The permanent collection is a cultural resource that allows the public to explore and engage with Canada’s immigration history and the contemporary experiences of immigrants to Canada. The focus of the collection is intangible or digital-born and digitized items, including oral histories, written stories, and digital archival materials like documents and photographs.
Areas of strength include:
- Immigrants who arrived from Europe between 1928 and 1971, and who entered Canada through Pier 21;
- British Home Children;
- Canadian veterans who embarked and/or disembarked for service overseas during the Second World War;
- British Guest Children who were evacuated to Canada during the Second World War;
- Postwar Displaced Persons and political refugees who entered Canada through Pier 21;
- Canadian immigration and customs officials, as well as foreign service workers who served overseas;
- Newcomers who arrived in Canada post-1971, through various ports of entry.