In 1911-12, my immigrant grandparents came from Ukraine with three young children, by ship to Eastern Canada, then train to Edmonton (no sleeper car!), then wagon (horse drawn) 50 miles north to a cousin’s homestead.
Granted 160 acres by the federal government as a homestead which had to be partly cleared and farmed and stocked with farm animals and buildings within two years.
Done, and a fourth child born! Children were schooled to Grade 8 only as no high school was available. Though farming was a very tough existence, the family was moderately successful and the children later prospered in farming and blue collar trades.
In the 1930s and ’40s, the first generation of Canadians was born – 12 children in all. Virtually all completed high school and several went to college and university. All in the workforce and raising families which contributed to the ongoing prosperity, mostly of Western Canada.
The second generation of Canadians came in the 1960s and ’70s, 22 children. All completed high school and most college and university. All in the workforce and raising families scattered all across Canada in various vocations and professions contributing to the prosperity of the country.
Since 2000, the third and fourth generation of Canadians, too numerous to keep track! This group mostly in school or college or university, laying the foundation for adding to the prosperity of Canada and the world.
This saga describes what is quite typical of how an immigrant family has expanded and prospered and contributed significantly to the prosperity of Canada over the past 105 years, and how an “escape from serfdom” in Eastern Europe achieved what the initial immigrants desired, a better life and future for their children and future generations.
All are so grateful to be proud Canadians. — Col. Stanley W. Brygadyr (ret’d).