The Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-05-06, Page 54Page 18
Canadian soldiers sparked the flame..,
From page 17
bit of a surprise. "He, (Mr.
Siertsema) told mom in
Holland that she wouldn't have
to expect much when we came
here. When we came we had
hydro, water and a telephone.
an MP tor the Conservative
government in Middlesex.
After a year working at that.
farm Mr. Siertsema purchased
a farm in Blyth Mrs. Siert-
sema continues to live in the
same house, but the land was
"We were crazy about this country"
It was much more that we ex-
pected." Murray noted.
In Ilderton they worked on a
farm for their sponsor, Tom
Patrick. This work was on a
dairy, beef and sheep farm, and
Mr. Patrick was well known
around the area for his Angus
cattle.
Murray had nothing but kind
words for Mr. Patrick as he had
sponsored at least four new
families to Canada. He was also
severed and is now worked by
Murray.
It was after this move to
Blyth that the families' original
reasons for- leaving Holland
came into play.
According to Murray, the
reason they left was, "us kids
seemed to be farmers at heart.
There was absolutely no room
in Holland to start farms.
Holland was too crowded and
Canada .offered opportunity.
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Also, -Dad liked Canada."
• He added that things general.
ly worked out as the elder Siert-
-seinas thought as the family
has mostly remained in the
area, and workk-as farmers.
Although they settled happily
in Blyth, Mr. Siertsema's wish
was always to live out west. :
Murray said he thought those
that placed new • immigrants
probably thought the oppor•
tunities were better in Ontario,
therefore they ended up here.
The - differences between
Holland and Canada all seem to
lean positively towards Canada
in the Siertsemas' eyes.- Mur-
ray noted that the biggest dif-
ferences are, "the room, pro-
bably, and freedom and a land
full of opportunity. Anyone who
wanted to buy. a farm had the
opportunity to..
"We were crazy about this
country," he concluded. -
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