The experiences of newcomers are told in their own words, in art, in objects, videos and photographs in an exhibit that will travel across Canada over the next three years. Called “Canada: Day 1,” the exhibit was created by the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, a place on Canada’s east coast where many immigrants arriving by boat first set foot.
Exploring the immigration experience
“Immigration has played a very significant role in building Canada and shaping our culture, economy and way of life,” says Dan Conlin, curator at the museum. “Our museum explores the immigration experience in Canada. And we thought a really great way to introduce people to the experience of coming to Canada was (to) focus on that very first day of arrival in Canada.”
Listen‘So many trees, so few people’
Many newcomers marvel at the landscape when they first arrive. They often wonder at the abundance of trees. One man from Ecuador told the story of arriving by plane in late September and seeing what he thought were huge bouquets of flowers, only to discover they were maple trees whose leaves turn vivid colours in the fall. This impressed him and was the start of his emotional attachment to Canada.
Another newcomer from Rwanda was riding in a taxi when he saw traffic pull over to let pass an ambulance and some fire trucks. Having come from the massacres in his home country he feared the one he had come to was lapsing into war as well. He was amazed to learn from his taxi driver that these emergency services were mobilizing to help one person whose life was in danger.
‘Different cultures, different perceptions’
These stories are drawn together in audio, video and print in an exhibition Conlin says, is for all Canadians.
“It’s aimed at Canadians so that they can reflect on their own experiences, appreciate the courage and determination of people who come to Canada, understand what it’s been like for people, open up people’s eyes to different cultures and different perceptions.”
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