Related Photos: Library and Archives Canada

The following photographs were taken by the Department of National Defence at the Longue-Pointe reception centre in the fall of 1972. The photographs show the reception area, newcomers lining up for a meal, and interviews with the resettlement officers.

In the 40th Anniversary Edition of Roger St. Vincent’s Seven Crested Cranes, the Canadian Immigration Historical Society contextualized the photos taken by Cpl. Chagnon and Mr. Johnson:

“‘Curry, Cots, and Counselling’ is how the September 28, 1972 Globe and Mail described the reception arrangements the Canadian Military prepared at CFB Longue Pointe outside of Montreal for the 31 chartered flights that carried over 4,400 of the refugees to Canada. The facility had a hospital and a nursery, and the capacity to accommodate up to one thousand newcomers at a time. Immigration formalities, orientation, and decisions about final destinations were attended to by counsellors from the Department of Manpower and Immigration and a range of voluntary agencies. The new arrivals were issued warm clothing and the children, on the first flight at least, were given plastic mountie dolls and Ookpiks. The reception team was particularly proud of the fact that the army cooks had been given a crash course in Indian cuisine by the Maharajah Restaurant in Montreal. Roger St. Vincent records how quickly word of the warm reception filtered back to Kampala.”

These images are located in the Department of National Defence fonds at Library and Archives Canada, and are reproduced here with permission. The reference numbers for each photograph are provided in the caption of the photo, and the images can also be viewed on the Library and Archives Canada website.

MIKAN 4332943 – Refreshments of many sorts were served on an around the clock basis to the many Ugandan Asians that were processed at CFB Montreal Longue Pointe upon their arrival in Canada.

Mr. and Mrs. Anil Lalani receive accommodation instructions while Cpl. Robert Boudreau makes arrangements on the phone. (Caption - Seven Crested Cranes) — MIKAN 4332937 – Mr. and Mrs. Anil Lalani receive accommodation instructions while Cpl. Robert Boudreau makes arrangements on the phone. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

Man serves food to refugee woman and child — MIKAN 4332931

Member of CAF escorts child off of a bus — MIKAN 4332939 – A member of the CAF, working at Longue Pointe on Operation UGX, helps a young arrival off the bus at the reception centre. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

Ugandan Asian family has papers checked by CAF member — MIKAN 4332929

Woman helps feed refugee baby with a bottle — MIKAN 4332934

CAF member with child in a high chair — MIKAN 4332932

MIKAN 4332933 – Pte. Louis Thibeault of CFB Valcartier displays food typical of what was served to the Ugandan Asians at CFB processing centre, Longue Pointe. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

MIKAN 4332936 – A Ugandan couple receives refreshments at the reception centre in Longue Pointe after a long and tiring flight to Canada from Uganda. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

MIKAN 4332944 – Children having a picnic on the floor of the CAF reception centre at Longue Pointe. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

MIKAN 4332946 – Members of the CAF UGX team assist a Ugandan polio victim from the bus to the reception centre at Longue Pointe. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

MIKAN 4332928 – A Ugandan couple is processed through the transportation section in Longue Pointe upon their arrival in Canada. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

Woman holds baby at Longue Pointe — MIKAN 4332945

A Sikh man receiving citation as the 2000th refugee, Longue Pointe, 27 October 1972. — MIKAN 4332926

Child holds stack of newspaper the "Canadian Indian Times" — MIKAN 4332938 – The Canadian India Times made for interesting reading for the Ugandan Asians upon their arrival at CFB Longue Pointe processing centre. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

MIKAN 4332942 – Lt. Carol McGinty working on Operation UGX assists some Ugandan mothers with their children in the nursery at the reception centre in Longue Pointe. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

Bienvenue - Welcome and a large Canadian flag greet the Ugandan Asians upon their arrival at the reception centre in Longue Pointe — MIKAN 4332941 – Bienvenue – Welcome and a large Canadian flag greet the Ugandan Asians upon their arrival at the reception centre in Longue Pointe (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

MIKAN 4332930 – Ugandan Asians arriving at CFB Longue Pointe receive specially prepared Indian cuisine. The CAF cooks received professional instruction on the correct way to prepare different types of curried dishes. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

MIKAN 4332940 – Major D.O. Tinklin Commanding Officer, CFB Montreal, Longue Pointe talks to a Ugandan couple upon their arrival at the reception centre in Longue Pointe. (Caption – Seven Crested Cranes)

Citation: Reception of Ugandan Asian Refugees at Longue Pointe Canadian Forces, October 1972
© Government of Canada. Reproduced with the permission of Library and Archives Canada (2015).
Source: Library and Archives Canada/Department of National Defence fonds/e011052344