Remembering, honouring Canada’s British Home Children

Lloydminster, AB/SK – Local historian Susan Brazeau will present the little-known history of ‘Canada's British Home Children’ at the Lloydminster Museum + Archives on Saturday, February 11, 2023.

Between 1869 and 1948, over 100,000 children were sent to Canada from Great Britain under the British Home Children program. These children, ages 2 to 18, were taken from institutions such as orphanages and workhouses, and from families which experienced financial hardship. They were sent to Canada to work as indentured labourers on farms and in domestic service. Many of these children were subjected to harsh conditions and abuse, and their stories have been largely overlooked in Canadian history.

In her presentation, Susan Brazeau will share the stories of these children and their experiences in Canada. She will also discuss the ongoing efforts to recognize and commemorate their legacy.

The presentation is open to people aged 16-plus and is $5 to register. Light refreshments will be provided. To register, please visit lloydminster.ca/AlmostForgotten. For more information, contact the Lloydminster Museum + Archives at lma@lloydminster.ca or 780-874-3720.

About Susan Brazeau

Susan Brazeau is an author, historical researcher and former Lakeland College instructor with a Master of Arts in Integrated Studies. She has researched and written extensively on Canada’s British Home Children and is a sought-after speaker. As a paternal granddaughter of a British home child, this topic has become a lifelong passion of Susan who has devoted her time to studies in history, social sciences, education, law and genealogy. While completing her master of arts degree, Brazeau's thesis surrounded the topic of They Were but Children; The Immigration of British Home Children to Canada. Today, Brazeau is a proud member to numerous research groups which aim to communicate the history of these people.

Quotes

“Between 1869 and 1948, an estimated 100,000 impoverished British children were sent to Canada as indentured farm labourers and domestic servants. My grandmother was one. Known as 'home children', many settled in Alberta and Saskatchewan and contributed to the building of our communities. Learn the story of this little known era of Canadian history.”

Susan Hillman Brazeau, BA, MA-IS