Coming 2 Canada 1951

Im-mi-grate
-to come to a foreign country and take up
permanent residence there

Life in Holland For The
Romkema’s

The Romkema’s lived here in Friesland at
ZuidVliet 20

The young Romkema family soon had two boys
Cor Papa Mama Jan

The Family continued to grow
Cor Miep Stientje Jan Allan

And now complete
Cor Albert Miep Allan
Chris on
Mama’s
lap
Here are Papa and Mama Romkema and the Children in 1950

The Brothers on Bikes
Allan Albert Cor

The Sisters on a box
Miep
Christine

The Kids
Miep Albert Christine Cor Allan

Albert and Chris
At the
beach
In the
tub
On parade
With friends

3
1
2
4
The Romkema children were
always ready to help celebrate
a birthday. Here Christine (1),
Allan (2), Miep (3), and
Albert (4) join others to sign a
birthday song to an uncle.

The Romkema’s also had a car in Leeuwarden

Cor soon took over the family car

This is a back yard view of the
Romkema home
Many friends called up to the
Window on the second floor for
Cor, Miep or Allan
Papa Romkema kept Chickens
in a side shed ( no doubt
realizing that the knowledge
would be of benefit later in life)

Mama Romkema’s brother, Bernard VanderPloeg, said goodbye and left
for the U.S.A. in 1947 making the Romkema’s want to leave too.
7 8
4
1
2
5
6
3
1 Albert 2 Mama 3 Miep 4 Bernard VanderPloeg 5 Papa
6Allan 7 Rinke VanderPloeg 8 Opa VanderPloeg

A letter from the Immigration Committee of the Christian Reformed
Church in Canada 1949
It did not look good
for the Romkema’s.
Papa did not have
farming experience so
the likelihood of
finding a sponsor in
Canada was not
promising
But Papa Romkema
did not give up

Papa Romkema even considered taking the family to Fort William, now
known as Thunder Bay. He contacted the fieldman, Dick Maat. Life for
the Romkema’s could have been different.

He had worked on a farm and got letters to prove it
Farm experience in
1943 during the
war
More farm
experience in Peins
in 1949-1950
How could Canada
not want Papa
Romkema

An envelope arrives from Papa Romkema’s brother’s travel agency

March 12 th 1951
The letter indicates what was
needed in order to travel to
Canada
1.Passports
2.Immigration intention
3. Moving certificate
4. Receipt from Travel agency
5. Proof of Tax payments
6. Vaccination certificates
7.Canadian Dollars
8. Marriage certificate

The travel agency gave the
Romkema’s some good
advice. For your trip bring
the following items
1. Oranges and Apples
2. Sour candy
3. Peppermints
4. Eau de Cologne
5. Tea biscuits in case of sea
sickness
They also advised not to
wear the best clothes for the
trip and to bring along some
reading material

On the 24 th of May 1951 the
Romkema’s made it known
that they wanted to emigrate
to Canada
They received a case number
#16697

First to go to Canada was Cor
They had to say goodbye to their
oldest son, Cor, who left for Canada
before they did.
The bus that took Cor to
the boat for Canada
Cor

April 4 th , 1951
Finally a letter arrived
that Canada had
approved the rest of the
Romkema family for
admission

It’s a good thing that the
Immigration department
didn’t see this picture of
Papa Romkema or they
may not have let him
come to Canada
Papa Romkema, in
case you didn’t know

Passports had to be obtained
with Allan, Albert and Chris
added to Mama’s

Stamps were needed in the
Passports
Lots of stamps
They even had to be revalidated
to November 11, 1951

On the twelfth of
October, just twelve days
before departure, the
family received final
instructions regarding the
voyage across the
Atlantic.
The total cost for passage
was 3289.60 Dutch
Guilders. This amount
was subsidized by the
Dutch Government

The letter outlines the cost
to transport the family
across the ocean by SS
Volendam. from Rotterdam
to Halifax and by train from
Halifax to Chatham.

Declaration of contents of crate
Baggage forms had to be filled out
and signed

The bill for the baggage had to
be paid in the amount of
f 528.30 dutch guilders
It looks like the Romkema’s are
headed for Chatham Ontario

Papa Romkema bought One
Hundred Canadian Dollars for
spending money upon arrival. It
cost him almost Three hundred
and seventy Dutch guilders

The last payment, just prior to boarding, was for excess baggage.

