Pier 21 Blog

Digital Preservation is for life, not just the holidays!

Heather Walker — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 15:41:45 +0000

Preserving your digital memories

With the holidays fast-approaching, it’s the perfect time to reminisce about get-togethers and good times spent with family and friends. These memories are often captured in photographs; from the physical prints that you put in an album, to digital images captured on your phone or camera. Collecting and preserving these types of images is a big priority for the Museum, but there are some simple steps you can take to make sure your personal memories are kept safe for future generations too.

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First Families of Pier 21

Cara MacDonald — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:04:25 +0000

On February 28, 1928 the Holland America line steam ship Nieuw Amsterdam departed from Rotterdam, Netherlands and was the first ship to arrive at Pier 21 on March 8, 1928.

There were only 54 people disembarking at Pier 21 on that day and included passengers from Holland, Lithuania, Germany, Romania, Russia, Yugoslavia, Finland, and Greece. They were all headed westward, to Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

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The Immigrants: The Story of a Photograph

Dan Conlin — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 15:21:30 +0000

This photograph, taken by Harry Cochrane, depicts immigrants arriving at Pier 2 in Halifax’s North End just before the First World War. Although the date, people, and ship are unknown, their faces and apparent emotions, as well as details such as the background and clothing, make this an interesting piece of history. We would love to hear from anybody who may know anything more about this photograph!

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A Scarlet Fever Quarantine and the Subsequent Adventures of a Spirited Little Girl

Carrie-Ann Smith — Fri, 08 May 2020 09:39:06 +0000

Scottish immigrant Christina McKay Liness Murchison didn’t let a little scarlet fever get her down. Her family’s home was quarantined due to her illness in the early days after their arrival in 1930 on the Duchess of Richmond.

“Mostly I remember…the time my second brother arrived…I had scarlet fever. I can remember a crib in the kitchen and my brother was in it…our whole house was quarantined and I can remember that. A big red sign on the door, "Quarantine." It was horrid. But that’s what they did back in those days and I had scarlet fever.”

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One Person’s Quarantine Room Divider is Another Person’s Fort

Carrie-Ann Smith — Fri, 08 May 2020 09:38:10 +0000

Vita Seidler contracted the measles shortly after emigrating from Russia with her mother and siblings in December of 1928 to join their father in Montreal.

“…my dad met us in Montreal…Ah, the excitement! I got off and we went to another cousin that we stayed with,” Vita explained.

“They had one double bed, so there is my cousin and his wife, my little brother and myself, and my brother Lou; we all shared one bed.

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Quarantine Memories of Chicken Wire and an Uncomplaining Mom

Carrie-Ann Smith — Fri, 08 May 2020 09:36:33 +0000

His sister’s case of the measles landed six-year-old Mike Sumner’s family in quarantine after they arrived in Canada in March of 1963.

“I spoke to my dad and he thinks it was around 3 to 4 weeks that we were there,” Mike recalled. “The brick walls and the bars on the windows.

“My sister actually contracted measles as we crossed over. On the boat I assume. And by the time we got here, she was full blown measles. And I do remember walking up a hill…to the hospital to see her…And then the rest of us were quarantined.”

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A Quarantine Label on the Door Doesn’t Make the Best First Impression

Carrie-Ann Smith — Thu, 07 May 2020 13:54:24 +0000

Things started getting complicated for English immigrant Jennifer Frances Taylor’s young family after they settled in Canada in June of 1950.

“Soon after Labour Day, school started for John and Roger,” Jennifer wrote. “It was very strange in many ways, but the kindliness and friendliness of teachers and children helped a lot.

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Turning Seven in Quarantine

Carrie-Ann Smith — Thu, 07 May 2020 13:51:33 +0000

One six-year-old made the best of long weeks of quarantine in Pier 21’s Accommodation and Detention quarters. Gerard Van Kessel arrived in Canada with his family in 1951.

“…two of my brothers had developed a contagious disease on board, I think it was mumps or whooping cough, I'm not sure which, we were in fact quarantined for three weeks and I turned seven in the quarantine camp in Halifax,” Gerard recalled.

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A Mother and Daughter Recall Frightening Days in Quarantine

Carrie-Ann Smith — Thu, 07 May 2020 13:50:45 +0000

They were robbed on the ship to Canada and quarantined when they arrived at Pier 21, but the Haddad family still felt blessed.

The Christian Palestinian refugees had already fled to Lebanon, then Syria, then Lebanon again.

While Laima Haddad still hoped to return to her home one day, her family decided to come to Canada in June 1955.

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Colour-Coded Quarantine and a Boy at Play

Carrie-Ann Smith — Wed, 06 May 2020 13:45:49 +0000

British evacuee child, Keith Alan Freeman made the best of his wartime quarantine experience.

His story starts with words that I hope children today will echo when they grow up and think about these challenging days.

“It must have been tough for my mother and aunt but my memories are of having a wonderful time,” Alan wrote.

“We had tricycles with fixed wheels (the pedals drove the wheels directly without a free-wheeling chain) so you braked by stopping pedalling.

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