Pier 21: Stories from Near and Far (Canadian Immigration)

Following up the critically acclaimed Island of Hope and Sorrow: The Story of Grosse Ile, award-winning children's author, Anne Renaud, delivers another important chapter of Canada's history to young readers. Beautiful prose and eye-catching visual elements bring the story of Pier 21 to life. From 1928 to 1971, a cavernous shed-like building stood in Halifax harbor, welcoming more than one million newcomers to Canada. It also was the last view of home seen by close to 500,000 Canadian service personnel, as they sailed off to battle during World War II. Across its threshold came the ebb and flow of home children and guest children, soldiers and war brides, refugees and displaced persons, carried to and from its doors by ocean liners, military ships and small sailing vessels. This is a chronicle of Pier 21 and of those who passed through, some on their way to foreign lands to fight for freedom, and others on their way to becoming part of the growing nation of Canada.… (more)