On April 27, 1999 the very first Kosovars of the 5000 Canada committed to shelter arrived, followed by the first major evacuation flight on May 4, 1999.
This movement – temporary at first, then offering permanent resettlement, is recounted by Dr. Jan Raska of the Canadian Museum of Immigration History at Pier 21. There is also a 2009 documentary about this movement that can be viewed here.
CBC News reported on ‘Running on Empty: Canada and the Indochinese Refugees, 1975-1980’
Canadians who came here under the ‘boat people’ movement are now telling their stories. CIHS is partnering with the Southeast Asian Canadian community organizations, Carleton University and others to capture the stories – many of which are now on-line, through the ‘Hearts of Freedom’ project. The project will ensure that the settlement experience of these…
CIHS offers its heartiest congratulations to the Vietnamese, Laotian and Cambodian communities in Canada on this important anniversary of the 1975 fall of Saigon. Since they first started to come to Canada and especially through Canada’s southeast Asian refugee program, they and their Canadian offspring have contributed to the fabric and success of this country….
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has displaced millions of Ukrainians. Many have found refuge in neighboring European countries. Large numbers of Ukrainians will be seeking refuge in Canada. This will not be the first time Canada has helped Ukrainians displaced by war. The following links lead to three articles in the CIHS Bulletin (issues 96, 97,…
The Vietnamese Boat People Museum, a project aimed at commemorating the experiences of over 1.5 million refugees who fled Vietnam following the fall of Saigon in 1975, is holding a gala fundraising banquet on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The invitation is extended to all and there is a particular hope that former immigration officers who…
An Act of Parliament now makes April 30 a day of commemoration for the Indochinese refugee movement. The Act is online. CIHS President, Michael Molloy, met with the Senators and that hearing is now on-line. (Note: Videos best viewed with Internet Explorer). In speaking about the movement of the ‘boat people’ to Canada, Molloy said, This movement “…was…