Communities around the world are marking the 150th anniversary of British Home Children by lighting up landmarks and buildings on Saturday.

Starting in 1869, over 100,000 children of all ages were emigrated right across Canada, from the UK, to be used as indentured labourers and domestic workers.

Officials say Canadians believed the children were orphans, but only two percent were.

They also say a former North Bay councillor, reeve and mayor was a British Home Child.

Born in Scotland in 1866 and orphaned at age 12, Robert Rankin arrived in North Bay in 1887 and set up his grocery store the next year.

He was Mayor in 1909 and 1910.  (Photo above by station staff) 

 

Mayor Al McDonald, meantime, has proclaimed Saturday, September 28, 2019 as ‘British Home Child Day’ in the City of North Bay.

(Photo below submitted)

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