Immigration Hall

Well today I am overwhelmed by the number of comments on yesterday's photo of the giant ice castle
Today I purchased my first book of the year. It is entitled Canada 365 Every Day Tells A Story. So I thought I would try to use this as my inspiration for my photos that I take this year.
It was on January 1, 1947 that the Canadian Citizenship Act came into effect. Although immigrants had been arriving in this country for decades this was the first law that truly helped define people as Canadians as opposed to just being a British subjects.
This building is Edmonton's old Immigration Hall and for decades it saw thousands of people pass through its doors in the process of becoming a Canadian Citizen. Today it is used by Hope Mission as a shelter for the homeless

[Tony]

Fabulous piece of history. We, shamefully, only have 'Detention Centres'.
'Happy New Year to you and yours.

[Peter Grave]

Great piece of history.We have citizens with dual citizenship which the government should ban.If its good enough to live in a country and accept all its priveliges it should be good enought to call yourself a citizen of that country.

[Chris Stapleton]

Historic photo

[Babs]

Interesting piece of history. Well done on yesterday's shot. I am sure this will appear on the top twenty next week. Very well deserved.

[Rhodie]

Great shot with an historical story.

[jennifer]

nice to know the history of the place. my son became a Canadian citizen in 2015 apparently. grand daughter thinking of it.

[ShirleyB]

Interesting shot the information and history makes it all the more interesting.

[Merrelyn]

What is the building used for now?

[Sheralee S]

A great looking building and interesting history.

[Nina Ganci]

Happy New Year

[Candace]

Love learning the history of another country!

[Colleen Culhane]

It seems like the building is leading people in to the picture (or the country)

[Paul]

Interesting story.

[wendy frost]

Great building and interesting information

[Richard Hickey]

Wonderful picture.

[mittens (Marilyn)]

Nice looking building and a great capture.

[Cathie]

What a great resource, Brian. I always learn so much from your photos and comments. Happy New Year!

[Lady Magpie (Heather)]

Lovely capture of this interesting building, thanks for the history.

[Jane Anderson]

Grand old building and history! In the early 20th century, Charlie's grandmother immigrated to Vancouver from Scotland, and his grandfather immigrated there from Prussia. He was Jewish, and we're all so glad he got out. Many of his relatives were killed in the Holocaust, and a few went to Israel. He had a grain business in Calgary and Alberta.

[Hubregt Visser]

Great picture. Great initiative too.

[Beth]

Interesting history here. It looks a lot like my high school building.

[Kate Goring]

Lovely shot.

[Lynne Hart]

Good shot, interesting history and so nice that the building is still being used today.

[Diane]

Fascinating info! I have learned so much about Canada from your photography!

[Stephanie Swift]

I'm glad it is still there and still being used for something very worthwhile.

[Ann H. LeFevre]

That's really interesting to me- it started as a place that brought people to a new home and is now a place where people can find a home. Nice shot.

[Linda]

Great shot of this building and thanks for the history lesson.

[Gayle]

A lot of history in that building! Very interesting!

[Taffy]

This reminds me of classic school building architecture from the 1930s and 40s, all over Chicago. Well documented.

[Dinah Pinkston]

Interesting history; the building looks so formal!

[bkb in the city]

@tonydebont Thanks Tony and the same to you

[bkb in the city]

@peterlgrave Peter Canada allows that as well

[bkb in the city]

@cljs Chris history is one of my favourite subjects

[bkb in the city]

@onewing Thanks Babs

[bkb in the city]

@rhodie Thanks Rhodie

[bkb in the city]

@jennyjustfeet Wonderful

[bkb in the city]

@shirleybankfarm Glad you enjoyed it Shirley

[bkb in the city]

@merrelyn Merrelyn today it is used as shelter for the homeless

[bkb in the city]

@bella_ss Glad you liked this one Sheralee

[bkb in the city]

@ninaganci The same to you Nina

[bkb in the city]

@ribbet9 Always glad to share it with you Candace

[bkb in the city]

@colleenculhane Colleen it certainly was used to give many people a start in this country

[bkb in the city]

@pej Glad you liked it Paul

[bkb in the city]

@wendyfrost Glad you liked it Wendy

[bkb in the city]

@agedrunner Thanks Richard

[bkb in the city]

@mittens Thanks Marilyn

[bkb in the city]

@cathieg Happy New Year to you as well Cathie

[bkb in the city]

@ladymagpie You're welcome Heather

[bkb in the city]

@cejaanderson That is very interesting

[bkb in the city]

@hjv Glad you like it Hubregt

[bkb in the city]

@vernabeth Beth there are a number of schools like that here in Canada as well

[bkb in the city]

@kategoring Glad you enjoyed it Kate

[bkb in the city]

@lhart Lynne not only is it being used but for a good purpose

[bkb in the city]

@eudora Diane I am always glad to share it

[bkb in the city]

@tristansmum Me too Stephanie

[bkb in the city]

@olivetreeann Thanks Ann

[bkb in the city]

@pippie You're welcome Linda

[bkb in the city]

@gaylewood Glad you like it Gayle

[bkb in the city]

@taffy Thanks Taffy. This building was built in 1931

[bkb in the city]

@dsp2 It replaced a small wood frame building so I suppose they wanted something that looked a little but more grand than the original one