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From Castles to Waterfalls

Beacons of Light
British Home Children & Child Migrants
Sesquicentennial Tribute



2019 marks the 150th year since the first BHC arrived in Canada. In 2019 the BHCARA asked communities in Canada and the UK to participate in the Beacons of Light for BHC tribute by illuminating memorials, monuments, buildings or other areas with the colours of the BHCARA. It is a symbolic gesture showing these children are not forgotten. Many Canadian cities have agreed to participate with supporters including the iconic Niagara Falls, Toronto’s CN Tower,  The Northern Lights Display in Vancouver and St Andrews House - Head Quarters of the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her Majesty the Queen has sent a letter of support for the work of BHCARA and our Beacon tribute. 

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The CN Tower, Toronto, Ont - photo by  Paul Jackson /  The Calgary Ab Tower - photo by Jennifer Smith

Niagara Falls, Ontario - photos by Karen Churchill Bridgman-Acker

Quarriers Head Office, Quarriers Village, Bridge of Weir, Scotland

Niagara Falls Karen 2.jpg
Niagara Falls Karen.jpg
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Winnipeg.jpg
Quarriers hq pic from Quarriers.jpg
Calgary tower Jennifer Smith.jpg

Calgary, Alberta Reconciliation Bridge - photos by Lorna Funk

Winnipeg, Manitoba city sign - photo courtesy of Mayor Brian Bowman

BC Place Vancouver 25th from their twitt

British Columbia Place Northern Lights Display - photo courtesy of their Twitter feed 

George saying thanks.jpg
George Beardshaw, one of Canada's few surviving British Home Children, illuminated his house, gave several interviews and particiapted in an event all in support of the Beacons Tribute and in celebration of his 96th birthday Sept 14th. 
For photos of our illuminations visit the slide show below. Hover your cursor over the photo for more details
Photos of commemorative services held
Personal tributes to the BHC
  1. British Home Children commemorated  - By Tempo Lac-Brome -28/08/2019 contributed by Susan Hall
Flag Raising and Proclimations
George and Judy Rogers TV.JPG

Official list of the Beacons of Light Tributes

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1.The High Level Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

2. The Reconciliation Bridge in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, illuminated in yellow.

3. The Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

4. The CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

5. Kingston City Hall, Kingston, Ontario, Canada,illuminated in red,white and blue.

6. British Columbia Place Northern Lights Display, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

7. City Hall of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

8. Province House, the Legislative Assembly Building in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

9. Canada Place and Sails of Lights in Vancouver, British Columbia, illuminated in red, white and blue.

10. St. Andrew’s House, Headquarters of the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, Scotland, illuminated in red, white and blue.

11. Victoria Quay, a Scottish Government building in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, illuminated in red, white and blue.

12. The Legislative Building in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

13. Hamilton City Hall and the Hamilton Signature Sign in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

14. St. Paul's Anglican Church in Knowlton, Quebec, Canada illuminated in red, white and blue.

15. The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

16. The SSE Hydro Building in Glasgow, Scotland, illuminated in red, white and blue.

17. Sandtown Advent Christian Church in the Lost Villages Museum, Long Sault, Ontario, Canada,illuminated in red, white and blue.

18. The Dakeyne Farm in Falmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, illuminated their barn, built by British Home Children, in red, white and blue. The farm was also known as The Industrial Farm and was for boys, only.

19. The Calgary Tower in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

20. The Veterans Skyway Bridge in Trenton, Ontario, Canada,illuminated in red, white and blue.

21. The Pedestrian Bridge, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

22. The Telus Spark Science Museum in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

23. The AppleMan Farms in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada, site of the former Cossar Farms, illuminated in red, white and blue. They also flew the British Home Child 150th flag.

24. The Municipal Office of the Town of Midland, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day and raised the British Home Child 150th flag. At the September Council meeting, one of the Council members acknowledged the British Home Children and the Beacons of Light.

