Clifford Sifton’s policy on immigration, as Minister of the Interior for the Liberal government of Prime Minister Sir Wilfred Laurier was one of the principal factors contributing to the increase in immigration to Canada during the years 1896-1905. Only Farmers Need Apply Clifford Sifton and the Laurier government desired to populate western Canada with farmers in […]
Clifford Sifton and Canada’s Immigration Policy Read More »
The teenage boys who came over with BICA are interesting. Although it was likely tough for them however they were treated, the majority of them “made good” in Canada. I’d love to host stories about as many of the 5000 boys and their experiences as possible on this website. So many of their families know
Can you tell the story of BICA boy and how he fared? Read More »
Do you have a story and/or photos about arriving by ship in the Port of Montreal? Have you visited the Port of Montreal to watch the ships? **Scroll down past the LEAVE A COMMENT section to see other visitor contributions. Tell us your story! Entering your story is easy to do. Just type your story
Arriving in the Port of Montreal? Read More »
In the early 1900s, censuses divided Immigrants from Great Britain into two groups. Until the 1951 census, immigrants of Irish origin were reported separately from those of other British origins. As you can see from the table of Montreal Population Statistics, the number of residents of Montreal claiming Irish ancestry stayed fairly steady in the
British and Irish Origins to 1951 Read More »
I had always heard that Jim (JV) Waddell had served with the 6th Hussars Reserves in World War II. He died in 1965, so I have few personal memories of him and almost everything I know about his experience in World War II comes from my father, Keith. Having served in the Imperial forces during
Reservist in the 6th Hussars Read More »
Montreal in 1914 The British immigrants living in Montreal at the outbreak of World War 1 were largely staunch supporters of the British Empire as were other British-born Canadians elsewhere in the Dominion of Canada. These British-born immigrants would be quick to volunteer to fight when war was declared in August, 1914. Those who couldn’t
World War I and Montreal Read More »
Canada’s 1901 census put our population at 5,371,315. Fifty-seven percent of those counted claimed British origins. In 1902 the greatest influx of immigrants in Canada’s history began and continued until the beginning of World War 1 in 1914. After an emigration office was established in Trafalgar House, Trafalgar Square, London, in 1903 the number of
Canadian Immigration – Early 1900s Read More »
From the arrival by ship of the first Europeans to North America, immigrants and visitors traveled long distances across the Atlantic to take advantage of the rich resources to be found on the “new” continent. For centuries wooden sailing ships ruled the waves. Getting to Montreal Whenever talking about travel by ship to Montreal, it
Travel By Ship to Montreal Read More »
BICA boy The following story was submitted by Charles Lovatt of Scotland, Colin Lovatt’s great uncle. A few additional details were provided by Deborah Waddell. The Lovatts of Heanor The youngest of four children, Colin was born into a very prosperous family with a pottery business that employed 400 men in Derbyshire. They had a
Colin Lovatt (1913 – 1986) Read More »
by Olwyn Rutter(Douliana, Crete, Greece) When I was eleven my family emigrated to Canada. We travelled on the Empress of England from Liverpool to Montreal. I believe we left England on April 28th and arrived in Canada on May 6th 1964, It was the most wonderful, exciting adventure and was the first of many for
Such an adventure! Read More »
