How My Family Ended Up In Canada

How My Family Ended Up In Canada

Many of my family members have come to Canada from Europe, seeking various opportunities. The most recent person who moved here, and the only one who is still alive to tell me about the move, was my dad’s dad, or my Papa. He moved here alone when he was 26, but never expected to stay this long. Here is the story of how my family ended up in Canada.

My Papa moved to Canada from England in 1965. He grew up in the rustic town of Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, with his mother, father, and younger brother. The town was small and everyone knew each other. He graduated high school in 1961, before attending Imperial College in London where he studied engineering for 4 years. His father, who is a retired aircraft mechanic that fixed fighter planes in World War 1, was his greatest influence. He wanted to do something important; something that no one in his family had done before. When the opportunity presented itself, he decided to uproot his life, moving to Canada post graduation to work in the construction of the Mactaquac Dam on the St John River, New Brunswick.

In August, 1965, my Papa boarded a plane to fly him from London, UK, to Fredericton International Airport. Upon moving to Canada, he received an immigration card, allowing him to work and live in there for a few years. He began his work on the electrical aspect of the dam alongside many other young engineers.Pictured here is the completed dam.

http://img.radio-canada.ca/2014/08/06/635x357/140806_ca4j5_mactaquac-nb-barrage_sn635.jpg

He only intended to stay until the dam was completed, however throughout his time working on the dam, my Papa met my Nana. They met in her hometown of Fredericton, New Brunswick where she was practising nursing. They were married in 1967, and following the completion of the dam in 1968, they settled down and started a family in Nana’s family’s farm house in Fredericton. My Nana refused to move to England, arguing that they met in Canada, therefore he shouldn’t expect her to move and follow him home. Needless to say, they stayed put. My dad, who is the oldest of 3, was born in 1971, and was followed by his sister in 1973 and his brother in 1974.

In 1975, my Papa got an engineering job in Toronto, convincing Nana to move their young family from New Brunswick to Ontario. Here they would both receive higher wages and be closer to the best opportunities this country has to offer. My Nana grew up on a farm, and wasn’t about to trade her country lifestyle for a city apartment, so they moved to Caledon, Ontario. Caledon offered a safe environment for the kids to grow up, a nearby nursing job for Nana, and a short commute to Toronto for Papa. My grandparents adjusted quickly and still live in the same house in Caledon.

As for my Papa’s family, his brother lives in Scotland and is married, but he and his wife did not have any children. My Nana’s family still lives in New Brunswick and my Nana and Papa visit them annually. They travel a lot but always end up back in their family home in Caledon. They have travelled to many places in the world including: Tennessee, USA, where they toured the Grand Ole Opry; China, where they walked along the Great Wall of China; Australia and New Zealand, where my uncle lives with his family; and Scotland, to visit Papa’s brother, or my great uncle David.

Had my Papa not have moved to Canada back in 1965, he would have never met my Nana and my family would have never existed. Had she have moved back to England with him, I would currently be living amongst the violence and terrorism that is taking place in London. I would have access to health care and clean water, a good food supply and clean water sources. I would have a good education still, and similar values and resources to Canadians, however I would not feel as safe in my home as I do here.

One of Canada’s resources that is available to all is our public education program. England has a similar system, consisting of state schools, which are funded by the government, and independent schools, which are similar to Canada's private schools. England’s “National Curriculum” education system consists of 5 Key Stages. Key Stage 1 begins at age 5 with foundations and the first two years of schooling. Each stage consists of 2-3 years ending Key Stage 5 at what Canadians would consider “grade 12.” Most secondary schools start at 11 years old, similar to middle schools in Canada. At the end of their required schooling, students receive their General Certificate of Secondary Education, or GCSE. Classes only last between 35-60 minutes, and students only attend classes for approximately 5 hours per week. On top of this, however, they are expected to spend 6 hours each week on private studying. Almost all schools in the UK have school uniforms, reducing freedom of expression and promoting sameness. Pictured below is an example of British school uniforms.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/69/e9/34/69e934e31f19e02a24889c466b4ee82f.jpg

Canada has a reputation throughout the world of being kind and accepting, widely diverse, and safe for all. Due to the election and government changes currently happening in the UK, terrorists are targeting them. England has close relations with much of the world, and by targeting them, terrorists are hurting large areas of the world. I am glad my family decided to stay in Canada, and stay in Ontario, where I can receive a good education, free health care, and feel safe within my community.

Works Cited

“The British Education System.” HMC Projects, www.hmc.org.uk/about-hmc/projects/the-british-education-system/. Accessed 7 June 2017.

British School Uniforms. www.pinterest.com/pin/433893745320125990/. Accessed 7 June 2017.

Mactaquac. Radio Canada, 6 May 2016, ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/780011/barrage-mactaquac-2030-duree-vie-prevue-options-nouveau-brunswick-acadie. Accessed 7 June 2017.

Stenning, David, Dr. Interview. By Colleen Stenning. 11 May 2017.

Stenning, Michael. Interview. By Colleen Stenning. 12 May 2017.