25. Knowlton United Church, Knowlton, Quebec, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

26. Creek United Church, West Bolton, Quebec, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

27. Charlottetown City Hall, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

28. Missisquoi Museum, Stanbridge East, Quebec, Canada, held a flag raising.

29. Surrey Civic Plaza, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

30. Quarriers, Bridge of Weir, Scotland, formerly the Orphan Homes of Scotland, illuminated their head offices in red, white and blue.

31. The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue with the British Home Child logo.

32 The City of Orillia, Ontario, Canada, held a flag raising and proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

33. The Civic Centre Clock Tower in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

34. Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, illuminated their “Big Fiddle” in red, white and blue.

35. Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada, illuminated the Digby Lighthouse on the waterfront.

36. Newcastle Civic Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, illuminated in red and blue.

37. St. Martin-in-the-Bull Ring Church, Birmingham, England, illuminated in red, white and blue.

38. Ontario East British Home Child Family Museum, Aultsville Station, located near Upper Canada Village, Morrisburg, Ontario, was illuminated.

39. London City Hall, London, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

40. The J. Allyn Taylor Building in London, Ontario, illuminated in red, white and blue

41. The Fountain at the Forks, London, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

42. Brant Street Pier at Spencer Smith Park, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue. Spencer Smith, for whom the park was named, was a British Home Child.

43. The Solihull Heritage & Local Studies Service, based at Solihull Central Library, Solihull, West Midlands, England, published a posting on their website for Beacons of Light.

44. Komoka Railway Museum, Komoka, Ontario, participated by having staff and volunteers wear red, white and blue. The interior of the station was decorated in these same colours.

45. The British Home Child Memorial Tree at the Glengarry Nor'Westers & Loyalist Museum, Williamstown, Ontario, illuminated on September 28th.

46. Brome County Historical Society Museum, Knowlton, Quebec, illuminated in red, white and blue. This site was the former Louisa Birt Receiving Home.

47. RBC Place, formerly the London Convention Centre, London, Ontario, illuminated in red, white and blue.

48. The Fountain at Little Lake, Peterborough, Ontario, illuminated in red, white and blue.

49. St. John the Evangelist Church, Brome, Quebec, illuminated.

50. Regina City Hall, Regina, Saskatchewan, illuminated in red, white and blue.

51. A letter, dated August 21, 2019, was received from Her Majesty the Queen, Buckingham Palace. While unable to illuminate the Palace, the Queen sent a letter of support to Tracy Smithers acknowledging her grandfather's story, the work of the British Home Child Advocacy and Research Association, and our Beacon of Lights Tribute.

52. The Army, Navy and Air Force, Unit 229, Imperial Veterans (A.N.A.F.), of London, Ontario, illuminated their Clubhouse in red, white and blue.

53. British Home Child, George Beardshaw, illuminated his home in red, white and blue.

54. The Millennium Library in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, hosted a special British Home Child Day 150 Exhibit.

55. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Philipsburg, Ontario, Canada, hosted a special service to remember the British Home Children.

56. The Town Hall in Hampton, New Brunswick, Canada, was illuminated.

57. John Calvin Christian Reformed Church, in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada, paid tribute to the British Home Children.

58. The Public Library in Russell, Manitoba, Canada, held a presentation on the Barnardo’s Industrial Farm that had been located near their community, followed by a visit to the home site to illuminated the monument and to the cemetery. This event was spearheaded by Joan Planedin.

59. Beulah United Church in Ayer's Cliff, Quebec, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

60. The Lake of the Woods Museum (MUSE), Kenora, Ontario, Canada, hosted a presentation on the British Home Children.

61. The Whitemud Crossing Branch of the Edmonton Public Library, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, hosted an exhibit.

62. The Municipality of Clarington, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

63. The Town of Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada, added a British Home Child Beacons of Light announcement to their electronic billboard.

64. Bristol Cathedral in Bristol, England, offered prayers for the British Home Children and Child Migrants.

65. The Colby-Curtis Museum in Stanstead, Quebec, Canada, displayed a special British Home Children 150th wreath on their front door.

66. Burlington, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

67. The Municipal Office of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada, held a flag raising and illuminated a tree in Rye Heritage Park. The Park is home to an Ontario Heritage Trust Plaque commemorating Maria Rye, “Our Western Home”, and British Home Children.

