September 28th is British Home Child Day. These were children who were sent to Canada from Britain between 1869 and 1948, and often ill-treated.
British Home Children generally came from disadvantaged backgrounds. Some were orphans but many had families with financial troubles that left them unable to care for their own sons or daughters. Tragically, these parents often believed they had no choice but to put their children into the care of charitable organizations.
~ British Home Children – Government of Canada
If you have ever read the Anne of Green Gables series of books, you may remember that there was a character who was a British Home Child who was very badly treated.
“If the child’s story is true the matter ought to be looked into,” she said. “I know something about that Wiley woman, believe me. Marshall used to be well acquainted with her when he lived over-harbour. I heard him say something last summer about her and a home child she had—likely this very Mary-creature. He said some one told him she was working the child to death and not half feeding and clothing it. You know, Anne dearie, it has always been my habit neither to make nor meddle with those over-harbour folks. But I shall send Marshall over to-morrow to find out the rights of this if he can. And then I’ll speak to the minister. Mind you, Anne dearie, the Merediths found this girl literally starving in James Taylor’s old hay barn. She had been there all night, cold and hungry and alone. And us sleeping warm in our beds after good suppers.”
~ Rainbow Valley by L. M. Montgomery, chapter 8, ‘Miss Cornelia Intervenes’.
Some home children found loving families, but others were put to work on farms and many were treated poorly.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued an apology to home children on February 24, 2010. He also met with former home children to listen to their stories first-hand.
The Home Children Canada website is dedicated to preserving their memory and carrying out more research.
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