Thomas John Barnardo

Barnardo’s childhood was marked by the cruelty of a Reverend at his Grammar School, whose frequent use of harsh discipline left him with a strong contempt for those who were abusive towards their dependants. Nevertheless, Barnardo grew up to a be man of strong religious convictions. He moved to England to study medicine and theology – without ever actually becoming a certified Doctor – with hopes of travelling to China as a missionary. Much to Barnardo's disappointment, he was never able to travel as a missionary, and instead hosted religious discussions for London youth.

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According to Barnardo, one night in 1870 following one of these talks, he came across a young boy who refused to leaved the room where the talk was held because he had no where else to go. Barnardo invited the boy to stay with him, and spent the night learning about the boy what his life was like on the streets. Almost immediately, he saw it as his Christian duty to help other children in similar circumstances. Although it is unlikely that Barnardo had not noticed the many children living and working on the London streets, he maintained that it was that night that he understood the severity of their plight.

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The same year, Barnardo purchased Stephney Causeway, a large building in eastern London that could house up to 60 boys until employment or a foster home could be found for them. At these homes, the boys would work to chop wood and pursue other trades to help supplement the donations that covered the cost of food and shelter.

By the 1880s Barnardo's homes were the largest and most efficiently managed child-rescue organization working out of London’s slums to help boys and girls.

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In Canada, “Barnardo Children” had a higher reputation than those from other organizations, because the agency guaranteed a certain standard of physical health and temperament. These children had also already received some education and vocational training; the boys in agricultural and industrial training, and the girls in domestic services. He often referred to the children approved for emigration as the “flower of the flock.” Before leaving, children from Barnardo’s homes received a “Canadian Outfit” packed in a trunk manufactured at the Barnardo technical school. The trunk came with a bible, the date of emigration, a Sankey Hymn Book, Pilgrim's Progress, and the Traveller's Guide, as well as clothing.

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By 1892, children’s admission into a Barnardo home required that any surviving parent or guardian sign a clause agreeing to the Custody of the Children’s Act, which allowed companies like Barnardo’s to emigrate children without the guardian’s consent. This “Canada Claus” was quite unpopular, and often pushed Barnardo’s agencies to stop children from corresponding with their parents before they emigrated, and informed the parents after the child had sailed.

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The last Barnardo emigration into Canada arrived July 8, 1939.