*2010* ~ Year of the British Home Child in Canada

(Information courtesy of UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Australia.)

The UK Government is to make its national apology

to former child migrants from Britain on 24 February 2010.

The British High Commissioner, The Rt Hon Baroness Valerie Amos, also announced plans to invite former child migrants in Australia to attend special commemorative receptions being hosted by the British High Commission in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane on Thursday 25 February, immediately following the national apology in the UK.

In response to the unanimous support for Member of Parliament Phil McColeman's motion in the House of Commons, the Government of Canada has designated 2010 the Year of the British Home Child, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

"Designating 2010 as the Year of the British Home Child is a meaningful way to acknowledge this chapter of Canadian history," said Minister Kenney. "The Government of Canada recognizes the hardships suffered by British Home Children and their perseverance and courage in overcoming those hardships. 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."

From 1869 until the late 1940s, around 100,000 children were brought to Canada from the United Kingdom by religious and philanthropic organizations and sent to live with Canadian families, often as farm labourers or domestic servants under the United Kingdom's Child Migration Scheme. These children were known in Canada as the Home Children.

Throughout 2010, the Government of Canada will encourage Canadians to learn more about this period of our history. In September, Canada Post will issue a commemorative stamp in honour of the legacy of former British Home Children in Canada. Further activities are being developed to mark the Year of the British Home Child.

"So little is known about this important chapter in Canadian history," said Phil McColeman, Member of Parliament for Brant. "Many of the Home Children faced hardships and adversity, but went on to become contributing members of our society. By proclaiming 2010 as the Year of the British Home Child, our Government is taking steps to ensure that their experiences and perseverance are honoured and commemorated."

It is estimated that between 3 and 4 million Canadians are directly descended from former Home Children.

Contacts:
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Communications Branch
Media Relations Unit
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

(Copyright © 2009 Marketwire)

• - to other mailing lists

• - to Libraries, Museums, Boards of Education

• - Universities, Colleges, Private Schools

• - maybe you belong to a Genealogy or Historical Society

• - City Halls, Regional Governments

• - Chamber of Commerce (Tourism)

• - local newspapers

• - Cemeteries where they are buried - many have billboards (and if the same place receives more than one email re 2010 all the better)

• - post 2010 on their Websites

• - announce at meetings & include in newsletters, bring in speakers

• - design children's programs in schools, library or museum

• - setup display cases

• - order books on Home Children