68. The City Hall of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

69. The City Hall of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

70. Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, St. James's Mount, England, offered prayers for the British Home Children.

71. The Town of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

72. St. Francis de Sales Roman Catholic Church, Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada, illuminated.

73. The Town of Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day. They also illuminated the main sign at the entrance to the Town.

74. The Township of Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

75. The Library of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, illuminated in red, white and blue.

76. The Canada Life Building in London, Ontario, Canada, was illuminated.

77. The Brock University Schmon Tower, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

78. Confederation Building, home to the Legislative Assembly in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

79. St. Mary the Virgin Church, in Barcombe, Sussex, England, left a light on for the British Home Children and also offered prayers in tribute.

80. The residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, Canada, Janice C. Filmon, left two front lights on the night of September 28th.

81. Leasowe Lighthouse on the Wirral Peninsular in Leasowe, Merseyside, England, left their lights on in tribute.

82. The Town of Aurora, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

83. The Town of Collingwood, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day. Collingwood was home to renowned Canadian artist and British Home Child, Nick Hodson.

84. St. John Anglican Church in Westphal, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, dedicated their Sunday Service to British Home Children. Descendant Bruce Mairs gave a talk on his mother, British Home Child, Emily Towner.

85. Bigod Castle ruins, a Norman period structure in Bungay, Suffolk, England, illuminated in red, white and blue. Bungay was the hometown of British Home Child, Grace Ruth Sillett.

86. The Leduc Public Library, Leduc, Alberta, Canada, hosted a British Home Child exhibit.

87. The City of Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, illuminated The Bastion, an historic fortress, in red, white and blue.

88. The Forest Lawn Library in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, hosted a special British Home Child event.

89. Carlisle Cathedral, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Carlisle in Carlisle, Cumbria, England, offered prayers for the British Home Children and Child Migrants.

90.The Bury Historical Society in Bury, Quebec, Canada, illuminated the Christ Church of Canterbury.

91. The City of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

92. The City of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

93. The St. Catharines Standard, the local newspaper for the city of St Catharines, Ontario, Canada, published an article on September 12, 2019, in which they interviewed Dianna Hanson Fulton about her Grandfather Frederick Charles Biggs. Dianna is the Chair of the Ontario Genealogical Society British Home Child Special Interest Group.

94. Southampton City Council, Southampton, Ontario, Canada, illuminated the Civic Centre Clock Tower in red.

95. The Lighthouse in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

96. The City of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, illuminated the Winnipeg Sign at “The Forks” in red, white and blue.

97. Wolford Rural Cemetery, Jasper, Ontario, Canada, illuminated the front of their chapel.

98. Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

99. The descendants of Robert Frost, a British Home Child and World War 1 Veteran, honoured their grandfather by raising the British Home Child 150th flag at the Robert Frost Geraldton Legion, Geraldton, Ontario. Canada,

100. The Town Hall in Knowlton, Quebec, Canada, held a flag raising.

101. The City of Brockville, Ontario, Canada, former location of Quarrier’s Fairknowe Home, held a flag raising. Beneath the city is the famous train tunnel - Canada’s first - that was lit in red, white and blue.

102. The Municipal Office of the Township of Scugog, Port Perry, Ontario, Canada, held a flag raising.

103. The British Home Child Advocacy and Research Association honoured British Home Child, George Green, by placing a 150th memorial flag and light at his grave site.

104. The Lennox and Addington County Museum and Archives in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, acknowledged the British Home Child 150th anniversary through social media platforms.

105. Bon Eco Design, a private business located in the village of Tamworth, County of Lennox and Addington, Ontario, Canada, posted a sign to honour the 150th commemoration.

106. The City of Barrie, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

107. The Town of Whitby, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

108. Church of the Advent - Eglise Evangelique in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue. This is the church boys from the Gibbs Home attended.

109. Gibbs Home, the former Receiving Home for the Waifs and Strays Society in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, held a flag raising.

