Pier 21 in Halifax is what Staten Island was to New York—the first port of entry for many migrants in the 19th and early 20th century. The special exhibition on German-Canadian relations was told through a series of photographs depicting German immigrants to eastern Canada and Canadians occupying West Germany at the end of the 1940s. The German Emigration Center in Bremerhaven is a good place to visit for more information.
There are free daily guided tours of the permanent exhibition in English or French. I highly recommend calling ahead and timing your visit with one of these to get the most out of your visit. It saves you the trouble of reading every little word on the museum displays.
I read encouraging stories of strength, courage and conviction from immigrants that made it in their new life. But I also read disheartening stories of betrayal by the Canadian government in its racist immigration policies of the past. The muse doesn’t shy away from it, but perhaps they could get more prominent recognition.
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