A Time Line of Immigration The Beginnings of Immigration before 1967 The first Europeans in Manitoba were fur traders, Some traders married Aboriginal wives. Their families often lived near the trading posts where they worked making snow shoes, moccasins and other hide clothing. By 1800 retired traders, mainly French and Métis began to settle near the Red River. The people in the community made their living by bison hunting, farming and working for the fur trade companies. Large numbers of settlers did not arrive until after Confederation. 1812 A group of settlers from Scotland arrived in Manitoba to settle on the Red River. Lord Selkirk recruited the settlers and helped them come to Red River. Opening the West 1867-1896 After Confederation in 1867, the Canadian government wanted to develop and settle the Canadian West. The government convinced the Aboriginal Peoples to sign treaties giving up their land. A railway was built across Canada from coast to coast. Laws were passed to give free homesteads to immigrants who came to the west. The government homestead land was poor and hard to farm. Settlers could buy better land from the Canadian Pacific Railway or the Hudson s Bay Company. The government wanted English-speaking setters from Ontario, the United States or England. They also looked for immigrants in preferred countries in Western Europe because they thought people from these places could assimilate easily. Block settlements were created for some ethnic groups such as the Mennonites and Icelanders. Métis - The children of First Nations women and the French or Scottish fur traders. The word is used by people with mixed Aboriginal and European ancestry. bison - a large grasslands animal, also called a buffalo Confederation 1867, the year Canada became a country settler a person who comes to settle or live in a new place, usually a farmer Aboriginal Peoples - the original inhabitants of the land that is now Canada homestead - farm assimilate change to fit into a new place or group 1870 Manitoba became a province of Canada 1872 The Canadian government passed The Dominion Lands Act. Immigrants who wanted to settle in western Canada could receive a quarter section (160 acres) of free land. Dominion another word for country 1874 Mennonites began to move to southern Manitoba. 1875 The first permanent Icelandic settlement in Canada was founded on the shore of Lake Winnipeg. The area was called the Republic of New Iceland. It was located outside the borders of Manitoba and had its own government until 1912. 1
1882 350 Russian Jews arrive in Winnipeg. They were fleeing persecution in their homeland. 1882 Dr. Barnardo helped to bring orphan children from England to live and work on Canadian farms. In 1882 he opened a training farm at Russell Manitoba where young people could learn how to be farmers and farm wives. persecution suffering because of a belief orphan a child who has no living parent 1885 Canadian Pacific Railway arrived in Winnipeg. The railway reached across the country. Trains would bring settlers to the west and take agricultural products to the east. 1885 The Chinese Head Tax was introduced. People from China would have to pay a fee to come to Canada. 1886 The first organized group of Hungarian settlers arrived in Manitoba. Filling The West - 1896-1945 Clifford Sifton became the Minister of the Interior for Canada in 1896. His job was to attract more farmers to the West. He decided to look for immigrants in eastern Europe. The land and the climate were similar in those countries. Sifton believed the immigrants would be able to adapt to farming in Canada. The government of Canada wanted immigrants who could assimilate into Canada. They made it harder for some groups to settle here, especially if their skin was a different colour or they practiced different customs. The populations of Manitoba and Winnipeg grew very quickly at this time. Minister head of a government department 1895 The first wave of Ukrainian immigrants arrived in Manitoba. 1905 The first Ukrainian English school was opened in Winnipeg. wave an idiom that means a large amount or number 1909 J.S. Woodsworth published his book Strangers Within Our Gates. In his book he wrote that it was important to control immigration. He said that immigrants must be assimilated to English Canadian customs. 1911 Italian immigrants started the Roma Mutual Benevolent Society to help members in times of sickness, accidents or death. 2
1914-1918 Immigration to Canada slowed because of World War I. Many people from Germany, Turkey and the Austro-Hungarian Empire (including some Ukrainians) were sent to internment camps. internment camp - prisons or work camps where civilians may be sent during times of war 1917 Finland became a country. There were many political and economic problems. Many men came to Canada to work in mining, lumbering and construction. 1923 The Chinese Immigration Act was passed. The law said that any who was Chinese could not enter the country, even if a family member lived here. 1923 Pier 21 opened in Halifax. This became the main port on the Atlantic Ocean for new immigrants. It is now a museum. 1929-1939 The Great Depression. Many Canadians were unemployed. The doors were closed to most immigrants. 1939 1945 World War II. Once again, the government interned people they believed were a threat to national security. This included people of Japanese, German or Italian backgrounds. Post World War II 1945-1967 Life was difficult in Europe after World War II. This made Canada attractive to many immigrants. The government had ethnic and economic goals for immigration. The Canadian economy was growing and the country needed many new workers. It was still difficult for some ethnic groups to come to Canada. 1945 During World War II, many Canadian soldiers and airmen married European women. Special ships brought these War Brides to Canada. 1947 The Canadian Citizenship Act was passed. Before 1947, Canadians were British subjects living in Canada. 1950s Portuguese men began to immigrate to Winnipeg in search of work. They brought their families to join them once they were settled. 1952 Immigration Act. Immigrants could be refused entry into Canada because of their nationality. The government was looking for 3
people who could assimilate easily into Canada. If the way of life or the climate in the immigrants home countries made it harder for them to adapt, they might not be allowed into Canada. 1956-57 Hungarian refugees arrived in Canada Age of Multiculturalism 1960-today Canadian immigration began to look at how newcomers can contribute to Canadian society instead of where they came from. Manitoba tries to attract immigrants from non-traditional countries such as India and the Philippines. Canada continued to take in refugees from many countries including Czechoslovakia, Somalia, Uganda, Chile and Kosovo. Newcomers still face discrimination, but multiculturalism is accepted in Canada. refugees - people who must leave their home because of war, famine or disaster multiculturalism respect for people of different cultures. 1962 Immigration rules are changed. Immigrants are judged by their personal characteristics and not their nationality. 1967 The point system for Canadian immigrants is established to encourage skilled workers to come to Canada. 1967 Canada celebrated its Centennial or 100 th birthday. 1968 The first immigrants from the Philippines arrived in Manitoba in 1959. In 1968 a wave of Filipinos arrived to work in the garment industry in Winnipeg. garment industry factories making clothing 1970 Folklorama started in Winnipeg. It is an annual multicultural festival. 1971 Canada becomes the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as an official government policy. policy a plan to guide actions 1976 The Immigration Act created a separated system for refugees coming to Canada. 1979 Many people fled South East Asia after the end of the Vietnam War. Volunteer groups helped many refugees settle in Winnipeg. volunteer someone who helps other for no pay. 1988 The Multiculturalism Act is passed by the government of Canada. 2000+ Today there are over 100 ethnic groups, speaking more than 80 languages, living in Manitoba. What is your story? 4
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