110. The former Orphington Lodge, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, that later became St. George's Home, participated in the Beacons of Light. Members also held a special Anniversary Mass at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church. The church is connected to the Wellington Street building now known as the Rectory House. The section of the building that is now the church altar is part of the original Orphington Lodge (1870-1890); and the section that became the church (1947) was part of the expanded section of St. George's Home (1927-1932).

111. The Rotary Club of Lloydminster, Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, hosted a Beacons of Light 150th Commemoration presentation given by Susan Hillman Brazeau, September 23rd.

112. The Department of Human Services, Lakeland College, Vermilion Campus, Vermilion, Alberta, Canada, scheduled a British Home Child 150th presentation by Susan Hillman Brazeau, September 27th. This was rescheduled to October 18th. Susan is doing the same presentation to the Bachelor of Arts, History Class, on the Lloydminster Campus, at a later date.

113. The British Home Child Advocacy and Research Association commemorated our lost children at the British Home Child monument in the Park Lawn Cemetery, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada.

114. The Town of Irricana, Alberta, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

115. The Peace Bridge, between Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, Canada and New York, United States of America, illuminated in red, white and blue. The Beacons of Light tribute connects to the United States, where many British Home Children relocated.

116. Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, Wales, remembered the children in their prayers and in their service bulletins.

117. Grace United Church in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, remembered the British Home Children through prayers.

118. Southwark Cathedral, London, England, remembered the British Home Children in their prayers.

119. St. Chrysostom’s Church, Victoria Park, Manchester, England, offered prayers for the British Home Children and posted a tribute in their blog.

120. Belleville, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day; and, further recognized the commemoration by placing a post on the city's information board signs.

121. The Belleville City sign, located on the Bridge Street Bridge in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

122. The Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool, England, posted an online tribute to the British Home Children.

123. The Melita New Era, the local newspaper in Melita, Manitoba, Canada, published an article, commemorating British Home Children, on September 7th, 2019.

124. The City of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, illuminated the Windsor City Hall, and proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

125. The City of Kenora, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 21st to September 28th as British Home Child Week.

126. Steve Clark, Member of the Provincial Parliament for the County of Leeds, Grenville, Thousand Islands, and Rideau Lakes, Ontario, Canada, did a social media tribute to the British Home Children.

127. The Museum in Brockville, Ontario, Canada, did a social media tribute to the British Home Children.

128. The City Council of Stratford, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

129. Senator Robert Black, of Ontario, Canada, posted an online tribute to the British Home Children. Senator Black is a Member of the Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Forestry and the Charitable Sector (Special) Committee.

130. The Niagara Historical Society & Museum paid tribute to the British Home Children and the anniversary though a newspaper article. They also commemorated on social media, highlighting their online exhibit, “Our Western Home”.

131. The Balsall Heath History Society of Belbroughton, Worcestershire, England, illuminated Holy Trinity Church in red, white and blue. The Church cemetery is where John Middlemore, founder of the Children's Emigration Homes, is buried.

132. St. John's Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, illuminated their porch. Edmund Amos Struthers, manager of Barnardo’s Industrial Farm in Russell, Manitoba, is buried there.

133. Birmingham Cathedral in Birmingham, England, illuminated the internal area of the Cathedral red, after a scheduled evening event. They also added the British Home Children to their prayer list.

134. The Arundel Circus Tower at the Westquay Shopping Centre in Southampton, England, illuminated in red, white, and blue.

135. St. George's Church Stockport, Manchester, England, was illuminated. The Church also shared the Beacons of Light commemoration in their newsletter, ensuring the information was widely available to Church members and St. George's Primary School.

136. The entire City Hall, from Christina Street to Front Street in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, was illuminated in red, white and blue to honour British Home Child, Cyril Hewitt, who had made his home in this city.

137. The City of Wainwright, Alberta, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day. They also illuminated the town’s buffalo statue and their new town fountain.

138. The Moose Jaw Express, the local newspaper in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, published a Letter to the Editor about the British Home Children, on September 25th, 2019.

139. The Saskatchewan Genealogy Network published a bulletin about the British Home Children on their Facebook page, in September.

