It is easy to become immune to “event days”, but they are important, both for those directly involved and for raising awareness.
And the First National BHC Day on September 28th 2018 is just such an event.
For those who do not know, BHC refers to British Home Children, who were the young people migrated from Britain to Canada, Australia and other parts of the Commonwealth.
The programme began in 1870 and continued on into the 20th century with last young people arriving in Australia in 1970.
For a long time the story has sat in the shadows. But during the last decade and a bit that story has become better known both in Canada, Britain and Australia.
In the case of Canada the work has been carried on by a dedicated group of individuals, most of whom had a relative who was migrated, while the Australian story was first brought to greater awareness by Margaret Humphreys* who wrote a book and set up an organization to publicise what happened in Australia.
And from small beginnings the story of BHC has turned into a major area of historical study.
Along the way there have been campaigns to get the national Governments of Britain, Australia and Canada to apologise for allowing the migrations to occur, and for a national day to remember what happened.
In Canada the first National Day will be September 28 and in recognition of that event, this badge has been designed.
It comes from Lori Oschesfski who has been at the centre of raising awareness of BHC and runs the site British Home Children Advocacy & Research which along with a facebook and Twitter site has done much to publicise the story.**
Nor is Lori alone, for across Canada there are other sites, with newsletters and events, all working to raise that awareness.
Many of the sites, as well as being primarily about the history, are also self help groups, sharing information and assisting those starting out on the journey of finding out.
So a National Day for Canada is a huge step forward.
Here, in Britain, some of us have also been beavering away at raising awareness.
Over a decade ago the first British British Home Child facebook site was established and to that has been added, British Home Children the story from Britain.***
What they have in common is a determination to bring the story home, and like others in Canada, act as vehicle to get the BHC story better known and also to act as a self help group.
Already members of British Home Children the story from Britain have been talking about an event or events to coincide with the National Day in Canada.
This may be too soon for this year but there is 2009.
We shall see.
*Margaret Humphreys, The Child Migrants Trust. http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/
**British Home Children Advocacy & Research, http://www.britishhomechildren.com/
***British Home Children the story from Britain, www.facebook.com/groups/bhchildren
And the First National BHC Day on September 28th 2018 is just such an event.
For those who do not know, BHC refers to British Home Children, who were the young people migrated from Britain to Canada, Australia and other parts of the Commonwealth.
The programme began in 1870 and continued on into the 20th century with last young people arriving in Australia in 1970.
For a long time the story has sat in the shadows. But during the last decade and a bit that story has become better known both in Canada, Britain and Australia.
In the case of Canada the work has been carried on by a dedicated group of individuals, most of whom had a relative who was migrated, while the Australian story was first brought to greater awareness by Margaret Humphreys* who wrote a book and set up an organization to publicise what happened in Australia.
And from small beginnings the story of BHC has turned into a major area of historical study.
Along the way there have been campaigns to get the national Governments of Britain, Australia and Canada to apologise for allowing the migrations to occur, and for a national day to remember what happened.
In Canada the first National Day will be September 28 and in recognition of that event, this badge has been designed.
Nor is Lori alone, for across Canada there are other sites, with newsletters and events, all working to raise that awareness.
Many of the sites, as well as being primarily about the history, are also self help groups, sharing information and assisting those starting out on the journey of finding out.
So a National Day for Canada is a huge step forward.
Over a decade ago the first British British Home Child facebook site was established and to that has been added, British Home Children the story from Britain.***
What they have in common is a determination to bring the story home, and like others in Canada, act as vehicle to get the BHC story better known and also to act as a self help group.
Already members of British Home Children the story from Britain have been talking about an event or events to coincide with the National Day in Canada.
This may be too soon for this year but there is 2009.
We shall see.
*Margaret Humphreys, The Child Migrants Trust. http://www.childmigrantstrust.com/
**British Home Children Advocacy & Research, http://www.britishhomechildren.com/
***British Home Children the story from Britain, www.facebook.com/groups/bhchildren
Thank you, Andrew, for your continuing stories promoting the cause of British Home Children recognition.
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