Seventy-five years in the past, Matija Sedej and Henrik Ziernfield felt the breeze of the Halifax Harbour for the primary time.
The 2 had been passengers on a cargo ship titled the SS Marine Jumper which fled a European continent coping with the aftermath of the Second World Warfare and arrived at Pier 21 in Halifax on Might 19, 1948. The ship initially departed 10 days earlier on Might 9 from Bremerhaven, Germany.
On Friday, they returned to Pier 21 in Halifax to commemorate the anniversary.
Ninety-two-year-old Matija Sedej stated he left communist Yugoslavia as a result of there was “no future” on the time. He launched into a voyage throughout the Atlantic Ocean towards Canada to pursue work alternatives.
“They gave us an opportunity to come back work right here (Canada) … it was alleged to be a one-year contract, however I solely labored 5 months on the railway after which we went to the lumber camp up in Thunder Bay,” he stated.
Sedej stated he continued to work in lumber camps for the subsequent few months earlier than settling in Toronto. He stated the handbook labour was “no drawback” for him, as he was accustomed to physically-demanding work as a consequence of his expertise as a farmer again in his dwelling nation.
Ninety-seven-year-old Henrik Ziernfeld stated he thought Canada was a “fantastic nation” upon his arrival.
“Canada was the primary county that truly allowed immigrants from Europe to Canada,” he stated.
The 2 Slovenians met via working collectively in Toronto.
Ziernfeld described his departure throughout the pond from Germany within the late Forties as “fairly adventurous,” because the crew confronted varied challenges alongside the best way together with dangerous climate circumstances and sick passengers.
“At first, there was good climate however as soon as we reached the center of the Atlantic, a giant storm turned out,” he continued. “They (the waves) had been like two-storey homes … after which the entire ship began to vibrate.
“I keep in mind after we first got here to Halifax it was very foggy, the ship couldn’t land, so we needed to keep out of the harbour for just a few kilometres till the subsequent day.”
Marta Demsar, the daughter of one other European who voyaged on the 10-day journey throughout the Atlantic alongside Zienfeld and Sedej, organized the journey to the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 for the group of Slovenian Canadians. She stated that she had so many questions on her father’s journey to Canada since he handed whereas she was a youngster.
“That feeling has at all times stayed with me, that I want to seek out out extra,” she stated.
Demsar stated along with herself and the 2 males, additionally current had been two ladies who arrived in 1954 and two daughters of different individuals who arrived on the SS Marine Jumper. She stated it’s “so vital” to commemorate the anniversary of at the present time as a result of Canada gave her father freedom.
“It gave them a brand new life; it was one thing they needed to do, to perform with laborious work,” she stated.
“I simply need to share this story with the opposite 40,000 Slovenians in Canada, as a result of for many of us, that is the story of our heritage. Most of our mother and father arrived right here from 1947 onwards.”
Ziernfeld stated the sensation of freedom upon coming into Canada is probably the most nice reminiscence from his journey.
“In Europe, we had been at all times afraid that we may be despatched again to Yugoslavia, which is a communist nation,” he continued, “and you recognize what occurs, individuals had been badly handled and massacred.
“In Canada, we began a brand new life.”
Sedej stated the individuals who arrived from the ship 75 years in the past have continued to develop a affluent group in Toronto all through the years.
“We constructed two church buildings, an outdated age dwelling, we had farms, vacation amenities, and camps — we’ve got about three round Toronto,” he stated. “A really profitable group.”
Sedej stated his recollections from 75 years in the past appear extra vivid throughout his return to Halifax.
“I really feel fortunate that I’m right here and grateful,” Sedej stated.
— with information from Megan King
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