Celebrating Indochinese refugees and those who helped them

After the fall of Saigon in 1975, thousands of Indochinese were forced to flee. Hear from some of the Indochinese “boat people” who found safety in Canada.

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Transcript for “Celebrating Indochinese refugees and those who helped them” Video

Video length: 1:38 minutes

A black and white montage of photos shows various small boats on the water, each carrying several passengers.

NARRATOR: 40 years ago, the fall of Saigon forced thousands of Vietnamese people to flee their homes. Many left in small boats, braving the South China Seas in the hopes of finding refuge.

A black and white montage shows several people in cramped sleeping quarters and then shows children standing behind a chain-link fence. 

NARRATOR: Over the following few years, Canada resettled 60,000 Indochinese “boat people,” most thanks to the generous support of private sponsors. It was a dramatic beginning for CIC’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

A female narrator speaks in front of a draped curtain.

Text displays: “Tuyet Lam – Former Refugee”

TUYET LAM: Having escaped from my country that we had no future, nothing, and sacrificed everything just to be here in search for freedom.  To accept the number of refugees like every year and also increased the number of private sponsorships, I think these things that define Canada.  And CIC is playing an important role in promoting these values.

A female narrator speaks in French in front of a draped curtain.

Text displays: “Lan Ton – Former Refugee”

LAN TON: Canada really did a lot for refugees. For Vietnamese refugees in particular, Canada received an award for its humanitarian efforts. All Canadians came together to welcome the Vietnamese people many years ago.

A female narrator speaks in front of a draped curtain.

TUYET LAM: Thank you, Canada.

A female narrator speaks in front of a draped curtain.

LAN TON: Thank you, Canada.

The Citizenship and Immigration Canada corporate signature and the copyright message “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2015” are displayed followed by the Canada wordmark.