All the while the Romkema’s said goodbye to
family and friends

Here they are with some of the Romkema clan

Saying goodbye to Opa Vanderploeg and cousins in Vrouwenparochie

More goodbye’s

They said goodbye to Jan and Stientje too, and left them in their resting place

Finally, time to board the bus to catch the boat
1 2 3 4 5
6
1 Albert 2 Miep 3 Mama 4 Christine 5 Allan 6 Papa

The boat leaves the pier and
starts out for Canada with
the Romkema’s on board

The ship that took the Romkema’s to Canada
S.S. Volendam,

Much work was needed to feed the many families traveling to Canada on
the SS Volendam
Here we see Papa and Miep Romkema
working below deck peeling potatoes
for the lovely menu served each day on
board ship

This is Pier 21 in Halifax Nova Scotia where the Romkema’s first set
foot on Canadian soil November 3, 1951

THE VOLENDAM ARRIVES FROM ROTTERDAM
TODAY WITH THE ROMKEMA’S ONBOARD
Welcome New Immigrants To Canada
Halifax, N.S. Nov 3, (AP) After a long 10 day journey across the Atlantic from their
native country of The Netherlands, the Romkema’s arrived today at pier 21 to start
their new life in Canada. Pictured here are, in the front row, Father Ruurd, Christine,
and Mother Rinske. In the back row are Cor, Albert, Miep, and Allan

After ten days at sea
the Romkema’s arrived
in Halifax , Nova
Scotia on November 3,
1951 as landed
Immigrants

All the Romkema’s got this card after they passed through Immigration
Did anyone forget their second X-ray?

Canadian Customs’ declaration of household effects for the new settlers.

Many Dutch immigrants boarded
trains for all parts of Canada. Papa
Romkema took his family on a train to
Chatham Ontario

The Romkema’s arrived in Chatham and stayed for a while with the
Dreise family in their small house

At the Dreise farm Papa Romkema
is shown the opportunities for
making a living in “Tobacco”
1
4
5
1 Mama 2 Christine 3 Albert
4 Cor 5 Papa
2
3

Miep got her first look at Canadian cars and even helped clean one (Miep
is the one cleaning the roof)

After a short time in Chatham the
Romkema’s moved to the Toronto
area and stayed in Stouffville just
north of Toronto for only a couple
of days.

In Stouffville Allan, Chris and Albert practice the art of farming

From Stouffville the Romkema’s moved to
Weston, very close to Toronto, and settled on
an old farm property soon to be developed with
new homes.
“Royal York Road”
The Romkema’s spent the first 2 years in Canada at this
location and got themselves established in their new
country

The Romkema’s lived
on the second floor
Notice the mailbox in front of
the house

“Royal York Road” the name is magic to the Romkema’s in 1951
North View

Many Sunday afternoons were spent walking along Royal York Road
Here we see Papa Miep Mama Christine Albert

Royal York Road south view
Papa Romkema takes a walk to reflect and ponder his decision to move to Canada

The Romkema’s soon found a Christian Reformed Church at 34 Glenforest Rd
in Toronto to call home

Albert and Christine went to Sunday School in the basement
Christine
Albert

Winter was a new experience for Allan,
Albert,Chris and Miep as they slide down the
hill
Shoveling snow and starting the car was
another new challenge. Here Cor and Allan
give it a go
Allan
Cor

For Chris and Albert, here with Mama, winter is fun

The Romkema’s didn’t take long to make new friends
2
4
5
6
1
7
3
1 Albert 2 Mama 3 Christine 4 Papa 5 Allan 6 Cor 7 Miep

The Romkema’s lived
in four rooms with
all the children but it
still felt good to be
in Canada
A small hose on the
same property soon
became available

The family moved next
door into a small
cottage type house
with more freedom.
The outhouse was a
cold walk away.

Cor takes over the new family car and he is out looking for girls

If you want to get
the girls you have to
have a clean car.
Here Cor and Allan
make sure the car is
clean for the next
date
Cor
Allan

Everyone wants to try out the
new car. Here Allan is at the
wheel with Albert looking on
Here is another someone trying
it out

As winter turns into
spring and summer
Miep tries out a new
bike that Allan had
won delivering papers
for the Toronto Star
Albert and Mama look
on
Notice the Romkema’s
house in the back

During that first summer
across the road evidence
of construction began to
take shape
The new immigrant
family takes a look
Cor Allan miep Albert Chris Mama Papa

Papa Romkema picked up
some farming tools and
put his “landbouw”
experience to work in
Canada

After the planting Papa Romkema and Christine over the garden

The result, with a little help from Mama, was a great garden of vegetables used
in cooking meals.

