The Ports
The SOS worked with newcomers to Canada in Montreal, Quebec City, St. John, and Halifax, for which they are commemorated at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. During the immigration booms following both world wars, Sisters greeted ships at the ports and stations, referring Catholic immigrants to the parishes and communities of their final destinations. Sisters fluent in European languages were assigned to the ports to assist passengers in their native tongue and connect newcomers with their cultural or ethnic communities across Canada. The SOS provided guidance on immigration procedures, helped locate baggage and relatives, sent telegrams, interpreted in detention centres, hospitals, and clinics, bought food, and arranged for further transportation west.
“We Stand on Guard For Thee”, Pamphlet highlighting SOS work with new Canadians, 1950
Sister Josephine Dulaska with newcomers, Pier 21, Halifax, 1935
Sister Salvatrice ‘Sally’ Liota with [Italian] immigrants, Pier 21, Halifax, 1958
Sister Katharina Kluttermann with Sudetan refugees at the train station, Montreal, Quebec, 1939
Sisters Florence Kelly and Josephine Dulaska at the Catholic Port Workers Office, Pier 21, Halifax
Report on immigrants met by the Sisters of Service
This report documents the number of ships and passengers met by the SOS at various points of entrance over a five-year period.
Between 1950 and 1955 the SOS met 235,723 newcomers at the various ports and train stations.
Home Away From Home
The SOS operated nine women’s residences across Canada: Toronto, Halifax, Winnipeg, Montreal, Edmonton, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Ottawa, and St. John’s. These residences were created to be short-term hostels for newly arrived single Catholic women with the goal of caring for their spiritual welfare and helping them find employment during their transition to Canadian life. In addition to safe lodgings, the residences provided study groups, language classes, professional training, and served as religious and social clubs for both current and past residents. As immigration to Canada slowed, the residences also opened to young women from rural areas who came to the cities to study or find work.
Sister Mary Szostak and her domestic science class, Montreal, Quebec, 1938
Sisters Matilda Grace and Lydia Tyszko at a bridal shower for a resident, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1953
Sisters Matilda Grace and Lydia Tyszko at a bridal shower for a resident, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1953
Sister Lydia Tyszko with an English class, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1952
Sister Lydia Tyszko with an English class, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1952
Religious procession in honour of Mary on the Montreal residence grounds, May, 1952
Religious procession in honour of Mary on the Montreal residence grounds, May, 1952
Sister Mary Corke and a residence sewing class, Ottawa, Ontario, 1950
Sister Mary Corke and a residence sewing class, Ottawa, Ontario, 1950
Sr. Leona Rose and members of the St. Anthony’s Brown Birds Residence Club baseball team, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1939
Sr. Leona Rose and members of the St. Anthony’s Brown Birds Residence Club baseball team, Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1939
Residence Party for Displaced Persons [DPs], Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1949
Residence Party for Displaced Persons [DPs], Halifax, Nova Scotia, 1949
Sister Nora Fitzpatrick and residence orchestra in practice under the direction of Mr. Atasa, Ottawa, 1946
Sister Nora Fitzpatrick and residence orchestra in practice under the direction of Mr. Atasa, Ottawa, 1946
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