Canadians nationwide welcomed refugees fleeing dangerous and difficult living conditions after the Vietnam War

May 9, 2024                                    Gatineau, Quebec                             Parks Canada

National historic designations can recall moments of greatness and triumph or cause us to contemplate the complex moments that helped define the Canada of today. Commemoration encourages us to acknowledge the full scope of our shared history and help us reflect on how to build a more inclusive society for present and future generations.

Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, announced the designation of the arrival of Vietnamese refugees in Canada as a national historic event under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration.

Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, refugees facing possible persecution and difficult living conditions fled from Vietnam as well as Cambodia, Laos, and other impacted Southeast Asian areas. Many Vietnamese people braved the dangerous jungle or sea to reach neighbouring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Taiwan. There, they were crowded into refugee camps with the hope of finding a new home. Moved by the dramatic images of refugees stranded aboard the cargo ship Hai Hong in 1978, tens of thousands of Canadians and many organizations registered to sponsor refugees.

Between 1975 and the early 1990s, Canada accepted some 200,000 of these refugees thanks to its immigration policies and the support of Canadians. Canadians across the country helped refugees resettle and rebuild their lives through sponsorship programs. Once settled, the Vietnamese people made numerous contributions to Canada’s economic prosperity and proudly shared their culture with Canadians.

The Government of Canada, through the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, recognizes significant persons, places, and events that have shaped our country as one way of helping Canadians connect with their past. By sharing these stories with Canadians, we hope to foster understanding and reflection on the diverse histories, cultures, legacies, and realities of Canada’s past and present.

The designation process under Parks Canada’s National Program of Historical Commemoration is largely driven by public nominations. To date, more than 2,240 designations have been made nationwide. For more information on how to nominate a person, place or event of historic importance, please visit Parks Canada’s website: 
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc/ncp-pcn/application.

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