From 1869 to 1948, more than 100,000 poverty-stricken British children were sent to Canada to start a new life amid strangers. Some of the children ended up being used as indentured farm workers and domestics. These children, known as the British Home Children, were sent to Canada by more than 50 organizations, including Barnardo’s, The Salvation Army, Quarrier’s and Fairbridge.
On November 8, 1869 the very first party of home children arrived in Canada, making this year the 150th anniversary of their arrival.
On September 28, communities in Canada and Great Britain will commemorate the British Home Children by illuminating memorials, monuments, buildings and other sites with the red, white and blue colours of the British Home Children Advocacy and Research Association (BHCARA). The date for the special tribute was chosen as it is British Home Child Day in Canada.
The BHCARA asked cities, towns and community organizations to participate in the Beacons of Light for British Home Children and Child Migrants Tribute by illuminating memorials, monuments, buildings, city halls, or other areas with the association’s red, white and blue colours.
So far, more than 170 communities and organizations in Canada, England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to participate. Landmarks that will be lit include Niagara Falls, Toronto’s CN Tower, and St. Andrews House, the headquarters of the Scottish government in Edinburgh.
The latest list of communities participating appears at the bottom of the BHCARA home page.
Who Do You Think You Are? magazine yesterday published online an article about the children, entitled Who were the British Home Children?.
Several newspapers also published articles about British Home Children and the sesquicentennial.
My grandfather was Albert Harry Hart from Portsmouth Enland and had a sister who can later I believe. Ellen Hart. Do you have any information on these two. Thank you.
…and many of us, who are descendants, are also participating by leaving on our porch lights all night; flying a commemorative flag; writing articles; making speeches; or hosting a local event. Starting tomorrow night, September 27th, I will be turning on my Christmas lights for the entire weekend as my way to honour my grandmother and all other British Home children 🙂