140. The Wellington Advertiser, published out of Fergus, Ontario, Canada, for Wellington County residents, commemorated British Home Children with an article in the September 11th, 2019 edition.

141. Stone Mills Township, Ontario, Canada, paid tribute to British Home Children through the Township’s official website and social media platform. They also proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

142. The City of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

143. The Municipality of Brighton, Ontario, Canada, illuminated the King Edward Park Arena in red, white and blue.

144. The Municipality of Chatham-Kent in Ontario, Canada, illuminated the atrium lights at the Civic Centre in red, white and blue. Additionally, a media release was sent out and a member of Council acknowledged this at the Council meeting.

145. The City of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

146. The Chippewa III, a cruise ship from Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, that offers sightseeing cruises of the 30,000 Islands and Georgian Bay, hoisted the British Home Child 150th flag and illuminated their lighthouse.

147. The City of Milton, Ontario, Canada, held a flag raising.

148. Oxford Genealogical Society, Oxford County Archives and Woodstock Museum, Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, commemorated the British Home Children with a posting on their social media sites.

149. The Town of Mississippi Mills, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

150. The Ness Bridge, Inverness, Scotland, illuminated in red, white and blue.

151. The City of Port Credit, Ontario, Canada, honoured the British Home Children and the Beacons of Light by illuminating the Port Credit Lighthouse in red and white. They also posted a photo of the lighthouse on their Twitter page.

152. St. Philip the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, offered a special mass and left their lights on, the evening of September 28th.

153. Brian Winter, Historian and Archivist of Whitby, Ontario, Canada, for 45 years, commemorated the British Home Children through social media and by leaving his porch light on.

154. The Pictou Advocate, the local newspaper for Pictou, Ontario, Canada, published a letter on September 11, 2019, authored by Lori Oschefski, drawing attention to British Home Child Day and the commemoration of the 150th year since the first group of children arrived.

155. The Town of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, illuminated the Riverwalk Commons Bridge in blue.

156. The City of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day in the Homelands of the Lekwungen-speaking Songhees and Esquimalt people in the city of Victoria.

157. Norma Cook gave a slideshow presentation at Meduxnekeag Consolidated School and Canterbury High School, near Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada.

158. St. Michael and All Angel's Church in Ainstable Church, Cumbria, England, remembered the British Home Children in their prayers.

159. Kathleen Inzirillo and her godson and nephew, Sebastian, gave a British Home Child presentation at the MacLachlin College in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, Sebastian has been busy looking into Home Child, William Harwood.

160. Kings County Museum in Hampton, New Brunswick, Canada, created a mini-display of some of their materials from the former Ellinor Close Farm Home, including information on the Middlemore children who came to this area. The Ellinor Close Farm Home was located in Nauwigewauk, Kings County, and was operational for several years, during the early 20th century.

161. Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, remembered the British Home Children. Their Cathedral bell ringers also dedicated a quarter peal to the children.

162. Father Hudson’s Care Society, Birmingham, England, posted a tribute to the British Home Children 150th on their twitter account and posted an article on their website. The society was established in 1902 as the Birmingham Diocesan Rescue Society for the protection of homeless and friendless Catholic children.

163. The Archbishop of York, Yorkminster, York, England, sent a letter of support and held The Beacons of Light commemoration in his prayers.

164. Calvary Baptist Church, Midland, Ontario, Canada, recognized the British Home Children on a world wide prayer chain, with a mention and explanation during Sunday Service.

165. The City of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, illuminated their town clock.

166. St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

167. Parish Church of St. Luke, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, recognized the British Home Children in an e-post and added the anniversary to their bulletin.

168. The Municipality of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day and displayed the Proclamation in their Town Office.

169. Father Hudson’s Care Society Branch in Coleshill, England, included the British Home Children and their families in their prayers at a Chapel Mass on October 4th. They also posted an article on their web site.

170. Barnardo's were to have illuminated the Children's Church in Barkingside, Essex, England. To their great distress, when the lights were switched on, it blew the electricity in the entire church.

