We pulled into the
Montreal train station at 9 p.m. the following day. Representatives from the
Canadian Jewish Congress and other war orphans from the earlier transports were there to welcome us. We received clothes and pocket money and were taken to a Congress run centre on Jeanne Mance Street. I went for long walks every day and enrolled in English classes at Baron Byng High School on St. Urbain Street. The Y offered us free memberships and I took full advantage of the swimming pool, gym and other facilities.
I started working nights and weekends at the Richmond Bakeries, as I needed to earn money in order to bring my brother over. After some time Congress rented a room for me with a Jewish family. I didn't like the place because no one talked to each other. I went to Congress and told them I would find my own place. That was my first independent step in Canada and I loved every minute of it.