In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, thousands of immigrants came to Cape Breton from Europe, the West Indies, the United States, and elsewhere to work in iron and steel production. Many settled in Whitney Pier, which became one of the most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods in the Maritimes. There, overlooking the steel plant, the labourers shared a working-class identity that motivated them to form unions, bridge ethnocultural differences, and forge a sense of community. They founded numerous institutions, ranging from benevolent societies to houses of worship, theatrical groups and sporting clubs, many of which continue.