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* Tamils Journey 1986

On August, 11, 1986, Newfoundlanders opened their doors and welcomed 155 Tamil men, women and children who were stranded on life boats off the coast of St. Mary. In an attempt to find a home where they could live with dignity, these refugees spent nearly two weeks on a merchant vessel and then were stranded for over three days with little to no food or water before being found by the crew of a local fishing boat. These courageous refugees survived the sea for those days by their tenacity alone.

We Remember

Why This Event

The admirable action of these local fishermen in choosing to rescue these refugees makes this a historic rescue in modern day Canadian history. However, the generosity shown by these local fishermen and the people of Newfoundland has never been acknowledged in a public forum. As citizens of Canada and members of the Tamil community, it is important that we take the time to acknowledge this important event as part of our history. And, celebrate the courageous spirit and strength of those refugees.

On the 35th anniversary to remember and reflect on this unique moment in Canadian history, the Canadian Tamil Congress will be hosting a virtual event on Wednesday August 11th 2021: 12:30 PM. It will commemorate this landmark event, celebrate our great country which provided the refugees a new chance at life, as well as the local Newfoundland fishing crew that saved the refugees at sea and the community that took them in and supported them. The second part of this event will include a hybrid live-documentary titled In the Wake of Time.
 
The event will be broadcast LIVE on the CTC Facebook page and the CTC YouTube channel.
  • Civil war broke out in 1983, and had killed more than 4,000 people in the three years’ time, including many in bus bombings and rebel raids on troop positions and villages.
  • Rhetoric was heating up in the country, with the President at the time warning of fullscale war against Tamil separatists if the peace plan at that time failed.
  • More than 125,000 Tamils had fled to India since the July 1983.
  • With several thousands claiming political asylum and refugee status in West Germany, Switzerland, France, Britain, Sweden, Netherlands, United States, and Canada.
  • Many were leaving due to poverty, and religious and political persecution.
  • The killings between 1983 to 1986 were over 8,000 with 83 riots and 3000 massacres especially in the East
Honouring Rescue Team of Tamil Journeys 86 on its 25th Anniversary
Honouring Rescue Team of Tamil Journeys 86 on its 30th Anniversary
Honouring Captain Gus Dalton in January 2012
Canadian Prime Minister views Tamil Journeys 86 lifeboat at Tamil Fest 2017