The War Orphans Project

[Text: Arriving in Canada under the War Orphan’s project, Regina describes the challenges she faced after settling in Vancouver.] 

Regina Feldman: Well, my arrival in Vancouver was also disappointing. My prospective family at the time, who were supposed to be home and waiting for me, were not at home, did not wait for me. We arrived with my suitcase in hand, and we came up and there was nobody home. So, they left the suitcase, I remember, on the stairs, and they took me back in the car. And they drove me down to her store. She had a store on Kingsway. And there I sat until closing time. And then I went home with them.  

Interviewer: Who were they? 

Regina Feldman: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Brooke. They’re both deceased. It wasn’t easy for them either. They were already, I think, Mom must have been my age then. And Dad was about 14 or 15 years older than Mom. So here I am, a girl in their house, you know, who’s 15 years old, 15 and a half. Both their sons have grown, and one was married and so on. And yet they gave me a home, and they were very good to me, Jean. I cannot deny the fact that they were good to me. But I couldn’t adjust to their way of life. It wasn’t my way of life. Mom was a business lady. I wanted a mother. And she couldn’t give me that. With Dad, I got along better because he was retired, and he was home. So, we were a little closer. But Mom I couldn’t please. No matter what I did, I couldn’t please her. So, I arrived in February. I went to school. I stayed with them until the end of the year. I remember, I celebrated my 16th birthday at her house. She had a few friends over. And I went to school during that time. She registered me at Prince of Wales school. And I remember the teacher’s name was Mr. Clark. I have a picture of him too. And I studied. I wanted very much to pick up the English language. You have to realize all these different countries; you have to learn your languages. And by the end of the year, I realized that I couldn’t stay with them. It just wasn’t what I ... I wanted to be more independent. So, I went back to the Congress, and I spoke to Jean and I asked them to find me a job. And I want to move and pay my own way.