Peter and Dini Twynstra’s connection to the Ailsa Craig community runs deep, rooted in the hope for a new beginning that brought their families from a war-torn Holland.
“Our parents’ decision to leave wasn’t easy. Holland was shot up, bankrupt and had no land to expand farming at that time,” says Peter. “Our families came for more opportunity as we couldn’t envision a promising future in a struggling Europe. We had the choice to go to several countries: South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Brazil. However, our parents chose Canada because they were deeply moved by the liberation of Holland by the Canadian military, all volunteers.”
“The farewell party was worse than a wake,” Dini recalls. “Our parents had large families. No one expected to see each other again.”
Dini’s family arrived in 1948 and Peter’s followed in 1951. The bittersweet journey took two weeks by steamboat. At that time, the families had to be sponsored by a Canadian family and were thoroughly inspected medically, financially and criminally.
Though Dini and Peter are from different regions of Holland, fate and farming brought their families together in Ailsa Craig. They married in 1962 and had a son, who now runs the farm, and two daughters.
Peter’s early years saw him working at International Harvester before taking over his father’s farm and building a thriving international export business, a venture that not only provided for his family but also injected prosperity and jobs into the community. Dini was integral to the office operations and states, “Our employees were our greatest assets.”
In the early 1970s, they purchased a local farm from Lyle and Isabelle (Quigg) Stokes. Within a year, the Twynstras were approached by Reverand Wilfred Schlegel representing Nairn Mennonite Church, who wished to purchase a portion of the farm to build a new long-term care home. Craigholme welcomed residents in 1972.
Years later, the Twynstra’s deep-seated connection to the area and a profound sense of gratitude for the opportunities Canada offered spurred a significant act of generosity.
“We felt a strong pull to support the building of a new Craigholme,” says Peter. “My sister worked at the original rest home. Then my dad resided in the current LTC home and my stepmother lived in the apartments.”
“We see this donation as a natural extension of our values and it marked a special birthday,” says Dini. “We are the first generation who have the capacity to give back in a significant way. Everybody does what they can in their own way. We just felt this was the right thing to do, together with our children, and it will improve the community’s future.”
This act of generosity is one of many that have improved lives locally and internationally.
“We feel good about this donation,” says Dini. “We are proud to see the drawings. Isn’t it amazing that a little town like Ailsa Craig can have a beautiful LTCn home like that? And who knows? We or someone we know may need this new home. It’s important for employment and it lets people stay in the community. We hope other people are inspired to support this wonderful project.”
Linda, Steve, Dini, Peter and Sharon Twynstra