisting in the research centre, the gift shop and of course visitor experience. There was even a volunteer who assisted in coordinating volunteers! Without their dedicated efforts we wouldn’t be here today.

On November 25, 2010, legislation came into effect and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 was born. Work began on a new exhibition focusing on 400

VOLUNTEERS: THEN AND NOW - Contributed by Annette Carter, Volunteer Services Manager

Photograph of a Red Cross volunteer with children, circa 1963 / DI2014.222.8

years of immigration history. This designation brought a lot of changes. The Museum adhered to a new structure and volunteers transitioned to other roles, but their dedication never wavered.

Now and throughout our many years of operation, our volunteers continue to win over the hearts of our visitors.

"Loved the movie. Loved the guide, Condon. Great addition to our stay in Halifax. Thank you!"

"George's personal story made the tour so special and meaningful! Thanks!"

“The lady guide is a credit to the Museum, she was brilliant. She really got us involved in the story from getting off the boat to catching the train to a destination within Canada. She made us feel like an immigrant going through every process of entry.”

The Museum's volunteer program is made possible thanks to the generous support of Scotiabank.

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It was my first day working as a Welcome Home to Canada (WHTC) program participant at the Museum. As part of my orientation, I joined a family group of three visitors for a guided tour to learn more about the story of Pier 21. An elderly woman in my group happened to be a nurse who had worked in the immigration hospital at Pier 21 around the 1950’s. It was her first time back since she left her job here. Her voice was wavering, and I could barely understand what she said due to my limited English, but I could feel her emotion. My heart was full. This is how I started my journey at Pier 21.

Things look different under a pandemic. It took me awhile to remember everyone’s face with their masks on, however six feet social distancing couldn’t break us apart. I felt welcomed. Co-workers always listened to me and understood my concerns, work-wise and life-wise. It’s a respectful and inclusive environment.

My mom would never think of being in Canada and living apart from my dad for so long. She’s been here

WELCOME HOME TO CANADA - Contributed by Olivia Wang, Development Database Clerk

Photograph of Olivia Wang, WHTC participant, posing with her mother

for almost two years now due to Covid-19. It was hard for my parents. It was Chinese New Year’s Eve when my mom came to the office to help with our newsletter mailing. Ramya, our Human Resources Manager, said ‘hello’ to her and wished her a happy Chinese New Year. Volunteering at the Museum gave my mom a big ‘virtual hug,’ making her feel that she was needed.

Now I am moving forward on my next journey. My time at the Museum has concluded. My time working here made me feel at home. The WHTC program offered, not only, my first steps towards a career path, but also a big welcoming hug to me and my family.

The WHTC program is made possible thanks to the R. Howard Webster Foundation.

Civic 1055 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 4P7 Mailing 201-1099 Marginal Rd, Halifax, NS B3H 4P7

Pier21.ca