The services of ICEM

A woman reports that she emigrated to Canada by applying to ICEM.

RES.: When did you emigrate to Canada?
Α.Ν.: On the 7th of March, 1960.
RES.: So, tell me more about that.
Α.Ν.: What can I tell you? I left Greece, because we were many children, we were poor, there was the war before. We didn’t have various things that we have now and we came here for the best. Yes. When I came here, I liked it. It was the end of March and there was still snow.
RES.: (Laughs)
Α.Ν.: Because I came to Canada, I left on the 7th of March and I came here on the 18th. On the 18th we came to Halifax, we came here again on the 22th. There was still a lot of snow. Park Avenue was full of it. Anyway. Nonetheless we found everything nice here. I liked it. I saw many Greeks who came and we went to our first church, to Saint Trinity and there were a lot of people and I saw acquaintances. We were worried lest we become sad here that we came abroad, but we didn’t. Why? Because we found a great many relatives and acquaintances and compatriots.
RES.: And who did you discuss with to reach this decision? Who did you discuss with to take this decision?
Α.Ν.: To come here?
RES.: Mhmm.
Α.Ν.: With my father.
RES.: And what did he, what did he tell you?
Α.Ν.: Eh, my father signed me up over there where they wrote for the immigrants in ICEM and I came here as a maid. They informed me, we went over there, we attended the school four months, learned a bit of English and housekeeping, cooking, various stuff and we were a bit more advanced than the village.
RES.: So, in this school you attended there were all the Greeks?
Α.Ν.: They were, they were a group, a group for those who left each month for Canada. Because every month they left for… a whole ship for Canada. Each time, we were leaving 25 girls from Piraeus with ships if we came. At the time there was the “Olympic” and the “Queen Frederica”. I came with “Queen Frederica”. It was very nice. Eh, we got dizzy eeh. We didn’t eat anything for 10 days. Nonetheless it was nice.