Michaelle Haughian

Family herilooms buried in yard and never recovered ( books, box, mandolin, trumpets). "We never went back. They were left for good."

Mrs Poruks reflects about how her kids adapted to canada, remaining engaged in latvian community, their church and retaining latvian language. One son speaks Latvian well and wanted to attend Song Festival.

More of Mirdza Poruks description of seeing Latvian people locked in cattle cars with narrow tiny windows - taking a last look at Latvia, her grandfather asked to coem to railway stationand sent, seperated men and women in Siberia, children put in orphanages, through Russian swould leave and English help us, people lived to dream and hope.

Mirdza Poruks father completed university studies to become a Veterinarian in a German University in 1944. Complete his degree in Montrael , Canada becasue someone heard he needed to complete his degree in both countries. Family wored on sugarbeet farm in Lethbridge area first.

Mr. Poruks sent to university in Montreal one year to finsih graduate studies in Veterinary Medicine

Description of the family life in Latvia, losses due to German and Russian invasions and lifht form Latvia into Germany. Immigration into Canada, early life in Alberta, and Guelph ontrion and back itno Edmotnon Alberta. The children lives in schools in Latvia, Germany and Canada. Adjusting to a new country, language. Chruch attendence.nece

Maija Poruks visits Lativa and takes her grandchildren. Called lovingly "the motherland trip".

Mirdza Poruks describes the idyllic life their family had living near the Baltic Sea in a small home with chickens by the railroad tracks. The children played on the beach and walked severla kilometres to school. Picked berries, mushrooms in forest. Latvian children well educated. Coupe in Latvia.

Mirdza Poruks talking about life in Canada and how she cannot blaime Canadians for anything, wonderful life here

Years spent running between the German and Russian armies and occupations, the various trains, wagon trecks, railroad workers, refugee camps, Russian front, bombs, multiple nationalities, Halifax Pier I, Germany hard to survive, Edmonton alberta, no private homes, learning to speak English language, family car, travel to Vancouver, Canadian Citizenship, church attendence at Holy Trinity, school in Canada

Mirdza Poruks recalls seeing Latvians locked in cattle cars and thankful she has not been sent, thought it would not last and family coudl return, hoped that the English would help, people ( families) seperated - women alone, men alone and children in Russian orphanages in Siberia and Soviet Union

Baiba Berzins talks about her family immigration experience into Canada. Toronto, Edmonton area. Her father was a Journalist, her mother a mathematician. Family very engaged in Latvian traditions in Alberta and Toronto ( woodwork, Latvian music, Saturday School in Toronto, Latvian Amber jewellery, making Klingeris celebratory bread a new family tradition in Canada). A motherland trip home to Latvia, KBG Interrogation, Grandfather Berzins buried in Latvia, Reverend Berzins. Very involved in Latvian community in Canada, Riga considred "Little Paris" very cosmopolitan.

Baiba Berzin describes coming to Toronto ( father in 1948). Father worked in Princess Patricia Mines for 1st year manditory employment, father and others trying to market Latvian woodwork, moved to Montreal

Poruks family buried family treasures under the ground on property when Russian army invaded Lativa. These item swere never recovered.

Paper, document

Gottorp castle turned displaced persons camp during and after WWII where Ilga Dzidrums (married name Osis) and her family stayed. The Danish castle is in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

Mutzeneek and Cooper families of Lake Isle, Alberta.