Canadian Museum Of Immigration At Pier 21 Admission & Tour

We visited here because my parents came to Canada from the Netherlands in 1953. It was neat to experience what they must have gone through. My aunt who was young at the time remembers that she was very sick on the ship over, and also remembers the train ride to Edmonton. She says that her dad, (my grandfather) was helping others at the store at the pier who did not understand the language and had to buy supplies for the train ride, since there were no eating facilities on the train. There was also a "kist" (a large wooden shipping crate) on display, that would have held the families belongings. I remember this box from my childhood, we played inside it in the late 1950's. It was a good reminder of how large it actually was. We'd jump into it, but how did we get out? There was nothing to grab onto. Lots of Jumping!

It is such an interesting museum and was lovely to go around at my own pace. Well worth visiting if you ever happen to be in Halifax.

tells the story and history of those you sought a new life in Canada. It’s a small museum but well worth taking one of the guided tours in what is a very historic building. We probably spent 90 mins inside.

Excellent interactive display showing who came from what country over Canada’s history!

Very informative & well organized.

Outstanding. Very well laid out, both in subject matter and timeline. Exhibits well lit and at a good height, little bending way down to see something. Story of how immigration blended with the creation and founding of the country well done. As a visitor from the U.S. found myself comparing and contrasting U.S. history to add another educational and enlightening angle. Only two times we have an employee describe a section completely redundant to what we could read ourselves on exhibits.

The museum itself is excellent! It’s the staff and setup that really needs work! Started with having 3 employees at the kiosk not doing much (should have been able to buy your tickets here!), but instead you are directed to get tickets at the nearby gift shop??! It was extremely busy there, with lineups for tickets, and the poor gift shop employees not able to help customers with anything else. Guided tours go every hour, so if you miss one, you’re on your own. Don’t take the tour!! The Asian female tour guide that was doing the tour we caught up with, was absolutely terrible! She had only negative remarks to say about how the immigrants were treated by the Canadian government when they arrived; the “terrible” conditions they had to endure; accommodations were “horrible,” nothing positive at all from what we heard. Many immigrants were leaving famine and war torn countries, and even children during World War II were sent to live with distant relatives, but at least all of these people were alive, and had hope! The short film shown in the theatre was much more positive from different immigrants points of view, as well as the signage around the exhibition hall, was positive. The exhibits were very informative and enlightening. It was well presented and educational.

Great experience. Love both sides of the museum. Fair price for Seniors. Staff is very helpful. Makes yiu so proud to be,a Canadian.

Good family experience to do right at the port. No shuttles needed, right at the dock. Good for limited time, very informative. Very handicapped accessible.

Helpful staff found the record of my grandparents and mother's ship within seconds using only the very limited info we provided about departure point and year. The guided tour portion was very moving and informative. Enjoyed the short movie on Canadian experience of immigration. Highly recommend this museum to anyone who immigrated to Canada or with ancestors who immigrated (so almost everyone unless you have indigenous roots).

This museum is definitely worth visiting! Highly recommend to anyone who had family members immigrate to Canada - no matter where from, or whether their point of entry was Pier 21 in Halifax or not. The Family History Centre is an amazing free service, where you can get help tracing family history and immigration records.

Guide was knowledgeable. I learned a lot of history and expanded my understanding of immigration. Appreciated the fold up chairs we could carry around to use if necessary.

Excellent portrayal of the early years of immigration- very balanced approach with lots of first hand personal stories.

The 30 min tour with the museum guide provided a nice overview of the immigrant experience post war. The diorama recreation of the immigration port, rooms was well done, as was the cabins. Following the tour was a modern film of immigrants to Canada which was also very informative. As well, there is a research library that can provide documents of your family who landed at any of Canada ‘s port. They will sell you the documents if they are older than 75 y. Any landed immigrants info less than 75 y is protected information. It is cool to look up your ancestry if you have the specifications such as name , year of landing , death , residences. There could be a line up for this service so get there early.

Check out the Scotia Bank Family History Centre. Bring as much information that you have about your ancestor to narrow your search. I would also suggest the guided tour of the Immigration Museum, it gave life to my great grandparents experiences coming to Canada in the 1880's.

