Submitted by Susan Brazeau

The year is 1869. The place is the old jailhouse in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. The event is the arrival of Maria Rye, a philanthropist, evangelical and social reformer from England.

With her are 67 girls between the ages of four and 13 who would make the remodelled jailhouse their temporary residence. Called ‘Our Western Home,' it was the first of what came to be known as “receiving” or “distributing” homes for children across Canada.

british-home-child

The event signaled the beginning of the child migration scheme, a multi-government funded program that permitted almost 50 organizations from the United Kingdom to bring over 100,000 children between four and 18 years of age to Canada. Their average age was 12.

Called home children, and later, British Home Children, they were indentured to Canadian families as farm labourers, domestic servants and mother's helpers. Most never saw, nor had any contact with family members again. Although the program officially ended in 1939, with some children arriving as late as 1948, it is an era of our history that most Canadians know very little, if anything, at all. Yet, it is estimated there are four million descendants today.

Barnardo's Industrial Farm for Boys, Russell, Manitoba c1900

Contrary to popular belief, few of these were orphans or children who lived on the streets. Research has shown most came from financially destitute or single-parent families, often where one parent had died. Most organizations welcomed all needy children, whether abandoned, orphaned or unwanted. All were provided with safe lodging, good food, new clothing and the promise of a better life in Canada. Once in Canada, however, that promise was not always fulfilled.British Home Child Monument, Pier 21, Halifax, 2019

Although there were many positive stories, most tell of a childhood full of loneliness, fear, abuse and of being valued only as cheap labour. The stigma of shame and unworthiness carried over into adulthood. Because of this, few told their families about their childhood; the home experience had almost been forgotten. It has been only recently that their stories began to emerge.

2019 marks 150 years since that first group of home children arrived on our shores. On Sept. 28, National British Home Child Day, thousands of descendants, including myself, are commemorating the event by lighting up our homes - some with coloured lights, some by leaving their porch lights on all night. Called ‘Beacons of Light,' it is a symbolic gesture of remembrance to these child migrants. We also invited communities, organizations and governments to participate by lighting up in the colours of the Maple Leaf and Union Jack.

So, if you happen to see the city hall in Regina; the CN Tower in Toronto; St. James Anglican Church in Liverpool; the High Level Bridge in Edmonton; the Reconciliation Bridgein Calgary; the Brock University Tower in St. Catharines; Canada Place in Vancouver; the Legislative Buildings in Fredericton; Bigods Castle in Bungay, Suffolk; or any other building aglow in red, blue and white on the evening of Sept. 28,  it just might be one of the 120 or so venues across Canada, Scotland and England lighting up with us. Perhaps you will join us.

Beacons of Light Poster 1869-2019

Brazeau, a former long-time instructor at the college, is speaking with Lakeland students to make them aware of this part of Canada's history.

Photos: Top to bottom-1. The author's paternal grandmother on admission day at Dr. Barnardo's Girl's Home, Barkingside, Essex, England. She was seven years 10 months in 1900. 2. Barnardo's Industrial Farm for Boys in Russell, Manitoba circa 1900. 3. The British Home Child Monument at Pier 21 in Halifax. 4. the Beacons of Light Poster 1869-2019.

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