We are pleased to announce our first speaker of the year. On February 23, 2023 at 7:30 pm via zoom, Pat Skidmore is going to give us an overview of the 350 year history of British Child Migration – a history that has been kept silent for a good portion of the 350 years. British Child Migration took place as far back as the 1830s to the late 1940s, although the ‘height’ of child migration to Canada was between 1869 and the 1930s.
Her research, which she started in the 1990s, is mainly centered on the Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm School and her mother, Marjorie’s, experience there. She was surprised to learn about the 350-year history of child migration, and that over 120,000 children were sent to Canada starting as early as the 1830s and continuing to 1948. The last 329 children were sent to the Prince of Wales Fairbridge Farm School just south of Duncan on Vancouver Island. Over 95% of the children were not orphaned.
A picture and bio of Patricia Skidmore is attached along with Pat’s brochure about British Child Migration.
This invitation is being sent “in grace” to all members on the 2022 list, along with any new members, but for the next speaker in our series only those who have renewed their membership for 2023 will be sent invitations. If you have not renewed, you can still do so through the website at ueltoronto.com and selecting the “My Account” page or by sending your cheque to Toronto UEL at Suite 300, 60 Scollard Street, Toronto, M5R 3S1. Membership questions can be directed to lindayoungue@hotmail.com
A zoom link for the speaker session on February 23rd will be sent out by February 20th.
Sally Gustin
Programme Coordinator
Toronto Branch UEL
