From the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre:
The new world had much to offer to those wanting to leave the old world behind to start anew. Conditions and politics were different in Europe or Russia or Asia and many looked west as there was promise of a thriving life.
Because the Cobalt silver findings, the north was already experiencing a multicultural mix: Timmins quickly followed suit and became a multicultural hub. Many came from all different areas including: people of English, French, Aboriginal, German, Austrian, Polish, Russian, Finnish, Croatian, Serbian, Hungarian, Irish, Scottish, Slovak, Czech, Italian, Ukrainian, Lithuanian, Lebanese/Syrian, Chinese and Jewish origins.
They weren’t all coming from big, overcrowded cities – many came from rural areas where multiculturalism was not present and this must have been a big change. This may also be why we see so many ethnic clubs and centres in the city as many people from the same ethnicities stuck together not only to help support each other through the changes but also perhaps to help with language barriers.
There were no less than 77 groups that played a role in our cultural community and history.
Each week, the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre provides TimminsToday readers with a glimpse of the city’s past.
Find out more of what the Timmins Museum has to offer at www.timminsmuseum.ca and look for more Remember This? columns here.