Frank's Immigration Story
This is Frank's immigration story. He came to Canada from Holland as a single, young man in 1971.
I was a student in Agricultural College in The Netherlands when a young man came to school to talk about going to Canada as an agricultural exchange student. I was very much interested in this but somehow got talked out of the idea of going.
However, the idea was always in the back of my head and when I turned 24, I decided to go for it. Just to see what it was like to farm in Canada. I applied for the program, was accepted and in April flew to Montreal, Canada. There were a total of 7 young people on the plane who were with the same program, organized by Stichting Uitwisseling
I and another young man were stationed in Ontario, the other 5 would go on to Alberta.
After landing at Montreal Airport we took the midnight train to Hamilton, Ontario where I met my Host farmer. I worked for him for 9 months and up to this day we still visit each other.
After 9 months I applied for an extension of my work permit and started working for a farmer in Woodstock. By then I knew that this was the area where I wanted to have my own farm, so I told my parents I was staying in Canada, and applied for landed immigrant status.
There were quite a few young Dutch farmers working in that area and all of us took English as a Second Language Course at the local High school. We enjoyed those classes and the English books we had to read. The Dutch community held a dance every month and that is where I met my future wife.
We borrowed money from the Farm Credit Corporation to buy a farm, got married and started a family. Shortly after our second child was born we became Canadian Citizens. Because the first two were born before we became Canadian Citizen, they have had the opportunity to request a Dutch Passport and one of them even worked in Holland for a year.
Over the years I followed many courses related to farm and business management, as well as courses related to dairy farming and crop management.
I am very happy with the decision to come to Canada. I have been successful both in my personal and professional life. If I had stayed in Holland my story would have been different, but it would have been a successful story also. I am very happy with the decision to immigrate to Canada.
As a farmer you appreciate the open space and opportunities that are here. Canada is a very good country for our children as well.
This story has been written by Frank