171. The City Council of Sunderland, England, illuminated the Northern Spire Bridge in red, white and blue.

172. The City Council of Sunderland, England, illuminated the Penshaw Monument in red, white and blue.

173. The City Council of Sunderland, England, illuminated Keel Square in red, white and blue.

174. The City Council of Sunderland, England, illuminated the Fulwell Mill in red, white and blue.

175. The City Council of Sunderland, England, illuminated the Lighthouse in Cliffe Park, in red, white and blue.

176. The Town of Arnprior, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

177. The Municipality of the County of Inverness, Port Hood, Nova Scotia, Canada, recognized British Home Children. This included the Warden speaking alongside the on-site commemorative British Home Child Bench.

178. The Premier of Nova Scotia, Canada, Premier Stephen McNeil, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day in the Province of Nova Scotia.

179. The City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

180. The City of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, held a celebratory weekend to honour British Home Children. It began on the Friday, with the Mayor raising the 150th Anniversary Flag at City Hall. On Saturday, September 28th, a group of people gathered at the Hazelbrae-Barnardo Monument; and, later, they stood on the shores of Little Lake, and watched as the fountain lit up red, white and blue. The day ended with a social evening to celebrate National British Home Child Day and the 150th Anniversary Beacon of Light Tribute.

181. The Town of Tweed, Ontario, Canada, illuminated the fountain at the beach on Stoco Lake in red, white and blue.

182. The Halifax Central Library, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, organized a display to commemorate the anniversary of British Home Children.

183. The City of Barrie, Ontario, Canada, held a flag raising.

184. British Home Child, George Beardshaw, did a Rogers Television interview in London, Ontario, Canada, to promote British Home Child Day and the anniversary.

185. The Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

186. The City of North Bay, Ontario, Canada, proclaimed September 28th as British Home Child Day.

187. City Hall in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, illuminated in red, white and blue.

188. The Town of Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, held a flag raising at their Town Hall.

189. The Municipality of the District of St. Mary's, Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, Canada, acknowledged the 150th Anniversary on its website and Facebook page.

190. The Sherbrooke Village Museum, Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, Canada, held an information display, with coloured lights, in their visitor reception centre. One of the volunteers was the granddaughter of a Home Child. The Village also acknowledged the occasion on its Facebook page.

191. St. Thomas Anglican Church, Indian Harbour Lake, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, Canada, held a service in commemoration of British Home Child Day and the 150th Anniversary. They acknowledged one of their own, British Home Child, Thomas "Tommy" Waterhouse Suttis.

192. "Who Do You Think You Are”, a United Kingdom magazine, paid tribute to the British Home Children and the anniversary in an article released on their website, September, 2019.

193. "Family Tree Magazine" paid tribute to the British Home Children and the anniversary on page 9 of the September 2019 edition.

194. Corrie and Mark Aniol, of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, presented Lori Oschefski with a wood carving they made commemorating the British Home Child 150th as part of the Beacons of Light Commemoration. Corrie is the owner of the Beauty Barn Spa that was illuminated on British Home child Day. The Burford Advance publish an article on this presentation and the British Home Children.

195. Fairbridge Canada issued a proclamation acknowledging the 150th Anniversary and asked all Fairbridgians and their descendants to illuminate their homes in red, white and blue.

196. The Oakville Public Library, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, posted a tribute to the British Home Children through their social media.

197. Fegans was delighted to support the British Home Child Advocacy and Research Association in commemorating the 150th anniversary by issuing a proclamation. It also illuminated the hallway of its office in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.

198. Susan Hillman Brazeau published a series of articles marking the 150th Anniversary, including:

The Hub: The Hub is the Athabasca University newsletter that reaches faculty and thousands of students around the world, Athabasca, Alberta, Canada.

The Link: The Link is the Lakeland College newsletter that reaches over a thousand faculty, staff and students, both on campus and online, Vermilion and Lloydminster, Alberta, Canada.

199. The head office of the British Home Child Advocacy and Research Association in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, illuminated.

