Sudetens took their place in Kanada

Sudetens took their place in Canada

From a report issued by H.J.Siemens, District Superintendent, Canada Colonization Association

The Sudeten settlers have responded well to Canadian Citizenship responsibilities. Seventeen settlers or settler’s sons served in the Canadian Air Force during the last war. Seventy five settlers have obtained Canadian Naturalisation Certificates. On the first of July 1965, they combined a Dominian Day celebration with the formal opening of their “Tomslake Community Hall, which was attended by Mr. Oliver Callaham, B.C., Agent of the Peace River Block

One of the men expressed the sentiments in the following manner:

Sudeten Memorial Tomslake B.C.

Sudeten Museum Tomslake B.C.

Tomslake is the Sudeten’s home in Canada. We left Czechoslovakia to get out of the way of Hitler. We had hopes that we might return after Hitler was gone. But now the communists are in control and that is worse than Hitler, Everything that represented home to us has been destroyed and there is nothing left to attract us to return. Sudeten from all over Canada come to Toms Lake to spend their holidays. They all regard this settlement as their new home in Canada.

Supervision

Taken from an article by H.J.Siemens ..

The organisation and supervision of this settlement was considered by the Canadian Colonization Association, a subsidiary of the department of Colonization an Immigration of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The supervisory staff consisted of a chief supervisor, , c=several assistant supervisors and an accountant. Out of the settlement funds $ 100 per family and $ 50 per single man were provided for supervisory expenses, a total of $ 17,000. Supervision began March 1939 and ceased in January 1943.

Settlers

These people came from the western part of Czechoslovakia, commonly known as Sudetenland, Very few of them had any experience in farming. They were mostly employees of various industries and professions. Their labour union psychology was highly developed and, being permanently a minority group of their home country, they had acquired the habit of distrusting whatever Government was in power. Professionally they represented about 30 trades and industries. Hence, in learning to farm in this new country they had to start from the beginning.

Holding Company

The Tate Creek Development Company was formed during the first year to serve as purchasing and holding company of all land, stock and equipment. Bulk purchased by this company were later divided and transferred to individual settlers. The first officers were all C.P.R. officials serving without pay. Later these officers were replaced by settlers, the capital stock was transferred equally to all settlers and the land and equipment remaining at the close of supervision became community property under the control of this company, the settlers own organisation. During the four years of supervision the Canada Colonization Association served as managers of the holding company.

Community Stores

A commissary or general store was set up at the outset from which tools, clothing, and groceries were distributed. At the end of the first year the settlers themselves were encouraged to organize into a cooperative society which took over the stock and management. In 1942 this co-op had a turnover of about $ 35.000, apart from their cooperative livestock shipping activities. A butcher shop was provided, staffed by one of the settlers, supplying the settlers with meat. Later this developed into a business privately owned by the original settler. A harness shop and a blacksmith shop were provided in the same manner than the butcher shop.

Schools, Church and Community Hall

During the first summer a new two-roomed school was built by the settlers themselves in the centre of the settlement. Settler living nearer the outer limits send their children to other schools already established. All schools are staffed by Canadian teachers under the control of the Department of Education.

The Catholic Church constructed a fine frame church building the first summer and have a regular resident Priest in charge.

The settlers built an artistic log community hall during the first winter, where social and business gatherings are held.

The long Journey to Tomslake B.C





After a long journey across Canada the train stopped in Tupper, B. C.  and the last  3 waggons were uncoupled to spill out the new settlers. 

A new chapter

Finally 518  people arrived at the Tate Creek Ranch at Tupper what  became the location of what was called Sudeten settlement. They were city people with no agricultural experience.

Without doubt the men in charge of accommodating large groups of urban people in an isolated area  McConell, the CCA supervisor faced many problems to deal with.

He wrote: "There were only two trains per week from Edmonton three hundred miles away, there was no truck traffic." For some reason he never knew in advance how many people would arrive at any particular time. "Other standard supplies were often difficult to obtain. The source of the greatest annoyance is a constant shortage of inventories. Limited transportation facilities, shortage of stocks in Edmonton and the very short notice we receive of the movement of families makes it impossible to keep up with daily requirement We have presently only two stoves for the last twelve families."

Eventually they all settled in. They started farming, lifestock was the main-stay, but also  products from the bush, lumber for farm-buildings, ties for the railways.


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