[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Reunion of German immigrants to Canada on the Beaverbrae

[Helen Gillespie]

To the Listserv,

The Beaverbrae, a converted freighter, brought upwards of 38,000 ethnic
Germans - many of them from Wolhynia and other areas in eastern Europe (in
addition to  Austrians, Dutch, Polish and others) between 1948 and 1954.

A 2010 reunion for Beaverbrae immigrants was held in Kitchener, Ontario and
was attended by many of those who immigrated and also some of their
children.

*Now, the Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR)  together with several
Lutheran churches across the country (in Abbotsford, Calgary, Winnipeg,
Kitchener and Pier 21 in Halifax) will be holding reunions October 3-4.*

Think of the refugee process that Canada and other countries are faced with
today regarding Syria.  This same situation took place in Germany and
Austria where some 18 MILLION were displaced.

UNRRA and the IRO (both international refugee organisations) brought many
thousands, but the Canadian Council of Churches for the Resettlement of
Refugees, their churches and their congregants got together with the
government and other social organisations made it happen for those who were
sponsored by families already here but for those that sought new Heimats,
were offered homes and jobs across the country.

More info on this refugee/DP situation found on
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displaced_persons_camp
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Displaced_persons_camp.>Note : *By the end
of 1951, Canada had accepted *157,687 refugees.*

If you or someone you know came by way of the *Beaverbrae* and you live
within a reasonable distance of one of these reunion locations, you might
find it an interesting event.  Here's a poster from the CLWR.  Contact
information is on the poster.

http://www.clwr.org/Beaverbrae2015.htm
<http://www.clwr.org/Beaverbrae2015.htm>

Helen