For many Home Children, there was also disappointment. By contract, wages were supposed to be put aside in an account"minus expenses." Very often, when a child left their employers' service, they would find little, if any, in their account. Those "expenses," such as clothing, claimed by the employer had presumably eaten away any earnings. Despite evidence, testimonies, documentaries and books, skeptics still refuse to believe that Britain and Canada could possibly have taken part in a child migration scheme such as this. Many are simply unaware; the topic remains untaught in most schools. In 1999, former Governor General Romeo LeBlanc called this ignorance "collective amnesia." The Lorentes have been working to change this, mostly at their own expense. HCC has been their passion in their retirement years. By writing thousands of letters, lecturing, consulting and building networks, they have unlocked closed doors, making it possible for the Home Children and their families to obtain precious records--and finally get closure. In 2002 alone, they wrote 4,418 letters. In 1998, at the invitation of British PM Tony Blair, they presented a compelling brief to a British Parliamentary committee. They outlined the ordeal of these children and the "inherited" problems that come with no "classification." They urged the government to claim responsibility, and make records available. Unfortunately, some records had been destroyed, with only fragments of information on cardex. However, just like detectives, the Lorentes have discovered that other records were merely forgotten, lost in an attic or basement. Sometimes it takes years for a Home Child to steel themselves enough to write to Britain for their records. Charlie Martin waited four years to write. After learning of his past Charlie told Dave, "I'm mad, I'm sad, and I cried. They lied to me." His mother in England had written letters that were never forwarded to him. The Lorentes explain it was considered wise in those days to "make a clean break." Likewise, siblings were rarely, if ever, placed together. Nora Overs was 15 in 1923. Her brother George, who had arrived in Canada earlier, contributed to her passage, expecting that she would be placed with him. She wasn't. It took him two years to find her working as a domestic in Ottawa. Contract Made this cny of . .<*T#VW. ..... 19.2^ .into between () Th«> Liverpool Sheltering Honie« (Incorporated) and the Annie Macphenun Horn* of Industry, (Incorporated), London, England, of which the Canadian Branch i« THE MARCHMONT HOME BELLEVILLE Province of Ontario and of P.O. County of who hires . . . . with Board and Lodging, Washing and Mending, and Wages {tar- 4. ^ v» £^Xo <Q C~ To increase yearly thereafter according to ability. Child, if under school age to attend Day School according to the Act. The clothing to be provided out of the child's wages and an account kept of the value of clothing provided. Account to be made up and balance of wages to be paid yearly, or as arranged. A statement must be sent to the Home yearly. The employer also undertakes to sec that the child attends Church and Sunday School regularly and writes occasionally to the Home; also to communicate with the Home in the event of sickness and not to remove the child into another Province or SUte without consent from the Home. In no case must the child be transferred into a n o t h e r f u m i l y without permission from the Home. Should it be necessary, in any case, for the child to be returned to the Home, notice must be sent a fortnight beforehand. The clothes must be sent back in good condition and equal in n u m b e r to those supplied with the child. The Home reserves to itj-elf or its Agents the rifrht to remove the child if they see fit, or on these conditions not beins f u l f i l l e d . The employers will he held liable for any legal or o t h e r expenses incurred it' child is not sent back when requested. All p«r>on> receiving children pay a Home fee of three dollar*. Employers must pay child's mil fare back to the Home when returned. See paragraphs over page. IMPORTANT--Notify "Home" by telephone or telegram in event of child', ·nodes or icrioui illnen. Bell Telephone No. 10. Signed by E M P L O Y E R / Signed by SUPERINTENDENT . For th« Liverpool, ( E n g l a n d ) , Sheltering Horn.. (Incorporated), and ., Macphenon Hom« of l n d u » t r y , (Incorporated, London, England. FOR EMPLOYER TO RETURN. Some migrant children, especially those sent to Australia have considered litigation. When the members of HCC heard this in 1992, they passed a resolution--their only resolution, ever--stating: We will not ask for restitution. We will not ask for retribution. We will not even ask for an apology. We are glad to be in Canada. We are proud to call ourselves Canadians. All we really want is access to our records. There are now at least five historical plaques memorializing these migrant children at significant sites in Canada (mostly in Ontario), each unveiled by a Home Child. Compassionate "open letters" of commendation have been written by leaders of the federal government, including former-Prime Minister M Jean Chretien. Sheila Copps, then-Minister of Canadian Heritage, recognized the Home Children story was of "official national significance. " From Britain, even Princess Diana lent her voice. The Lorentes feel such gestures are crucial to relieving the rejection. Shame is yielding to hope. The reunions, which grow larger each time, have done much to heal the isolation. And, finally, thanks to Dave and Kay's generous perseverance, the lasting contributions of Home Children are being acknowledged. Originally, the federal government paid $2 per child and Ontario paid $6, as demand The Country Connection 19