Join us on Sunday, November 28th from 1:30-3:30pm at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic for an event entitled, Safe Harbour: Sharing Immigrant and Refugee Experiences in Canada.
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will be hosting an event on Sunday, November 28th from 1:30-3:30pm to acknowledge the closing of the St. Louis: Ship of Fate exhibit - a powerful exhibit which has raised awareness about issues of asylum and the current realities for refugees seeking safety in Canada.
The St. Louis: Ship of Fate exhibit tells the story of over 900 Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Germany aboard the ocean liner SS St. Louis in late May 1939. The ship sailed to Cuba, but the refugees were turned away. It then approached the United States, but the refugees were turned away again. At this time, a group of progressive academics petitioned Canada's Prime Minister to allow the refugees aboard the St. Louis to come to Canada via Halifax. The request was denied. Out of options, these refugees were subsequently forced to return to Europe where 254 of them were later murdered within Nazi concentration camps.
In an effort to raise awareness about the history of Canada's reaction to asylum seekers, this event will feature a guided tour of the exhibit as well as a special interpretive performance by actor/singer, Tringa Rexhepi, who will portray her perception of the experience of a
passenger on the SS St. Louis. Similar issues persist today and the Safe Harbour event will also provide an opportunity for Halifax's refugees to share their contemporary experiences and invite the public to join in on the discussion to learn more about these important issues that impact all Canadians.
Everyone is welcome to share in this community conversation about respecting and understanding the different realities of asylum seekers and refugees in Canada.
This event is made possible through collaboration with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Immigrant Settlement & Integration Services, YMCA Centre for Immigrant Programs, the Halifax Refugee Clinic, FUSION Halifax, Pier 21, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
Child Activities available. Interpreters may be available free of charge for those who require additional language support. Bus tickets are also available for those who require public transportation. If you or someone you know would like to have an interpreter present or require
bus tickets, please contact Naomi Arron via email or at 406-8613 to discuss this further.
Event details are attached. Please forward this information through your networks. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.
Hope to see you there!
Jon Stone
Director, Communications Atlantic Region | Directeur de Communications,
Région d l'Atlantique
ATL - Atlantic Region | ATL - Région de l'Atlantique
Citizenship and Immigration Canada | Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada
1741 Brunswick St. Suite 220 Halifax NS B3J 3X8 | 1741, rue Brunswick,
bureau 220 Halifax N.-É. B3J 3X8
Jon.Stone@cic.gc.ca
Telephone | Téléphone 902-426-1419
Facsimile | Télécopieur 902-426-8346
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada
