The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 wants to hear the stories of people who immigrated to Canada — through any port, at any time.
Through the Share Your Immigration Story initiative, the museum wants to know everything about the journey you or your ancestors took to Canada and life in Canada. Anything that describes the immigration experience is of great interest to the museum.
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 opened in 1999.
The museum is Canada’s national immigration museum, located at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Its mandate covers all immigration to Canada, coast to coast, from first European contact to present day.
Jennifer Hevenor, collection manager at the museum, said the Story Collections project is “part of the museum’s permanent collection and it is open to anyone who is interested in sharing an immigration story. It could be someone who has immigrated themselves, or it could be the history of their family’s arrival in Canada.”
Online form
To make it easy for people to share their story, the museum has created an online form with a few questions, such as the reason for entry into Canada, date of entry or approximate date, transportation method, name of ship, and country of origin.
After answering questions, you can proceed to the essay part to write your story or an that of an ancestor, or you can upload a file.
If you aren’t sure where to start with your story, the museum has developed a guide with questions organized around themes to help you think about what you may want to include in your story.
“People can share via the online form on the share page of the website,” said Ms. Hevenor. “Or they can share directly with myself and the collections team, either digitally through email, or they can mail us hard copies if that is an approach that they are more comfortable working with.”
People are encouraged to write about their immigration story in the language that is easiest for them.
Ms. Hevenor said, “Usually people share in English and French, however we understand that language is a central part of our identity, so if someone is interested in sharing their story in another language, we welcome that as well. All we ask is that they provide a translation in either English or French.”
Your story may be used and made available by the museum for research, exhibitions, and a variety of programs. It will be available to the public for research, education and enjoyment onsite as well as on the museum’s website.
If you have items related to your immigration experience, such as photographs, home videos or documents, that you would like to submit with your story, you are encouraged to provide a list, and a museum staff person will contact you for further information.
For more information on how the museum will care for your story, contact Collection Manager Jennifer Hevenor, at jhevenor@pier21.ca or toll free at 1-855-526-4721.
I have a story’s about three of my Grandfathers younger siblings who were Home children sent to Canada – I do not live in Canada as my grandfather stayed in the UK. Would my research story’s on these great uncles be of any use?
I think the museum would be interested to receive your stories.
Hi Gail – I discovered way back in 1989 about my grandfather’s ‘secret’ life (bigamy, army desertion and a neglected child (Sidney born 1912 and sent out to Canada in 1921 never to return to (Birmingham) UK)). Over the years since 1989 I’ve slowly uncovered a fascinating story – I need to write it up!