Exploring Halifax

We were looking forward to visiting some more coves on Saturday but the weather was not ideal. It became windy and cool as the day wore on, so we decided to do the museum thing. We have heard of several good museums in the area and have wanted to visit them. We saw a lot of museums in Mexico City during our mission there and we had itchy feet to get back to the museum scene.

The one chosen for today was the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax. This pier is the Ellis Island of Canada, often called the Gateway to Canada. It operated as the central processing point for over a million incoming immigrants arriving on trans-Atlantic ocean liners from 1928 to 1971. Conversely, it was the departure point for one half million soldiers leaving for deployment during World War II.

Elder Foley arriving from a long voyage to Canada

A Red Cross ship

and Nurse Foley ready for action

Captain Lars

After being processed by immigration officials, which could take many hours, immigrants would often board special immigration trains to travel to the western provinces of Canada.

All Aboard!!

Ready for a trip out west

The building itself is very spacious and the museum is well done. The displays are often poignant and display the drama that the immigrants must have felt as they embarked on a very different adventure in their lives.

Showcase of typical items brought by immigrants

Interestingly, ten percent of the Canadian troops took war brides during their tours of duty. After the war the Canadian government made arrangements to bring the brides to Canada as well as the children from those marriages. Some arrived on first class liners such as the Queen Mary. Many didn’t know what to expect. Some came from large cities of Europe to be placed on small farms in the interior of Canada. We can only imagine the adjustments that they went through. Some of these women still meet in war brides associations to reminisce their common circumstances.

Reunion of war brides in Nova Scotia

Among the immigrants were not only those seeking a better life in a new country but also refugees and evacuees from the war stricken areas of Europe.

The trip to the museum was enlightening of the difficulty that these immigrants went through. It helped us to understand the kaleidoscope of the diversity of people that the New World is made up of. It adds to our rich cultural heritage.

View out of one of the museums many windows

In the same area as the museum is the Halifax Farmers Market. This is known as the oldest farmers' market in North America, 400 years old. This was our second visit. On the first visit we went earlier in the day when things were really jumping. Today we arrived as everyone was closing up their booths. We still were able to pick up some produce and have a nice stroll around. It is a beautiful market (they have recently moved into a new building) and well worth the trip. The variety of goods is amazing, meats, cheeses, produce, baked goods, art work, jewelry, flowers and on and on.

Outside of Farmers Market

Lovely couple shopping the wares

One of many art displays

The "Flower Man"

On Friday Elder and Sister Leavitt arrived. They are a senior couple from Cardston, Alberta, Canada and will be working in the western part of Newfoundland. They will be a great asset to the mission and it was good spending some time with them over the weekend and getting to know them. They told us that there were over 70 couples in the MTC with them and that this week there were to be 100. In one of their meetings the question was asked how many of them were influenced by President Monson’s plea in October conference for senior couples to serve missions. They said they were surprised by how many raised their hands. Today after Church they headed out into a very rainy and windy day to drive to North Sydney, Nova Scotia and then tonight at 10:30 board a ferry for an overnight trip to Newfoundland.

We are looking forward to the transfers this next week and to Easter. We are grateful for our Savior and his sacrifice on behalf of us all.