Kaitlin is a grade 12 student at Bishop Allen Academy in Toronto. She has been passionate about learning about British Home children since elementary school when she presented her first project on her BHC Great Grandfather Edgar Smith who came to Canada in 1922. She researched details of his youth and later years and presented his story to her grade five class. Later in grade eight she did a project again on the British Home Child program as a Canadian History project which she presented in French to her French Immersion class.

Earlier this year, Kaitlin competed in a French public speaking contest Concours D’art Oratoire (her speech about British Home Children was selected by her French teacher). Up against high school students across Ontario, Katlin took first place and qualified to compete at the national level! This Nationals were held in Ottawa in June, with Katlin once again winning first place! She was thrilled and honoured to share her speech once again, titled "Une Histoire Inconnue" translated to "An Unknown Story". The judges were fascinated about her topic as they knew very little about the British Home Child immigration program. Her speech spoke about receiving homes, the government's recognition and shared the story of her Great Grandfather who was a Fegan's boy.

Kaitlin has always had a passion for learning history and she enjoys sharing all she knows about British Home Children with her classmates. The personal connection of her Great Grandfather Edgar Smith has certainly made it more meaningful. She has always felt a great sense of pride for all he accomplished and has tremendous respect for his memory. Edgar was brought to Fegan’s Home in 1912 by his single mother when he was seven years old. He was cared for and educated there until the age of 16 when Fegan’s sent him to Canada through the British Home Child program. His sister Olive Smith was also raised in a Salvation Army home and sent to Canada before him under the British Home Children program.

Photo: Kaitlin receiving her National French Speaking Contest award.

The BHCARA and it's members heartily congratulate both Isabelle and Kaitlin on their extraordinary achievements in furthering the awareness of our BHC in our
educational system!

The 1911 census for England, shows widow Mary living with Jonathan, George, and Louise. The census notes she had thirteen children and that three had died. It appears that Ellen simply could not care for all her children after her husbands' death and relinquished her three daughters to the LPSH. One could not imagine the anguish in making a choice like this for your children.

Her eldest son Henry was married in 1908 and living with his wife. The 1938 UK Registers show Henry living at 12 Hodder St. Henry was able to keep in touch with his sisters in Canada. On 4 Jun 1937, Henry (listing 12 Hodder Street as his Liverpool address) boarded the Duchess of York with packets of Liverpool Forget-Me-Nots in his pocket. He was off to visit his very much missed sisters in Canada. Henry stayed in Canada until his return to England on 17 Jul 1937. While visiting his sisters, he gave them a package of the precious Forget-me-not seeds. Forget-me-nots carry special meanings, including remembrance during partings and a connection that lasts through time, very appropriate meanings for these separated siblings.

Ellen cherished her packet of seeds, keeping the envelope they came in safe over the years. This package is with her Grandson Doug Walder who contacted me after our fall 2018 Newsletter was published. In this edition, it struck a cord when he read, we are using the Forget-me-nots for a fundraiser. Doug carries sadness in his heart, that despite efforts made when his mother,Ellen's daughter, was alive, they were never able to fulfill her desire to know about her mother's family back home in England. She told Doug that "Mother never really spoke about her young life". In the past few days, working with Doug, I have been able to help start putting the pieces back together. Doug gratefully told me, " You have opened the pages of my Mothers Photo Album and put Names to the People in it. I can't Thank You enough for all this Wonderful Information you have gathered." Just recently, a new member of our group did a search for her family name, Birch and found our story. She is a descendant of Ellen's sister Martha. Doug is very excited to now be connected with family members he did not know.