Go back

Cunard Sailing Dates – 1933

Colour photograph of a poster listing the sail dates of Cunard passenger ships from Montreal. The dates run from July 21st to September 22nd, 1933. Ports of arrival include Ireland, Scotland, England, and France. The names of the steamer ships are the Alaunia, Ascania, Athenia, Aurania, Ausonia, Letitia.

Cunard and T&NO Railway Poster, ca. 1933

Museum of Northern History Collection

Since the 1920s, it was common practice for people to commit to two-year contracts to work in Canada.

Scan of a page from the 1937 Kirkland Lake Phone Directory. The steamship agents of Kirkland Lake are listed.

Listing of Steamship Agents from a Kirkland Lake Phone Directory ca. 1930s

After the two years of the contract were up, many of these people had the option to move and choose another career.

Many Europeans chose to return home to their families with their earnings.

Their long journey home began with a ride on the T&NO railway to Southern Ontario, where they made their way from Toronto to the passenger ships waiting in the port of Montreal.

Working in Canada was rewarding and many made plans to return to Canada again several years later.