Community Event - Peterborough/Lindsay - PHS Speaker Series: Home Children
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Lions Community Centre,
347 Burnham Street,
7:30 p.m.
Speaker Marg Graham and Dianne Cosway
“Home Children”
From the late 1860’s until 1948, approximately 118,000 children of various ages were emigrated to Canada to serve as indentured farm workers and domestics. These children, known as home children, were sent by numerous organizations, including charities such as Barnardos, the largest sending organization. Although Canadians believed these children to be orphans, only a small amount were true orphans. Today, more than ten percent of the Canadians are descendants of these Children, many of who are unaware of their heritage.
The children were sent to Canadian farms under contracts with terms that required the children to be fed, clothed and sent to school. A small fee would be paid for fostering younger children, older children would help with chores and more extended labour would be required for adolescents. At 18 for boys and 21 for girls, the terms of indenture were to be discharged. The clean, fresh air of Canadian farm was seen as a far better alternative to the slums of a big city.
Unfortunately, some of the children were exploited, neglected, abused and coerced, a form of human trafficking.
Marg Graham and Dianne Cosway, both residents of Trent Hills, will present details of the lives of Home Children and their contributions to Canada. Marg has spent considerable time researching her family history, including her grandmother, Mary Mortimer, a home child, who was placed with the Barnardo organization at age 2. She is a Director with Home Children Canada. Since retiring, Dianne has dedicated her time to researching her father-in-law, Stafford Cosway, who was abandoned as an infant and sent to Canada to work as a farm hand.
The Peterborough Historical Society monthly speaker series takes place on the third Tuesday of September, October, November, January, February, March, and May. The meetings are being held at the Lions Club Centre on Burnham Street, starting at 7:30. Members, guests, and the general public are welcome.
