HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-05-20, Page 39Canada offers a bright future
By Shelley McPhee
Holland is rich in culture
and history, boasting nine
Nobel prize winners in the
20th century, great
philosphers, the Dutch
School of Art and master
artists Rembrandt, Frans
Hats and Vincent Van Gogh.
But the people of the 11
provinces of The
Netherlands have also faced
great poverty, back-
breaking labor and over-
population. In a country of
lest n 18 ,0w00v square miles, ,
an estimated 13,871,000 live.
While land is continually
being reclaimed from the
sea and in the future Holland
will have a 12th province; the
population is still over 900
people 'per square mile. In
Canada less than 5 people
live on a square mile.
The cities were crowded,
the farms were small, and
the families big. In the later
1940's, the government
realizing a potentially
dangerous situation
promoted emigration from
the homeland to the bright,
prosperous frontiers. Films
and travelogues, brochures,
English lessons,' even sub-
sidized -travelling expenses
prompted thousands of
Dutch families to sell their
properties, leave their
friends, relatives and
familiar ties in Holland, and
bravely set forth to
promising Commonwealth
nations.
The cross -continent move
to Canada wasnot easy. The
families, with children of alL
ages and . often pregnant
women, came with no
money, only personal
belongings. They came
despite the language.
barriers and the cultural
differences.
Mr. and Mrs. Karel Bovefi,
now of Clinton, remember
that all those English lessons
studied in Holland were not
the same as the Canadian
version of the language.
"We thought we could
speak English very well, but
we were disappointed," Mrs.
Boven recalled.
The. difference was. in the
accent. and Mrs. Nellie Van
Ninhuys, of Goderich
Township, had a teacher
come to herl home, who she
remembers spoke British
English.
Pogo 11
The children learned the
language the fastest and
helped their parents who
also, took Enelish lessons at
the local high school.
Once established in the
area, jobs had to be found.
The John Greidanus Sr.,
family from I,ondesboro
worked at the Canada
Packers poultry in Clinton.
Turn to page 13 •
Our Best Wishes
to the Klompen Fees,t
OW'
Gaiser-kneale
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