I wanted to speak on behalf of Marion's sister, Annette. She couldn't come today, but she asked me to read a brief letter, if I could, just so that I could speak on her behalf. It begins:
To Whom It May Concern:
Finding out that I might not be a Canadian Citizen was a terrible blow to me.
I cried for weeks, until my niece Lisa and her husband Doug stepped in to help my sister and I.
Growing up in the South Shore town of Liverpool, N.S., I was always told I was a Canadian, when I was asked the question.
My Grandparents and two Aunts helped to raise us, after my mother passed away, four years after entering the country.
My Grandfather fought in World War I and my father (his son) fought in World War II.
Dad joined at the age of nineteen and got out at the age of 26 after the war.
He came back with the Army, and my mother, sister, and I. We came over on the hospital ship Letitia. We came on that ship because mom had two young children under the age of five.
I hope that anyone, going through what I have over this, can also get the help they need.
Being older and finding this out is much worse as I would have dealt with this long ago had I known there was a problem.
I think people that are in this position should be made aware and helped as much as possible, because you get so many conflicting answers to your questions.