Times-Advocate, 1983-05-11, Page 83Papa 54
A new life in Canada
By Shelley McPhee
It was families like the Siertsemas from the Blyth area,
the Burumas of Goderich Township and the de Grouts of
Varna that first broke away from their Dutch heritage to
start a new life in Canada.
It was in in the late 1940s that the families sold their
homes, their furniture, their livelihoods, said goodbyes to
family and friends, packed their meagre belongings and
set sail for the land of opportunity.
They crowded their young families into old cargo ships
and tossed and turned in the crudely transformed living.
quarters for up to two weeks as the ships made their cross
Atlantic voyages.
They landed on foreign soil, tired, confused, frightened
and often disillusioned. But they knew there was no tur-
ning back, the Netherlands had been left behind, there
was no money to return. In Canada there were wide open
spaces and freedom to enjoy.
Canada, in the Dutch eyes, was the land of opportunity,
a country free from rigid restrictions, waiting to be settled
and developed by the eager, hardworking immigrants.
Devastated by World War II, humiliated by Hitler's
Third Reich, Holland faced great poverty and over
population in the 1940s. The cities were crowded, the
farms were small, the families big and opportunities were
limited.
Holland was downcast and the Dutch government
Turn to page 55
PRODUCERS
OF
FAMOUS FOR QUALITY
MEATS
SINCE 1890
KITCHENER, ONTARIO
No
i
INTRODUCING
FIXED RATE
FARMING
"I know
will be
they
trit jt,• i
OUR NEW
Beak of Mo.tnd
fixed for yew
cycle, yea car
k.fiMigi
my rate today
the same the day
go to market:
• t�
"My choice."
.
`; .` Mc n it'd{ iii
FIXED RATE FARM LOAN
bss krtr.b.N a }read s sw ism reit a rato fleet's
specific p.dsdis. period. Wfsat.vw year psndecti.a
establish tfte fknaciai test .f pr.dacti.a,fr.w ticw very
'10,000 tk.n we
Fixed loan
Toa
emovut wissiwwws an sod
d.dde tice fixed two that's right for ewe • free 30
344 days. Tee dse an interest npeyw.at
waikaaws.
days
to a wasiw.w.f
Om to switch
«wwaliy.
filed rate fere*
were.
ch..se
flew;
veer cub .it►.r moldy, Oaart.rfy, or seed-
at the leak .f M.atr.ai. Tow UST deice, find
CHANGED OUR WAY OF BANKING
Bank of Montreal
• The First Canadian Bank
482-3905
.wt
YOU'VE
AA
CLINTON
A new life in Canada
By Shelley McPhee
It was families like the Siertsemas from the Blyth area,
the Burumas of Goderich Township and the de Grouts of
Varna that first broke away from their Dutch heritage to
start a new life in Canada.
It was in in the late 1940s that the families sold their
homes, their furniture, their livelihoods, said goodbyes to
family and friends, packed their meagre belongings and
set sail for the land of opportunity.
They crowded their young families into old cargo ships
and tossed and turned in the crudely transformed living.
quarters for up to two weeks as the ships made their cross
Atlantic voyages.
They landed on foreign soil, tired, confused, frightened
and often disillusioned. But they knew there was no tur-
ning back, the Netherlands had been left behind, there
was no money to return. In Canada there were wide open
spaces and freedom to enjoy.
Canada, in the Dutch eyes, was the land of opportunity,
a country free from rigid restrictions, waiting to be settled
and developed by the eager, hardworking immigrants.
Devastated by World War II, humiliated by Hitler's
Third Reich, Holland faced great poverty and over
population in the 1940s. The cities were crowded, the
farms were small, the families big and opportunities were
limited.
Holland was downcast and the Dutch government
Turn to page 55
PRODUCERS
OF
FAMOUS FOR QUALITY
MEATS
SINCE 1890
KITCHENER, ONTARIO