Clinton News-Record, 1985-5-8, Page 79ourney to freedom
y Todd Mowatt.
With no hope for the future and nine
mouths to feed Katherine and Sidney
Slotegraaf came to Canada with their
faith and hope.
"When we were on the boat coming
over we recalled our wedding vows, And
he said my presence will give you rest. If
thy presence will not go with nae, do not
carry us from here," said Mrs
Slotegraaf, reciting from the Bible. Ex-
odus 33 verses 14 and 15.
Faith carried the Slotegraafs through
many of the trials and tribulations that
they had to endure. The Slotegraafs set
sail with a boat full of other immigrants
coming from Holland to Canada in
search of prosperity and family better-
rnent.
The trip cost the Slotegraafs $13,000
and a little bit of their pride as they
described their journey to freedom. They
travelled for about a fortnight until the,
came to port in Halifax. From there they
travelled by train. Food was not supplied
on the train and they spent all of their
money on the trip from Holland.
"When we came to Quebec city the
children were hungry so Sidney went
with his brother to get some bread and
milk. The train began to leave before
they came back. The children began td
cry because they thought they would
never see their tather again. Luckily
they lumped on the end of the last car on
the ururugrant train. They waded
through the immigrant cars with the
food 'l'he children were happy to see
their father." Mrs. Slotegraaf said.
When the Slotegraafs arrived in On-
tario they went to the home of Mr. 'Torn
Robson. Mr Robson sponsored the
Slotegraafs.
"We arrived at the ttobsuns in New
Dundee un the Saturday and on the Sun-
day our three eldest sons were wing
through the bush. (inc of our daughters
heard a noise in the forest and ran back
home. through fences and streams. She
carne back home and she had her coat
ripped. She told us that she had seen In-
dians," Mrs. Slotegraaf recalled.
"It was hard at first because we
couldn't speak English, we also had to
get used to regular shoes as we were used
to wooden shoes in. Holland," Mrs.
Slotegraaf said.
Their family grew to include three
more children. But getting Loud to feed
the children wasn't a problem in Canada,
according to Mrs. Slotegraaf.
In Canada everybody tries to outdo
ttie other with cakes, pies and all the food
you can cat. There is a lot of variety here
that was not available in Holland. When
we first arrived they threw a party for us
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and 125 people came. The women served
everything from soup to nuts,,, she said.
Mr. Slotegraaf worked on the Robson
farm for seven years and then he went to
work in a factory at 75 cents an. hour. At
that time the factory supplied its
employees with houses.
"In the house we received there was no
plumbing, no bathroom and no hot water.
But that was okay because those with
plumbing had to pay $15.00 a month. I
made $37.00 for one week. It was so much
money that mother didn't know how to
spend ►t." Mr. Slotegraaf said.
Life in Canada for the Slotegraafs
began to take shape and the scrumping
and saving only lasted a few more years.
Eventually they bought a farm and their
dreams came to life -to own their own
farm and work the land in Canada.
The family grew up and moved away
and it was then that they realized what
Canada is all about.
"As the children were growing up and
learning, we knew that they had oppor-
tunities here that they would not have
had if we had remained in Holland,"
Mrs. Slotegraaf said.
The Slotegraafs now live outside Clin-
ton and are retired. They are ap-
proaching their 49th wedding anniver-
sary and have 44 grandchildren.
Although their children are scattered
across. Canada they are very grateful to
Canada and the people who helped them
come to Canada.
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