200. The Orillia Public Library, Orillia, Ontario, Canada, was host to a month long specialized British Home Child 150 exhibition, coordinated by Jayne Poolton-Turvey and Lori Oschefski. As part of this celebration, a full day event including music and presentations was held, all leading up to the Beacons of Light tribute on National British Home Child Day.

201. Haslemere Town Council, Haslemere, Surrey, England, shared the Beacons of Light poster on their Facebook page.

202. Pembroke Baptist Church, Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada, held a British Home Child Memorial Service.

203. Ron Baker spoke to 150 young people at the Iroquois Public School, Township of Dundas, Ontario, Canada, about the struggles of 100,000 British Home Children sent to Canada, that included his father, Edwin Matthew Baker.

204. Sam Mann, Curate of Holy Trinity Church in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England, said prayers for the British Home Children.

205. The Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, was the location for a moving tribute to British Home Children and the 150th commemoration. Media coverage by CTV provided a wider audience to the event.

206. The River Valley Sun, a local newspaper for Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada, published an article on September 13, 2019, regarding the Beacons of Light Commemoration that included the memorial service at Pembroke Baptist Church and the illumination of the New Brunswick Legislative Building.

207. The Burlington Post, the local newspaper for Burlington, Ontario, Canada, published an article on September 14, 2019, regarding the Beacons of Light Commemorative lightshow and mayoral proclamation of British Home Child Day.

208. The Bugle Observer, another local newspaper in Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada, published an article on September 17, 2019, highlighting the events taking place in their town, to honour the British Home Children.

209. The Beccles and Bungay Journal, the local newspaper of these two towns in Suffolk, England, published an article on September 18, 2019, honouring Grace Ruth Sillett, grandmother of Susan Hillman Brazeau, and the 150th Beacons of Light Commemoration. Grace was born in Bungay. The article was also published in the Eastern Daily Press, a newspaper for communities in East Anglia, and the Lowestoft Journal, in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

210. On September 23rd, 2019, Collingwood Today, the local newspaper for Collingwood, Ontario, Canada, published an article that paid tribute to the British Home Children by calling them ‘waifs to nation-builders’. Descendants shared their knowledge and stories.

211. Airdrie Today, the local newspaper for Airdrie, Alberta, Canada, published an article on September 23, 2019, in which residents of Irricana, Alberta discussed plans for the Beacons of Light commemoration that was taking place in their community.

212. Barb James, a British Home Child descendant, was interviewed on September 24th, 2019, by CTV Winnipeg. Barb spoke of her own family, the history of British Home Children, and the Beacons of Light tribute. The following day, a digital summarized version of Barb’s interview was published online at CTVMDB.

213. On September 25, 2019, The Chatham Voice, the local newspaper for Chatham, Ontario, Canada, published an article paying tribute to British Home Children and the stories of their descendants. The child migration scheme was likened to a different “British invasion”.

214. On September 25, 2019, Radio Station CKCUFM, in Ontario, Canada, interviewed Judy Neville, who spoke about the British Home Children, the Aultsville Museum and the Beacons of Light Commemoration.

215. The Meridian Source, the local newspaper for the border cities of Lloydminster, Alberta and Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, published an article on September 26, 2019, about the British Home Child presentation made by Susan Hillman Brazeau at the local Rotary Club earlier in the week.

216. The Calgary Herald, one of the major newspapers in the city of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, published an article on September 2, 2019, in which local descendants of British Home Children told stories of their family members, in honour of the 150th commemoration of the first group of children who were brought to Canada.

217. The Waterloo Record, a regional newspaper published in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, paid tribute by recognizing the contributions made by British Home Children and the struggles experienced by their descendants to have these children remembered and commemorated.

218. Dani Rescan, of Oakville, Ontario, Canada, posted information on the city’s Facebook page, to draw attention to the British Home Children and the 150th Beacons of Light Commemoration.

219. On September 27, 2019, Lori Oschefski had an interview with Mark Brennae of 1070 CFAX, iHeartRadio, out of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Lori shared her knowledge and her enthusiasm for the 150th Commemoration and for all British Home Children and their history.

220. The Askennonia Senior Centre, Midland, Ontario, Canada, honoured the Beacons of Light and the 150th anniversary of the first group of children by publishing it in their eblast newsletter, September 27, 2019.

