HOF051: Dinh Thanh Son

Dinh Thanh Son left Vietnam in October 1979 at the age of 23 years. He was born in South Vietnam where he spent much of his childhood. Several months before leaving his country, he was studying to become a Catholic priest at a seminary in his hometown. Concerned for his well-being, his family arranged his escape from Vietnam. He boarded a small boat with several other escapees. After spending 4 days at sea, the refugees arrived at Kuku Island in Indonesia. After a week on the island, the refugees were sent to the Galang refugee camp on that island. He spent more than 5 months at the refugee camp.

During his stay in the camp, he requested and was granted asylum to Canada by Canadian immigration officials. At his arrival in Montreal in March of 1980, officials from the Catholic Church in Montreal welcomed him. For a period of time, while being sponsored by the church, he completed French language training provided by the “Centre d’Orientation et de Formation des Immigrants”. He pursued his studies at the “Grand Séminaire de Montréal” and was ordained a Catholic priest in1987.