British Home Children of Dufferin

It is estimated that over 100,000 children from the United Kingdom emigrated to Canada between 1869 and the late 1930s as part of the Child Migration Scheme. Most of these children, under the age of 12, left poverty-stricken circumstances for what was supposed to be a better life in Canada, only to find themselves as indentured servants.

Many Home Children never spoke of their childhood experiences, and their stories are often lost. Using free public sources and the ancestry.ca database, the MoD Archivist will guide you through the process of finding a Home Child placed in Dufferin County. Additionally, some of Dufferin County’s more high-profile stories will be shared, bringing to light the personal histories of these children.

Discover the rich and often poignant history of the British Home Children and learn how to uncover their stories.