Pace on Earth

Home From The Forest

These historic tykes are a group of child immagrants landing in Saint John. They are called Home Children and between 1870 and 1930 almost 100 000 'orphaned, abandoned, or pauper children' from overcrowded cities in industrial Britain were sent to the vast spaces of Canada. In theory the children were being sent by churches and philanthropists in the hope that they would have a better life in our pastoral Dominion. In reality they were solving problems on both sides of the Atlantic; overcrowding in Britain and a labour shortage in Canada. Many were treated to the life the brochure offered while many others were treated as slaves. Either way, most stayed and became Canadians to the point that estimates surmise that 10% of present day Canadians have home children in their family trees.

I bring this up today because I am among that 10%. My great-grandfather Herbert Dawkins arrived in Halifax on July 1, 1905. In my family tree that is the first time my blood set foot on Canadian soil. Canada Day, 1905.

Herbert ended up on a farm in Stanley and I know nothing of his time there. I hope he was one of the lucky ones. What I do know is that he left Stanley for Fredericton, got married and had children, including my grandfather. My Grandfather, in turn, grew up, prospered, and raised a family that would make Herbert very proud. So from humble beginnings....I guess that is the Canadian Dream.

Happy Canada Day!

Si

Labels: Family Ties, O Canada

posted by Vitamin S @ 1:55 p.m.