Proclamation – National British Home Child Day, September 28, 2025

“Whereas over 100,000 children ranging from of few months old to 18 years of age migrated from the United Kingdom to Canada between 1869 and the late 1940s to be used as a source of labour on Canadian farms and in households as indentured labourers during the industrial revolution. Today, they are known as the "British Home Children" (BHC); and

Whereas children of this child migration scheme for the most part, were not orphans or homeless, but rather came from intact families who had fallen on hard times after struck by illness or the death of a parent; and

Whereas many of these children were settled in Northumberland County; and

Whereas British Home Children Advocacy and Research Association (“BHCARA”) is a Canadian based not for profit organization dedicated to the story of Canada’s British Home Children (BHC), with a mandate to promote the story of the British Home Children, to advocate for those who no longer have a voice and to provide free research help to those seeking their family histories; often providing closure from painful pasts; and

Whereas the BHCARA is asking communities to participate in the “Beacons of Light for British Home Children and Child Migrants Tribute” by illuminating memorials, monuments, buildings, City Halls or other areas with the colours of the BHCARA; red, white and blue;

Now Therefore Be It Resolved That I, Warden Brian Ostrander, on behalf of Northumberland County Council do hereby proclaim September 28, 2025 to be ‘National British Home Child Day’ in Northumberland County.”