LEAVING PORT ESSINGTON FOR NORWAY - 1920

Recent immigrants once they are established in their new country and have the financial means often have the desire to return to the ‘Old Country’ to reestablish ties with family and friends. In was no different for my grandfather Anton Vick in Port Essington. In the spring of 1920 he broached the idea of he and oldest Robert, my father, visiting Norway. My grandmother’s initial reaction, “What, you’re leaving me home alone with two babies!” Eventually she warmed to the idea with the proviso that Anton arrange for one of her sisters to join them in Port Essington.

So at the end of the salmon season Anton and son Robert departed Montreal on September 28 and arrived by ship in Norway on October 11, 1920. Robert was immediately enrolled in school which he took to easily, Norwegian being the language spoken in the home in Port Essington. Father and son returned to Port Essington in time for Anton to prepare the B. A. Cannery’s gillnets for the following fishing season.

What I find particularly interesting about this 100 year old passport is that it wasn’t the Canadian Government requesting that the Vicks be permitted entry to Norway. Rather it was Victor Christian William, the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion of Canada, in the name of His Britannic Majesty requesting that they be allowed to enter another country. Victor Christian William, judging by his impressive string of titles, must have been a very busy fellow indeed!