I am so glad we walked a bit further down the Halifax waterfront to spend some time at Pier 21. Every Canadian should see this museum. There is an office that can help find information about when/how your ancestors arrived in Canada. I did not come prepared with any information, so did not do this, but wish I had known ahead of time. The museum has both early Canadian and more modern immigration information. Well worth a visit!

A trip back in time. So many Canadians (>1M) have a connection to Pier 21.

As someone who was born and raised in Halifax, I have always been incredibly proud of Pier 21 and the important role it played in Canada's history. Growing up, I remember visiting the museum on school trips, where I first learned about this important chapter of our country's past. Recently, I returned with my family and my boyfriend's family, who had travelled from another country, because I wanted them to experience one of the most historically significant sites in our province. I was genuinely disappointed to discover that the original Oceans of Hope film, which had concluded the museum experience for many years, has been replaced. The original film beautifully captured the stories of the millions of immigrants, refugees, war brides, children, and families who passed through Pier 21 between 1928 and 1971. It provided an emotional and historically appropriate conclusion to a tour focused on that specific period in Canadian history. Although the new multimedia presentation includes interviews with at least two individuals who immigrated through Pier 21 before it closed as an immigration centre, much of its focus shifts to immigration experiences that occurred after the site had already ceased operating in that role. As a result, it feels disconnected from the historical timeline visitors have just spent the tour learning about. One of the strengths of Pier 21 has always been its honest portrayal of history. It does not shy away from difficult topics, including the discrimination and restrictive immigration policies that existed at different points in Canada's past. Understanding these realities is essential because history allows us to recognize how far we have come while reminding us of the lessons we should never forget. While Canada has rightly earned a reputation as a multicultural nation, preserving the history that shaped our country is equally important. Museums exist to preserve history in its proper context. The story of modern multicultural Canada is important, but it should complement—not replace—the interpretation of one of Canada's most significant historical immigration sites. I believe Oceans of Hope was an integral part of telling the story of Pier 21 and the generations of people whose lives were forever changed by passing through its doors. I sincerely hope the museum considers restoring the original film or, at the very least, presenting the newer multimedia experience separately. Doing so would preserve the historical integrity of the museum while still allowing visitors to learn about Canada's continuing immigration story. For anyone else who misses Oceans of Hope, I was happy to learn that the film is still available for purchase in the museum's boutique. When I asked what had happened to it, an employee told me that it is one of the most common questions they receive and that many visitors express disappointment about its removal from the museum experience. She then showed me where I could purchase a copy, and I was grateful to be able to bring it home. While I'm glad the film has been preserved in that way, I truly hope future visitors will once again have the opportunity to experience it as the powerful conclusion to the Pier 21 tour.

Interesting information about immigration and what immigrants have to study to become Canadian citizens.

Fascinating insight into stories of some of the over 800K people who passed through this facility on their immigration journey to Canada in the middle section of the 20th Century. Many very positive stories but, as with any country, there have been mistakes, or callous treatment and these do get mentioned. The guides I saw were both immigrants themselves, maybe a deliberate choice, which enhanced the stories they relayed to us. I had a great grandfather who immigrated to Canada but died here whilst his family remained in the UK and I found a little bit of extra information about him, though he didn't pass through Halifax. Thoroughly recommend this museum.

Very educational museum. The walk tour guide is very knowledgable anout the immigration history. The pkace is wonderful with souvenir shops!

Went here before flying back to UK. Spent 3 hours here including a tour by museum employee around the original immigration facility which was enjoyable, informative and at times amusing. She illustrated the tour with stories of those who had passed through the facility in a very effective and moving way. The rest of the museum tells the story of immigration into Canada. While I am sure it waters down some of the issues it does not hide the mistakes that were made. There is effective use of interviews and av material.While we did not use the service there are staff who can help you find out about your relative if they passed through the facility or even I believe if they entered the USA. Well worth the 15CD fee(senior rate).

The museum was decent, nice way to showcase the immigration roots of Canada through halifax. Exhibits of people stories were good. Museum a bit expensive and visit would take an hour or two - good place to visit on a rainy day.