Sunday and church is over, at Annette Street Christian Reformed Church
where the Romkema’s worshiped each week

Allan, Miep, Nel, Chris, Mama, Papa, Albert, Elly, Cor
Sunday afternoon in
their church clothes
the Romkema’s have
their picture taken

Papa and Mama ,
holding hands, going
for a walk with
Christine

After church on Sunday visitors would come over for coffee, if the group got
to large for the house we would move chairs and table outside

Many times coffee was served outside on the lawn at Royal York Rd
Cor Mama Albert Christine Papa

A little sunbathing always helps
Chris
Albert

The Romkema’s second car
turned out to be a used
taxi (a lesson learned in the
new country)
Papa
Chris

But Miep and Allan thought the car was great and couldn’t wait to drive it

The Romkema’s always had Sunday visitors. Here are some of the
cars in the yard

With their car, the
Romkema’s began to explore
the wilderness of Canada
Allan, Cor,
Miep, chris, Mama, Albert

Went on picnics and barbecues
Here is cook Papa Romkema

A trip to Niagara Falls was made as soon as possible. October 1952
Papa Mama Albert Christine Cor and Papa, in their rubber
boots, go under the falls

Anyone for Ping-Pong on the
dinning room table?
Albert, Chris, and friend with
play guns
Notice the orange crate chair

The Romkema’s always had people over to stay or visit at Royal York Road
7
1
4
6
2 3 5
1 Papa 2 Albert 3 Christine 4 Mama 5 Miep 6 Cor 7 Allan

Animals could always be found
around Royal York Road. Mama
and Chris with some of the cats
Albert and Chris also had a dog
“Rifle”

Christine with one
of the many cats
the Romkema’s had
at Royal York Rd
Notice the modern
Kitchen appliances

Inside Mama and
Papa relax on a
Sunday afternoon

Papa and Miep found a corner to read

And Cor caught a
cat nap.

During the hot Canadian summer it
did not take long for Miep (on the
right) and friend to adopt the
“Hollywood” look with big hats
and bathing suits
Christine hugs the Romkema dog

2
1
Young people in
a new country
also need a party
and this group
hosted at Royal
York Rd had a
great time
3
4
1 Allan
2 Cor
3 Papa
4 Miep

Cor never lost the chance
to sit with the girls

Miep had trouble speaking
English, so she used her hands
to help get her point across
Cor could not keep the girls away and seems
to be saying “help me!”

No wonder the girls liked Cor, he had
such a commanding presence
Another group shot of the young people

And a new girlfriend called
Hetty
Soon came a new car

Cor even bought myself a truck. What farmer would be without a truck?

Cor made sure
he looked his
best for Hetty

Miep also found a
fellow named “Phil”
during the time that
the Romkema’s lived
at Royal York Road

Hetty, Cor Allan Miep Phil Mama Papa
Albert Christine
Another Sunday
afternoon family
picture

The Romkema’s did not stay long at Royal Road and soon bought their
first home in Canada
1382 Wilson Ave

Wilson Avenue
A three bedroom home with one bathroom which the seven Romkema’s
shared with as many as five boarders

This home truly had
a “rock” garden
The proud new owners

Here are Papa, Albert, Mama, and
two boarders, Leen and Menno
There were cars at Wilson Ave too!

Mama Romkema in the small kitchen
of Wilson Ave. These are the only two
pictures of the Wilson Ave kitchen

The next move was to
Barrie Ontario

The Romkema’s lived just south of Barrie on the corner of
10 th line and Concession 6

Here is a view from the road
looking toward the barn
Winters were beautiful
with snow knee deep

Mama Romkema is inspecting
the house after some renovations
A move to King City just north
of Toronto didn’t last long

And it was back to Wilson
Avenue
This time Papa and Mama set up an egg business

Then off to 87 Shendale Drive in Rexdale
Papa in the reading room
Washing dishes on a Sunday
afternoon

Then to Holland Christian Homes in Brampton Ontario
A relaxing day at home reading and knitting socks for grandchildren

Over the years the kids got married

Cor and
Hetty
1956
Miep and
Phil
1956
Allan and
Clary
1968
Christine and Henk
1970
Albert and Liz
1975

All the Romkema’s in 1997

We remember the first Romkema immigrants to Canada
Landed in Canada November 3, 1951

Im-mi-grate
-to come to a foreign country and take up
permanent residence there
The Romkema’s
Holland to Canada
October 24 – November 3
1951

The End