Because they refused to bear arms, they were considered heretics and faced systematic prejudice from the Russian government.

As the world became aware of the plight of these folks and the Russian government's aggressive tactics, allies emerged who advocated for their freedom. In 1898, the Russian Tsar granted permission to this group of conscientious objectors to leave Russia on the conditions that they pay for their own passage and never return.

My great grandparents arrived in Canada via Hamburg in 1911.

That is half of the story of how I came to be born in Canada.