Historical overview and resources
Historical overview
The experience of the Home Children is an important but little-known chapter in Canada’s immigration history. Between 1869 and the late 1940s, British religious and philanthropic organizations transported about 100,000 British children to Canada to live with Canadian families and work as farm labourers or domestic servants. Most of these children were under the age of 14 and came from poor urban areas.
Music by Clary Croft
Clary Croft is a performer, author, folklore researcher, recording artist and producer. He has graciously provided permission to Citizenship and Immigration Canada to make his musical work about the British Home Child available on its website.
- See Music by Clary Croft.
Bibliography
The bibliography includes online resources and literary works to help you find additional information on the British Home Children.
Family Restoration Fund
The Government of the United Kingdom has launched the Family Restoration Fund. Funding is available to former Home Children to reunite with their families in the UK. For more information, please visit the Child Migrants Trust website.
Childhood Lost: The Story of Canada’s Home Children
Childhood Lost tells the story of six home children and the reasons they came to Canada. In their research, they learn about the 100,000 British children who came into the country between 1869 and 1939 to provide labour support to farmers. From this influx, today twelve per cent of Canada's population derives from British Home Children and their descendants.
For more information about the documentary Childhood Lost: The Story of Canada’s Home Children, visit Telefilm Canada.