No, this is something I've never done before in a blog entry. This is an interview. With someone FAMOUS! His name is Will Millar, and he was once a member of the famous Canadian band: The Irish Rovers. You've probably heard the name before, even if you never knew it was a band. You can check out their history, here, at Wikipedia. It's pretty interesting, if you're at all into that kinda stuff. Also, you can check out their famous song, The Unicorn, right here:
Without further ado, here is my interview with Mr. Millar:
Hello Mr. Millar, thanks for taking the time to answer a few of my questions.
When did you move to Canada?
I first immigrated with my family in 1954.
Why did you decide to move away from Ireland?
Times were hard in Ireland at that time and Canada promised a better life.
What/who did you leave behind?
We left behind a small farm of 8 acres and 2 cows, as well as all my relatives, including my sister, who stayed in Ireland.
What made you choose Canada, as opposed to another country (like the United States)?
Canada at that time was anxious to populate the country with British subjects, since it was still a part of the British Empire. They offered free immigration for those who were willing to work, so my Father took the emigration boat and the family followed 6 months later after he had found a home and work. I was so excited about going that I could hardly sleep for weeks thinking about the adventure.
Now that you live here, what is your favourite part about the country?
Of course, my favorite part is the Cowichan Valley in B.C. We are blessed to live in such a beautiful and peaceful part of the world.
Is Canada anything like what you expected it to be? What surprised you most about the country?
It was everything that I had expected and more. I had watched travel movies and read library books all about this country. I kind of expected cowboys and igloos when I arrived in Halifax! The vastness of the country was the big surprise. Ireland of course is a small island that could fit into lake Ontario. So just imagine how I felt when I first took the train across the wide-open prairies of Saskatchewan.
Do you notice differences in the attitudes and behaviours of people in Canada when compared to those of people back in Ireland?
Not really, since Toronto in those days, and especially the circle of our friends, were mostly immigrants like ourselves. High school was different and much less regulated than the strict school system in Ireland. Being a tough little street kid from the North of Ireland, I got in a fight my first day of high school when some tall skinny kid called me a DP- I wasn’t sure what that was but I hit him anyway! After that we became friends.
I found out later that a DP meant displaced person (this was a kind of racial slur used in Canada after WWII, when so many arrivals came to Canada without a country). By the way, that tall skinny kid became an immigration lawyer helping people settle in Canada.
Was it difficult for you to adapt to a Canadian lifestyle?
No, since I was a young teenager and soon became a young Canadian teenager. Hair do, cars, clothes, accent and all. Young people find it easier to adapt than older people. My parents never lost their Irish ways.
Have you found Canadians to be accepting of who you are and where you came from?
Yes indeed- it helped that I became a performer with the Irish Rover group and a lot of people in Canada watched my TV show. I was lucky I guess that I was made welcome everywhere I travelled. And believe me, I travelled to every part of this incredible country.
Do you continue to practice any cultural traditions that began in Ireland?
Yes I still practice the art of a good argument so much favoured in Ireland. I still play Ireland’s music and tell silly Irish jokes. i.e How can you tell the Irishman in a car wash?? Answer: He’s the one on the motorbike!
What kinds of things/people/places did you enjoy in Ireland that are no longer available to you here?
The great thing about Canada is that you can keep your own traditions and Canada has adopted a lot of Irishness (pubs, Maritime music, etc) - I do miss the ancient history that is around every village in Ireland. Like old castles and ancient Celtic sites.
Do you ever go back to visit Ireland? Do you feel a sense of pride in your home country?
Yes I am lucky to be able to back quite often and as the old song says “Some might think it a misfortune to be christened Pat or Dan- But to me it is an honour to be called an Irishman!”
Cole, I have attached an excerpt from my book “Messing About in Boats”. In this book I wrote a bit about the experience.
This excerpt is part of the display at Canada’s great immigration museum at Pier 21 in Halifax.
Well, that's all folks. Hope you enjoyed it. (Hey at least there was a REASON for this blog post, it wasn't just a random bit on implosions). So then, until next time, I'm....
-Funkin' Out
