Immigration museum offers a valuable lesson

We must learn from the mistakes of the past, writes Derek A. Simon.

I was surprised to read Gord Henderson’s piece on Aug. 25 expressing his disappointment with the Pier 21 Immigration Museum in Halifax. As a Haligonian with a keen interest in both local and Canadian history, I couldn’t disagree more.

Pier 21 became Canada’s National Museum of Immigration in 2011, designated and funded by the Harper government, not the Trudeau government, as Mr. Henderson suggested. As one of Canada’s six national museums, its role is to teach Canadians about the history of immigration in Canada more generally, and not just the history of Pier 21. It completed significant renovations and expansion in 2015 in order to better tell that broader story. While the Museum highlights many of the benefits of immigration to Canada, it is frank in detailing some of the obstacles faced by immigrants, and the fact that Canada has not always been as welcoming as we pride ourselves on being. The memorial to the victims of the MS St. Louis, a ship carrying Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany, is particularly powerful. Their ship was turned away from Canada, dooming many of the passengers to die during the Holocaust.

Mr. Henderson may view this frank assessment of our history as “wallowing in guilt.” I view it as learning history, warts and all. It is also an opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the past, and avoid making them again in the future. I think that the museum’s message overall is a positive one, and I have found that the museum’s detailing of the challenges faced by immigrants gave me both a better understanding of my family’ story, and of the experiences of immigrants to Canada today.

The Family History Centre at the Museum also allows people to trace their family’s own immigration story. My family was able to trace the journey of my grandmother and great-grandfather as they emigrated from Ireland to Canada via Halifax, through ship’s manifests and other documents, and pictures of the vessel they travelled on, the Hesperian.

While Pier 21 welcomed over a million immigrants to Canada, it also played a crucial role during Canada’s effort in the Second World War, as well, as an embarkation point for troops headed to Europe. It was a point of return for civilian evacuees and refugees, wounded soldiers and war brides.

All of this is detailed in the museum’s exhibits, as well as in its online story collection, which includes the personal accounts of veterans who passed through the pier. There is no shortage of museums within walking distance or a short drive from Pier 21 that detail Canada’s military history and Halifax’s role in every military conflict from the fall of Louisbourg to today. The Army Museum at the Halifax Citadel and the Naval Museum at CFB Halifax are both well worth a visit, and the Maritime Museum has a permanent exhibit on the Battle of the Atlantic that may be of interest to Mr. Henderson and others who wish to learn about the convoys of troops and material that left Halifax to support the war effort in Europe. There is even talk of creating a dedicated museum to the Battle of the Atlantic. This is in addition to any number of military monuments and war memorials, including the poignant Last Steps memorial on the waterfront to those soldiers who embarked at Halifax and perished in the First World War.

While I understand Mr. Henderson’s frustration at not being able to get accurate information about his father’s wartime service, I can’t agree with his assessment of the museum overall. While not every Canadian will find a personal family connection at Pier 21, I think every Canadian can find a connection with our history, and an opportunity to learn and reflect on an important aspect of our country’s formation. I encourage his readers to visit Halifax, and Pier 21, and judge for themselves. Derek A. Simon is a lawyer with a keen interest in Canadian history. He lives in Dartmouth, N.S.