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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
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
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they thought people from these places could assimilate easily.
Block settlements were created for some ethnic groups such
as the Mennonites and Icelanders.
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.
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.
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.
persecution – suffering
because of a belief
orphan – a child who
has no living parent
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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.
Minister – head of a
government department
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.
1895 The first wave of Ukrainian immigrants arrived in
Manitoba.
1905 The first Ukrainian English school was opened in
Winnipeg.
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.
wave – an idiom that
means a large amount
or number
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1911
Italian immigrants started the Roma Mutual Benevolent
Society to help members in times of sickness,
accidents or death.
1914 Immigration to Canada slowed because of World War
-1918 I. Many people from Germany, Turkey and the AustroHungarian Empire (including some Ukrainians) were
sent to internment camps.
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 The Great Depression. Many Canadians were unem-1939 ployed. The doors were closed to most immigrants.
1939 World War II. Once again, the government interned
-1945 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
internment camp —
prisons or work camps
where civilians may be
sent during times of war
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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 people who could assimilate easily into
Canada. If the way of life 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 Czechoslo-
refugees – people who
must leave their home
because of war, famine
or disaster
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vakia, Somalia, Uganda, Chile and Kosovo. Newcomers still
face discrimination, but multiculturalism is accepted in Canada.
1962 Immigration rules are changed. Immigrants are
judged by their personal characteristics and not their
nationality.
multiculturalism –
respect for people of
different cultures.
1967 The “point system” for Canadian immigrants is established to encourage skilled workers to come to Canada.
1967 Canada celebrated its Centennial or 100th 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.
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?
volunteer – someone
who helps other for no
pay.