emed to be the most prospective solution to their social and economic problems. Through emigration, people could reestablish relationships with relatives already in Canada. “Promises of jobs and housing were enhanced by grand descriptions of the possibilities that existed,” some being more accurate than others (Ganzevoort, 1988: 65). All these factors: the after effects of war, instability, encouragement of emigration, and advertised opportunity, contributed to the move of many people from the Netherlands to Canada. The accuracies of descriptions of this supposed wonderful journey wouldn’t be found out until their move was underway. Surely there was much land and many opportunities, but all of this was easier said than done. Moving from one country to another involved immense risk, and this risk was greater to some than others. After the war many men had wives and children to support. At this time, my grandparents had seven children and one on the way. My grandfather felt that is was a greater risk to stay in a country with no promise of immediate reconstruction and a very bleak future of instability than to go on to a new world, still uncertain, but of endless possibilities. Once everyone boarded the ship to set sail for Canada there was no turning back, but this is where some people started to second guess their decisions as the conditions on the ship were horrendous. Families were separated, women in different sections than the men. Because ships were few in number, they were loaded with as many people as possible, making for cramped quarters. This transition was a time of fear and uncertainty; however, upon arrival to Canada much anxiety was alleviated at the sight of the beautiful expanse of new land (Larosa, 1997). The landscape was much different from that of the Netherlands with “the green, tree-lined shores” and rolling, mountainous terrain (Ganzevoort, 1988: 78). Stepping off the s...
