2010 designated commemorative year for British children moved to Canada
January 28 2010 by Liam Clifford
2010 has been designated the official Year of the British Home Child by Canadian immigration, in commemoration of British children moved to Canada for domestic and agricultural work.
Canadian immigration minister
Jason Kenney explained, “designating 2010 as the Year of the British Home Child
is a meaningful way to acknowledge this chapter of Canadian history.” He added,
”the government of Canada recognises the hardships suffered by British Home
Children and their perseverance and courage in overcoming those
hardships.”
Some 100,000 British children were moved to Canada between
1869 and the 1940s to live with Canadian families. They often worked on farms or
as domestic help. This mass ‘child migration scheme’ was facilitated by
religious and philanthropic organisations of the time.
Minister Kenney
explained the events taking place over the coming year to commemorate this
episode of Canadian history: “Over the next year, the Government of Canada will
honour the great strength and determination of this group of child immigrants,
and reflect on the tremendous contributions made by former Home Children and
their descendants to the building of Canada.”
Around three to four
million Canadians are thought to be the descendents of the Home Children.
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