Stories Celebrating 100 Years

As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Jewish Immigrant Aid Services in Canada, JIAS Toronto is partnering with the Ontario Jewish Archives to collect and archive immigration stories from across the community. Our goal is to create a living and searchable virtual collection that will help capture and preserve our community's immigration history, diversity, and collective memory.

The questions below are intended as a guide, to prompt you to share meaningful information. If you prefer to write your story in your own format, we invite you to please send a word document to jodib@jiastoronto.org.

Please read the Terms and Conditions before submitting this form.

Thank you for sharing your story.

First Name

Last Name

Phone

City

Provinces

Your year of birth

Where were you born?

Where did you emigrate from?

When did you come to Canada (approximately, if unsure)?

Did you immigrate on your own, or together with a partner or family member? Please list any accompanying family or household members if you are comfortable sharing this information.

Please share some of the circumstances around your immigration (was it planned, forced, or a combination of push/pull factors).

What did you find difficult to leave behind (family, community, work, home, etc.)?

What excited or surprised you about Canada, the GTA, or Canadians when you first arrived?

What did you find most challenging about starting over in Canada?

Describe what you like most about life in Canada?

Where did you live when you first arrived in Canada and where do you live now? (These might be different parts of Canada, or merely different parts of the same city, i.e. Kensington Market vs Thornhill).

Is there something unexpected that you miss from your home country (it may be something significant or seemingly trivial such as foods, cleaning supplies, cooking utensils, etc.)?

Who was your first meaningful personal connection or friendship in Canada (tell us about them)?

Tell us about a personal or professional accomplishment in Canada

Do you affiliate with

Can you describe the Jewish community you were part of in your home country?

Can you describe some of the ways that you connect to Jewish life and community today?

Is there a Jewish encounter or event during your early years in Canada that is memorable to you (a celebration, first experience in Canada, encounter with JIAS or a "host family," family milestone, etc)?

Anything else you want to share about your immigration journey or settlement in Canada?

Can you describe the community (cultural, religious, neighbourhood, social club, etc.) that you were a part of in your country of origin?

Did your association with JIAS help inform your understanding of the Jewish community in Canada? If yes, please explain

Please share any other information or anecdotes that are significant to your immigration and settlement in Canada.

Please use this field to upload photos or documents you wish to share (such as family photos from country of origin or following immigration, immigration documents, old passport, etc.)

You can upload a second photo or document here. You are also welcome to send additional items by email to jodib@jiastoronto.org, or if you have physical items to donate and would like to be contacted by an archivist, click here.

Contact Information