Visiting the Canadian Museum of Immigration was a memorable and enriching experience. The exhibits are thoughtfully presented and offer a fascinating look at the stories, challenges, and contributions of immigrants who helped shape Canada. The interactive displays and personal stories make the experience engaging. I left with a deeper appreciation of Canada's history and cultural diversity. I highly recommend this museum to anyone visiting Halifax—it's both educational and inspiring.

What an amazing place! So much information. Guides are wonderful.

Outstanding explanation of Canadian and US immigration in the last century. The guide leads you through the immigrant experience in a very immersive way. Wonderful subject knowledge and moving exhibits. It was a fascinating and humbling experience. I’m so glad I went.

Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is a must visit for anyone with the migration of ancestry to Canada! The staff is very friendly, helpful, resourceful and knowledgeable. They were able to find all the original documents of my Italian grandparents immigration and every detail of their voyage to Quebec! They printed everything out and placed it in a very nice envelope for me. I donated to the cause as they do this service free of charge. It’s a great service and interesting g place. They kept excellent t records as my grandparents still record went all the way back to 1920!! Amazing documentation that also solved some family mysteries!

Simply wonderful. I was helped to find out more information about my family in Canada than I had imagined was possible. The volunteers and staff embodied all that is positive about Canada. Friendly, welcoming and with a lovely sense of humour. The museum shows the human stories behind so much of Canada’s immigration history. Very moving.

I came to Halifax for a conference, and our Welcome event was held in the museum. It was so interesting to visit the exhibits, see the artifacts, and meet other conference participants in the midst of history. I loved it!

It's a fascinating place and quite well set up. The free tour of the older section upstairs is quite well done. The personal stories and the availability to look up ancestors makes for a nice touch.

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 was excellent! It was the perfect size for an exhibit - you could go through in about an hour and still learn a lot about the history of Pier 21 itself and the immigration experience in Canada in general, or you could stay longer and do tours in English and French, or go deeper into the exhibits using interactive displays. The museum being in the original location where immigrants arrived made it feel like the Ellis Island of Canada, but it was easier to access since you could walk there conveniently from downtown. I especially liked the real-life items brought by immigrants that were displayed throughout, and the examples of life-size train cars both inside the museum and out front. The staff was friendly and above-and-beyond helpful (I lost something I purchased from the wonderful gift shop and they helped return a replacement to me!). I can't recommend this museum more! Thank you so much for having me.

Our group of two adults and two teens had a really fun visit at Pier 21. The exhibits are interactive and the tour guide gave us interesting facts. The most memorable part was the family history section. My teenage son became absorbed while tracing our family roots all the way back to his great-great-great grandparents. Uncovering pieces of our family story was really special, and would have taken me a huge amount of time to do alone. Thank you Clara! Highly recommended for families, including teens.

We were recommended to visit by locals and it was very good. Free guided tour included and very moving. Cafe and shop on site.

$30 Canadian for two over 60 tickets. Nice folks running it. Museum of, “We’re sorry Canada was racist, but we’re nice now!”

What a lovely museum to visit, to explore and know more about the people that have moved to Canada through the last decades/centuries. All the info and facts are really interesting. Our guide, James, was very friendly and knowledgeable. I love the fact that this country celebrates immigration.

Information about immigration that took place in the area. They have a small room for records but not much information before WWII and one worker told me they only research immigration ships after WWII which was disappointing. Another worker, Sarah, was more helpful and found a couple interesting tidbits on my ancestors.

Visiting the museum was beyond our expectations. We took the excellent tour that is included with admission, and then explored on our own. The displays are well organized, engaging, and share intimate stories of many newcomers to Canada while recognizing shifts in government policies. There are many interactive displays and you can take an immigration exam. Highly recommended!

Our grandma and my mom had immigrated through Pier 21, in Nov 1948 so we were very interested in touring the museum to learn about their experience. We had a private tour with James. He was so knowledgeable and shared many stories of other immigrants. He found ways to tie their experience into his talk. It was very emotional to 'walk in their footsteps' as they first entered Canada. We had tears in our eyes at times, and felt goosebumps at other times. Thank you, James, for an amazing experience!

Highly recommended especially the guided tour that was done by Marianne. Lots of great information and stories. The exhibitions are very honest about the light and dark sde of immigration policies of Canada.