I Would Be...

My ancestry traces back to a few countries, including France and Britain, but the country I connect most to is Scotland. My Great Grandparents moved from Scotland to Quebec, where they started a family. When the great depression came, it was tough to find jobs in Canada. They saved up all of their money and moved themselves and their family back to Scotland where my Grandfather was born. In Scotland, my Grandfather lived in Glasgow and attended Govan High School. He had a few part-time jobs, one of them being “helping the milkman deliver dairy,” and “most of the money that he earned he gave to my Great Grandmother to help with expenses” (Karen Melanson, 2017).

Govan Highschool, 1930's

The Empress of Scotland, 1940-50

My Great Grandma and Grandpa Mason

My Grandpa Mason, September 1936

My Grandfather (center) and His Brothers

In 1951 when times were better, my Great Grandfather came to Canada by himself, where he got a job as a mechanic, and bought a house. A few months later, in July, my Great Grandmother, Great Aunt, and my Grandfather boarded the ‘Empress of Scotland’ and sailed to Canada. My Grandfather was 15 years old at this time, and he had to move with his parents because of his age. “If he was any older, he said that he would have stayed in Scotland (Grandma Mason, 2017).” On July 23 1951, they came to shore in Canada. About 200 000 people immigrated to Canada in 1951. My Grandpa started school in Canada, but they set him back 2 years because he was not a Canadian citizen at the time. He stayed in school for a little while longer, but then decided to stop going to school because he figured it was pointless. If he were still in Scotland, he would have already graduated. He didn’t get his high school diploma. He did however have many jobs. “He picked up odd jobs wherever he could” (Wilma Mason, 2017). Some of these jobs being working for a creamery, and in a movie theater. He later got a job working for the Avro Arrow, where he met my Grandmother. He got his Canadian citizenship on May 23 1958.

The Avro Arrow, 1950's

Certificate of Purchase of the House my Great Grandfather Bought When he Moved to Canada

My Grandfather's Old Passport Photo From the Late 1950's

My Grandfather's Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, 1958

If I was living in Scotland right now, my life would be very similar to my life in Canada. I would still have a free education up until the age of 18. In Scotland, their schooling system is fairly similar to our own. Primary school is for children aged 5-12. After primary school, there are two levels of secondary school. The first is from ages 12-14 and is similar to middle school. The second level is for ages 15-18. At 16 years old, I would need to start taking nation assignments and exams. After taking these exams, I would have the choice to leave school, or to stay in school and study for University or college (British Council, 2016). In college or University, I would probably be studying to be a nurse or a teacher, as there are many positions available and workers needed in those areas. Popular occupation areas  include tourism and hospitality, and finance and business (The Telegraph, 2015). 72.3% of people in Scotland are employed, and 6.9% are unemployed. The rest of the population is either still in school, or retired (Scottish Government, 2016). The cost of living in Scotland is around the same as the cost of living in Canada, at about $300 000 CAD. The cost of groceries, vehicles, and taxes are lower in Scotland than it is in London (Talent Scotland, 2017). In Scotland, there is also free healthcare, and their government is trying to make Scotland a  “wealthier and fairer, smarter, healthier, safer and stronger and greener” country (Talent Scotland, 2017). The Scottish Government is very similar to the Canadian Government, in that they have members of parliament for each of the counties who vote on new laws (Talent Scotland, 2017). Statistics show that out of all of the people living in the United Kingdom, people living in Scotland have the best quality of life (Independent, 2016). These statistics are based on health, safety, education, the quality of the environment, rights and freedoms, and acceptance (Independent, 2016).

Map of Scotland, Circling Glasgow

To conclude, if my Grandfather never moved to Canada and I was living in Scotland right now, my life would not be very different to how it is at the moment in Canada. By doing this project, I feel closer to my Scottish heritage and to my Grandfather. I don't have too many photographs of me and my Grandpa because he was usually the one taking the pictures, but these are a few of my favourites.

My Grandfather and I, 2001

My Grandfather and I washing the Dishes, Summer 2003

My Grandparents and I on Midland Boat Cruise, Summer 2005

My Grandfather's Birthday, September 2005

Works Cited

Agerholm, Harriet. “Scotland Ranked the Best Place in the UK for Quality of Life.” Independent, 11 Oct. 2016, www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/scotland-quality-of-life-table-rankings-best-in-uk-a7355016.html. Accessed 6 Jan. 2017.

Anderson, Elizabeth. “Here Are the Workers Most in Demand in the UK.” The Telegraph, 14 May 2015, www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/11602670/Here-are-the-workers-most-in-demand-in-the-UK.html. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.

Canadian Department of Nation Defence. “The Avro Arrow.” Retro Thing, James Grahame, 27 Mar. 2008, www.retrothing.com/2008/03/the-forgotten-5.html. Accessed 3 Jan. 2017.

“Canadian Pacific Official Postcard of Empress of Scotland.” Simplon, 2006, www.simplonpc.co.uk/EmpressOfScotlandPCs.html. Accessed 3 Jan. 2017.

“Cost of Living in Scotland.” Talent Scotland, 2017, www.talentscotland.com/live/living/information-about-living/cost-of-living. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.

“Education in Scotland.” Talent Scotland, 2017, www.talentscotland.com/live/living/information-about-living/education. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.

“Finding a Place to Live in Scotland.” Talent Scotland, 2017, www.talentscotland.com/live/living/information-about-living/housing. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.

“Govan High School.” Govan History, www.govanhistory.org.uk/agc_chapter_five_44.html. Accessed 3 Jan. 2017.

“Healthcare in Scotland.” Talent Scotland, 2017, www.talentscotland.com/live/living/information-about-living/healthcare. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.

“How Schools Work in Scotland.” British Council, 2016, eal.britishcouncil.org/learners/how-schools-work-scotland. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.

“Key Industries.” The Official Gateway to Scotland, www.scotland.org/live-and-work-in-scotland/key-industries. Accessed 9 Jan. 2017.

“Labour Market Trends for Employment, Unemployment and Inactivity.” Scottish Government, 14 Dec. 2016, www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Labour-Market/LMTrends. Accessed 6 Jan. 2017.

Mason, Wilma. Telephone interview. 1 Jan. 2017.

Melanson, Karen. Interview. 1 Jan. 2017.

“Population Fluctuations.” Statistics Canada, 29 June 2016, www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-630-x/11-630-x2016006-eng.htm. Accessed 6 Jan. 2017.

“Scotland Rail Map Showing Glasgow.” European Rail Guide, 2017, www.europeanrailguide.com/destinationguides/glasgow/maps. Accessed 3 Jan. 2017.