April Speaker Series: "So They Came - Young Men Farmers"

Join us at the museum for a presentation by historian Elaine Becker, who will discuss her work titled "So They Came - Young Men Farmers."

Following World War One, the Salvation Army trained young men (ages 14-19) as farmers and sponsored their migration to Canada. In 1924, the first group arrived in Woodstock at Burnside Lodge, where they were provided accommodation until they secured employment.

These cohorts of laborers from the United Kingdom played a pivotal role in assisting local farmers with their harvests. While some ventured to other areas of Southwestern Ontario, the majority chose to settle on farms in small Oxford communities like Salford, Embro, and Curries.

Discover the intriguing history behind this immigration initiative, and delve into anecdotes and view photographs capturing the experiences of these young men.

The talk will take place in the museum's Program Room at 7 p.m., followed by a question period and light refreshments generously provided by the Historical Society. This event is free to attend, but donations are appreciated to support our programming efforts. No registration necessary.