British Home Children in Uxbridge presentation getting an encore

Submitted by John McLean

In June, the Uxbridge Genealogy Group meeting featured guest speaker Lori Oschefski, president of Home Children Canada. During the presentation, Orchefski outlined the British Home children program that impacted over a hundred Uxbridge and area families in the early 1900s.

Due to interest in the topic, discussions and questions about the program extended the meeting that evening so much that there was little opportunity to exchange stories about the children and their lives. That opportunity will be provided at the group’s next meeting on Thursday, Sept. 17, in the Uxbridge Public Library at 7 p.m.

Members of the genealogy group worked for much of last year researching over 70 home children from their early years in Britain to their lives in Canada. Some of those childrens’ stories will be shared on Sept. 17, as well as the stories of hosting families who cared for the children until they ‘graduated’ out of the program. Descendants of the home children are invited to share personal stories about their ancestors.

The group welcomes members of the public to share recollections or just listen to these, at times, difficult, sad, happy or inspirational stories. Admission is free.

The Township of Uxbridge has proclaimed Monday, Sept. 28, National British Home Children Day to raise awareness about the over 100,000 young immigrants sent to Canada from Britain between 1869 and the 1940s.