The Promised Land

In 1903, Rev. Isaac M. Barr led a colony of British settlers near what is now the town of Lloydminster on the Saskatchewan-Alberta border. Known as the Barr settlers, they were lured by the prospect of obtaining a 160-acre homestead for a $10 registration fee.

Most of the 1,962 colonists who came over were from cities and towns. Some were veterans of the Boer War. But few had farming skills.

The journey alone was an ordeal. After sailing to Canada in extremely cramped quarters on a crowded ship — a trip that took two weeks — the colonists arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick. From there they boarded a train to Saskatoon, then travelled by ox-drawn wagon to Battleford.

The journey was so poorly organized that the colonists eventually rejected Barr as leader and replaced him with his able assistant, Rev. George Exton Lloyd. The centre of the “promised land” they settled on would be known as Lloydminster in honour of Lloyd.

Just like any other settlers, they had to break the land and erect shelters. Getting through the first winter was extremely difficult for some and some went bankrupt.

Letters written by colonists to their friends and relatives back in England describe some of the challenges they faced.

Despite the difficulties, most stayed and many eventually prospered. One of the most significant things the Barr colonists did was to arouse interest in immigration. Europeans and Americans became aware of the potential of what was then known as the North-West Territories.

Other British settlements established on the Prairies included:

• The East London Artisans Colony, was established near Moosimin in what is now Saskatchewan, in 1880. Sponsored by philanthropists, the colony was composed of people from poor areas of London who had no farming experience.

• Cannington Manor, also near Moosimin, was established in 1882. It was set up like an English manor and attracted young men from aristocratic English families.

• Coal Creek Colony, was established near Rockglen, Saskatchewan, in 1930 by thirty-eight English families. Because of drought and other hardships, only six families remained by 1937.

This article is an abbreviate version of a story that appeared in the August-September 2015 issue of Canada’s History magazine.