Our Dream Was Canada

<P>In 1982 I and my husband parents with two young children made a big decision. We fled our country Czechoslovakia to find our way to Canada and to start a new life there. As most citizens behind the iron curtain we felt increasing limitations of our personal freedom and our lack of defense against these. However the main reason behind our decision was the worsening condition of the natural environment. In those days in Czechoslovakia I worked in the environmental field and was also taking postgraduate courses dealing with environment. I was not permitted to publish news about the deterioration of the environment but because of my studies I heard the bad news gloomy statistics and hopeless prognosis. I was alarmed and finally deeply depressed. What to do? Where to move? When even our mountains our home showed the undeniable signs of pollution from no loacal cuases we made our decision. <p>A holiday in Yugoslavia provided for us the only oportunity to get out of the country with both children. From there we had hoped to continue to Western countries. We managed it despite the obstacles but our stay in a German refugee camp extended over a year. Unfortunately for us the Canadian government did not support our application for immigration. Our qualifications and experience in forestry and environment were not in demand so our only chance for immigration to Canada was to obtain a sponsor.<p>Finally we were sponsored and in the Fall of 1983 and we landed in Canada in Toronto. It took an additional two years before we came to the place where we had dreamed of living the Rocky Mountains.