British immigrant children from Dr. Barnardo’s Homes.
It has been 150 years since the first British Home Children came to Canada to work, and their stories make up a great deal of our history, including Chatham-Kent.
Lori Oschefski, CEO of the British Home Children Advocacy & Research Association, has been working to bring those stories to light – literally, with Sept. 28 marked as British Home Children Day in Canada, and many communities are ready to light up local landmarks.
Locally, Sharon Kean has been working to have the day recognized by Chatham-Kent council, which has agreed to lighting up the Civic Centre atrium in red, white and blue for the weekend of Sept. 28 for British Home Child Day.
Kean has relatives that were part of the BHC.
According to a letter from Oschefski, from 1869 right up to 1948, more than 100,000 children of all ages were emigrated right across Canada, from the United Kingdom, to be used as indentured farm workers and domestics. Believed by Canadians to be orphans, only two percent truly were.
“These children, known as the British Home Children (BHC) and Child Migrants, were sent to Canada by over 50 organizations including the well-known and still working charities: Barnardo’s, The Salvation Army, Quarrier’s and Fairbridge, to name a few. BHC is an integral part of the fabric of our nation – often, rightfully, called Canada’s Nation Builders. Their vast contributions to our country should never be forgotten. Descendants of BHC, number in the millions in Canada alone,” Oschefski wrote.
“On Nov. 8, 1869 the very first party of BHC arrived in Canada, making 2019 the 150th anniversary of this arrival. The date of Sept. 28 has been chosen for a special international tribute as this date is commemorated nationally as British Home Child Day in Canada; a unanimous passage of MP Guy Lauzon’s private member’s motion M-133 in the House of Commons, Feb. 7, 2018.”
The initiative for this tribute started when BHCARA member Kim Crowder approached Oschefski for support in the illumination of the High Level Bridge in her city of Edmonton, Alta. Since then, many members have become involved reaching out in their communities for support.
BHCARA member Tracy Smithers contacted the queen and received a prompt letter of support back from her, Oschefski noted.
The BHCARA is asking communities 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 colours of the BHCARA – red, white and blue. Cities and towns are also participating by proclaiming this day as “British Home Child Day” in their community. Some cities are sharing this message on their digital billboards.
The tribute is a symbolic gesture showing these children, in their sesquicentennial year, are not forgotten. Many Canadian and UK cities have agreed to participate with more than 65 supporters to date, including the iconic Niagara Falls, Toronto’s CN Tower, The Northern Lights Display in Vancouver and St. Andrews House – headquarters of the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Town of Midland and Orillia are participating by proclaiming Sept. 28 as BHC Day in their cities.
A full listing of our supporters can be viewed at www.britishhomechildren.com.
“The BHC is a critical part of our nation’s fabric; this country was built on the backs of these children. We would appreciate your support in sharing the news of this important and extraordinary tribute to Canada’s Nation Builders,” Oschefski said.
