Identikit
Name: Leopold Lybeer
Date of birth: unknown
Left: First time in 1911
Travelled: 3 times in Canada
Arrival: First time in 1911
Collection piece: Photo of Leopold, his brother and cousin in Canada, circa 1913-14
The great adventure
Leopold Lybeer was an adventurer. In 1911, he left for Canada with his brother and cousin. His wife and child remained in Belgium. Working on the railways in the undeveloped west was hard work. Bears were dangerous, living conditions difficult and food was scarce. Leopold and his brother gave up. Their cousin remained, but was killed in an explosion only months later.
Second try
In 1914 Leopold was back in Canada. This time with his wife, but without his daughter. In 1920, the family was reunited, but the happiness was short-lived. Leopold's wife died three years later.
Third time's the charm?
Leopold searched for a new wife in Belgium. He married Joanna, and had a son, Frank. They lead a stable life and ran a business in Heist aan Zee. But he still dreamed of Canada. In 1926, he kissed his wife goodbye and left to herd cattle on the other side of the ocean.
Joanna and Frank arrived in 1931. The economic crisis and Joanna's nostalgia put an end to Leopold's adventurous life. He would never forget Canada. His son Frank especially remembers the band that played on the return trip on the Red Star Line ship.
