The Power of Archives: Finding the Home Children who went to Canada

We often take our personal records for granted—birth certificates, marriage licenses, passports—those essential documents that mark the milestones of our lives. We assume they will always be within reach, but what happens when those vital links are lost or broken? Archives play a crucial role in preserving these connections, especially for families that have been displaced or separated over time. Join the Scottish Council on Archives and special guest speakers for this webinar examining the history of the British ‘Home Children’, looking at how archives have helped people rediscover their family roots. Between 1869 and 1939, over 100,000 children were sent from the United Kingdom to Canada, including 7,000 from Glasgow alone. Today, it’s estimated that 11% of Canadians are descended from these British Home Children, yet this significant chapter of history remains unknown to many. Through archives, we can piece together the lives of those affected, shedding light on how this often-overlooked migration shaped the futures of countless young people, their descendants, and the nations they helped to build. There will be 3 presentations followed by a 30-minute Q+A. This session will be led by Audrey Wilson from Scottish Council on Archives, and organisation who provide leadership for the archives and records management sector in Scotland. Session speakers include Dr Irene O’Brien, City Archivist, Mitchell Library, Glasgow; Tahitia McCabe, Head of Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies; Nicole Watier – Genealogy Consultant with Library and Archives Canada.