Smith family in their winter coats in July, 1956. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (DI2013.1641.24).

The immigration story of the Smith family written by Ed Smith

We departed from Halifax to start a new life in Canada by train and traveled to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

As a family of five unable to speak English, with all of other belongs packed in a 10x10 foot wooden box and two wooden suitcases 4x3feet by 8 inches deep. In the stories we were told, we were to go to Alberta, but we ended up in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. At the time we didn’t know why, nor do we to this day know why. All that mattered was dad had a job and we had a roof over our head. I believe the hardest part of coming to a new land is the language barrier. That is why so many names are spelled or pronounced differently.

Nipiwan, Saskatchewan

Bob Mitchell farmed in Nipiwan and we ended up on his farm to work as hired hands and to start and learn the way of life I now live. I went back to Nipiwan for the visit July 1st 2002, fifty years after we arrived in Canada.

Lipton, Saskatchewan

Next stop of employment - Jim McCossom farm located between Fort San and Lipton. Turn east about 4 or 5 miles. Turning in at Huber farm (big stone white bull statue front yard 2002). Owners of two previous farms passed away thus the moves in such a short time. 1955-1956.

Regina, Saskatchewan 1956-to present;

Dad worked at different jobs for about one year in Regina, Sask. When in 1956 or 1957 inland cement opened a new plant in Regina, dad got a full time job there and twenty-eight years later he retired.

Mom and Dad worked hard to improve the family way of life. Mom worked hard to improve the family way of life. Mom worked in different homes cleaning and dad would take on landscaping jobs. This provided the extra money needed to fix up their first house. I remember the house having just a small dug out basement. Over time, one wheel barrel of dirt at a time would be pushed out a hole made at the back of house. Then dad would spread it to build up the yard.

Their hard work provided the extras. A car, and what a car it was, a 1952 Pontiac! Then in 1958 we got a television set with radio, record player all in one cabinet. At the age of twelve I (Ed), received a beautiful brand new three-speed bike.

A second home was bought, and the first one was rented out. This became a business for dad, and with the added income he began to do what he seemed to enjoy most; remodeling houses. We three boys are now in the business of rental houses. Back to the television set for a minute! We got the TV set we had to be good boys because mom and dad went back to Holland for visit. I’ll call it back mail, but it was a good deal. After their first trip back (1958) they returned every four or five years or aunts and uncles would come to Canada. Dad and mom would take the relatives on a tour usually to Banff or further west. The relatives could not understand the vastness of Canada.

Canada has been a great provider to the Smith family. We all thank Canada for all you have blessed us with.

William Smith (September 2, 1913 -May 1, 1985) & Apolonia Smith (May 10, 1909 - February 16, 1995)

Accession Number: S2012.1260.1