The Longue-Pointe Log Book
Upon arrival at Montreal-Dorval International Airport, Ugandan Asian refugees were welcomed and transported to a reception聽centre聽at Longue-Pointe, Canadian Forces Base Montreal.聽Refugees were given accommodation, meals, resettlement services, and winter clothing at the base before moving on to settle聽in various places聽across the country.
One of the officers who assisted at Longue-Pointe聽reception centre聽was Chief Warrant Officer Randall of the Canadian Armed Forces. C.W.O. Randall recorded information from each incoming chartered flight of refugees from Uganda.聽For each flight he recorded聽in a register聽the family names of the incoming passengers, the number of bags carried with them, and the information for their destination.
The log book was donated to the Uganda collection in 2016. It is a unique document that gives insight into where the newcomers聽initially settled in the days following their arrival to Canada. It also provides travel information about the chartered flights from Uganda, and the ways in which people travelled to their next destinations within Canada.
A PDF version of the log book聽(44.75MB)聽is available, as well as a searchable spreadsheet (.xlxs) of the information provided. 聽The physical copy of the log book is available for viewing with the collection at Archives and Special Collections, 杏吧原创 University Library.
Banner photo credit: Ben Nelms