Pier 21 served as “the gateway to Canada” for one million immigrants and refugees between 1928 and 1971. It was the place that first welcomed these newcomers to Canada and where soldiers destined to serve overseas in the Second World War departed Pier 21 holds an incredibly important place in our history, for Canadians as a whole. Today Pier 21, a national historic site, is also a national museum. It is frequented by locals, tourists and of course school and community groups!
The incredibly knowledgeable staff are happy to help you with anything you need, there are multiple hands-on activities offered, as well as a new film called “in Canada.”
As you walk in, one of the first things you see is a wall of bricks with the names of immigrants who have chosen to support the Museum. It is fun to search for names you may recognize! Is your family name on the wall? Visiting the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is an incredibly important activity and ‘a must’ for anyone new to Nova Scotia or Canada!