221. Barb Janes carried out a second television interview on September 28, 2019, this time with CBC News, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Barb provided historical information and also detail about her grandmother, a British Home Child, who never told her family of her childhood, until she was well into her 80’s.

222. The Comox Valley Record, a local and regional newspaper in Comox, British Columbia, Canada, published an article on British Home Child Day, September 28th, in which descendants of British Home Children spoke of, what they called, a shameful period in Canadian history.

223. CBC Nova Scotia Online, published a digital article in which local descendants and British Home Child Researchers discussed this era of Canadian history, indicating there is still much for Canadians to learn, and many more stories to be told.

224. The Nation Valley News, a locally owned newspaper in Eastern Ontario, Canada, published an article with input from Judy Neville on September 17, 2019, titled Beacons of Light - British Home Children and Child Migrants Sesquicentennial Tribute on Sept 28 locally.

225. The Head Office of the Ontario Children’s Services, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, posted a tribute to the British Home Children on their Twitter page, September 29, 2019.

226. The Brandon Sun, a local newspaper for Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, published an article on September 30, 2019, in which an interview was carried out with British Home Child descendant, Jean Tufts and her daughter, Susan Cadman.

227. Throughout September, Susan Hillman Brazeau provided photos and updates on the Facebook page, “Kenora Through the Years”, regarding the Beacons of Light, the child migration scheme, and the signing of the Proclamation she prepared for the City of Kenora, Ontario. The site has over 3,000 members in many parts of the world, some of whom are descendants of British Home Children.

228. A reception was held at the residence of the British Consul General, Kevin McGurgan, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, honouring British Home Children and the 150th Anniversary.

229. The “Madge Gill Embroidery Workshop and Tea” was held in February at the Black Creek Pioneer Villiage (BCPV) in Toronto, Canada. This event, which kick started our British Home Child 150 events, was coordinated by Sophie Dutton of “Works by Madge Gill”, Lori Oschefski and BCPV. The workshop honoured the art of Madge Gill, a former British Home Child. Guests created personal embroidery pieces which were later sent to the William Morris Gallery in London, England as part of a larger exhibition there.

230. Lori Oschefski wrote an article published in the book, “Madge Gill by Myrninerest”. The book is now for sale across England.

231. The Hazelbrae Barnardo Home Walking Tour was held in early August as part of the Madge Gill work.

232. A special Madge Gill Reunion Tea was held in August as a thank-you to Lori Oschefski for her work with the Madge Gill workshop. Presented to Ms. Oschefski was a memory book created of that day.

231. The ‘Veterans’ Classic’ in London, Ontario, Canada, is a special night of horse racing and celebration at the Western Fair District to honour Canada’s military. George Beardshaw, a BHC, for Beacons of Light, sponsored the British Home Children’s group who figured prominently throughout the evening. A fly-over of the Canadian aerobatic plane “The Red Knight” was scheduled to open the Veterans’ Classic in honour of the British Home Children, but due to technical problems on the runway, this was cancelled.

232. Barnardo's Guild Magazine, UK, is publishing an article in December.

233. Tillsonburg BHC 150 Event - a special day of celebration was co-hosted by Sandi Pake and Lori Oschefski. In attendance was BHC George Beardshaw.

234. Patricia Skidmore spoke at the Lost Children Project in Birmingham, England. The exhibition was the work of Birmingham’s Balsall Heath Local History Society. Pat spoke on September 21st, which was her mother, Child Migrant Marjorie Arnison birthday.

235. The Wortley Villager magazine published an article about British Home Child George Breadshaw and the 150th Anniversary.

236. The Peterborough & District Sports Hall of Fame annual Remembrance Exhibit, in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada included a special segment on five British Home Children who served in WWI and WWII in acknowledgement of BHC 150.

237. HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sent Tracy Smithers a letter in recognition of BHC 150.

238. The British Home Children Advocacy & Research Association published a special 46 page edition of the BHC newsletter marking the anniversary and the service of the BHC in our Wars.

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