Remembering arrivals of refugees by boat in a Canadian context

Abstract

On 12 July 1987, 174 people traveled from Rotterdam to Charlesville, Nova Scotia, on the Amelie in search of asylum. In Canadian national newspapers, their arrival was immediately turned into a crisis of securitization, which is common practice for such events. Conversely, local reports portrayed this event as a critical moment when regional Canadian identity was performed through commonly understood and commonly practiced all-inclusive hospitality. This article will look at how collective memories were produced and circulated on various levels in press reports, with a focus on the way local memories and local press reports supported international views of ideal Canadian humanitarianism and hospitality.