The Mapleton Historical Society held its annual meeting on May 11 at the PMD Arena.
President Debbie Oxby welcomed over 80 members and guests. The historical from Arthur, Minto, and Wellington County brought greetings.
During the business portion of the meeting, the annual final report was presented by treasurer Helen Moffat, and the election of directors was conducted by Floyd Schieck.
Founding member and director Enid Whale retired. Directors Elizabeth Samis, Lori Flewwelling and Jean Campbell, having each completed a three term, were re-elected. Melissa Lynmes was elected to fill the vacancy on the 12-member board.
The speaker for the evening was Dr. Frans Schryer, a social scientist, historian and professor emeritus with the University of Guelph.
Schryer, who immigrated to Canada from Holland with his family when he was ten years old, gave an historical overview of the immigration of Dutch farmers to Canada, particularly to Ontario.
After the Second World War, there was no room for new farmers, or land for sale, in Holland. Dutch citizens had been impressed with the generosity of Canadian soldiers during the liberation and their stories of Canada. At the same time, after the war, Ontario farmers were desperate for farm labour because returning service men were taking factory jobs in the cities where they were assured a steady wage.
An agreement was made between the governments of Canada and Holland in 1947, whereby each Ontario farmer would be assigned one Dutch farmer and in return the Ontario farmer would provide housing and pay the Dutch farmer a wage. Bachelors and young married couples with families, mostly farmers and people with a rural background, immigrated under this agreement.
The immigrants found a strange land with clay soil, often very stony, with many trees and forested areas, a climate much different from their homeland, and long distances separating the towns and villages. Often the housing provided was less than ideal. At first the language barriers were especially difficult for women. They were amazed at the quantities of food a Canadian farming family consumed, particularly all the meat. The methods of farming were vastly different from the intensive commercial farming in Holland. In a few short years they learned the best methods to farm Ontario land – and often taught the Ontario farmer a better method as well.
Each immigrant could bring only $100 when they emigrated and if they had funds in Holland often had to wait some time before any more money could be transferred to Canada.
The Dutch families worked hard and overcame many difficulties. Each family member contributed by labouring alongside their parents or by earning a wage off the farm. It wasn’t many years before they were able to purchase their own farms or start up their own businesses.
Today throughout Ontario, and especially in this area, the prosperous farms with flower bedecked yards and well kept buildings attest to the success of Dutch immigrants.
