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After reading the Vietnamese airlift story by Monika Hilson in NetLetter #1485, the NetLetter team scanned the 'Horizons' magazines from 1979/80, although we could not find info about the airlift Ms. Hilson mentions, however we did find two articles regarding the refugees. Boat people need sponsors. From 'Horizons' magazine issued July 1979 - The human tragedy that is the Vietnamese boat people has captured the hearts and imagination of Canadians everywhere and indeed throughout the world. The response by individuals and groups of Canadians to the plight of the refugees has been growing each day. Employees are participating through church groups and other organizations and through smaller sponsorship groups as well. Canada is admitting 8,000 refugees and, over and above that number, Canadians are providing private sponsorship to many more. |
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From 'Horizons' magazine issued July 1980 - Employees welcome refugees. The thousands of Indo-Chinese refugees arriving at Montreal's Mirabel airport during the past year have been welcomed and helped on their way to new lives in Canada by a band of employees who devote some of their spare time to Red Cross volunteer work. Another employee contingent of passenger agents organized transportation for the new arrivals. Montreal Reservations Agents Lucille Lemieux, Ray Johnson and Jocelyne Dumont-Jerome, Special Assistant to the Vice President, Public Affairs, along with retirees Doris Inglis and Barbara Green all lent helping hands to the refugees. On arrival, the refugees were met by representatives of the Department of Immigration and the Canadian Armed Forces. Once these formalities were completed, the new arrivals were taken to Barrack 154 at the Longue-Pointe army base for a maximum three-day briefing. At the request of the Department of Immigration, Michel Langlois, Montreal Reservations & Sales Office Manager, agreed that the company would organize transportation for the new Canadian residents. That's how Passenger Agents Tony Dube, Suzanne Ouellette, Claudette Yurchuk and Ida Snoody became assigned to Longue-Pointe at various times. They were mainly involved in planning flight itineraries and issuing tickets. "The hours were long, up to 16 a day," said Ida. "The work was often difficult but the experience rewarding from a humanitarian point of view." Our photo below shows Passenger Agents Ida Snoddy and Claudette Yurchuk who were involved in planning flights and reservations. |
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Regarding Ms. Hilson's story, we did find much more info on the following website: See vietnamese-archive.org/the-journey for first-hand accounts and photographs of the special journey by Air Canada personnel who were involved. Below are two photos that accompanied articles by flight attendants Barbara Dunn and Louise Chong about their experiences on a refugee flight to Vancouver. On the left, Barbara Dunn with a group of new arrivals. On the right, at Vancouver Base, 1979 are, left to right: Joyce Ernyes, Leslie Nelson, Denise Nelderer, Viviane Lacoste, Rita Plawski, Louise Chong (kneeling), Alain Klein (In-charge). |
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