Soldier Settlement Board
Encyclopedia
The Soldier Settlement Board was established in Canada
in 1917 to assist returned servicemen to set up farms.
The Board would give assistance to any man who had served abroad with the Canadian Expeditionary Force
, to any former Canadian serviceman who had not left Canada but was in receipt of a service pension, to any member of the Imperial
, Dominion
or Allied
forces who had lived in Canada before the war, or to any member of the Imperial or Dominion forces who had served outside their own country and who had since emigrated to Canada. The last category were required to first work on a Canadian farm for a time to prove that they had the capability to farm on their own, to have sufficient working capital to establish themselves, and to make a down payment of 20 per cent for land, stock, implements and buildings.
Applicants for a loan were first investigated as to their fitness, moral character, assets and abilities. If they did not have sufficient farming experience, they could be asked to work on a farm first for a period, and until 1 May 1921 pay and allowances could be granted for such training, especially to men with families. Special training centres for this purpose were established in some places, but these were all closed in 1921.
By 1921, nearly 60,000 applications for loans had been made, of which 43,000 had been deemed suitable. Loans were made at 5 per cent interest. They were repayable in six annual instalments in the case of loans for stock and equipment, and in 25 annual instalments in the case of loans for land and buildings.
Loans on land to be purchased could be made up to a total of $7,500, including:
Loans on land already owned by the applicant could be made up to a total of $5,000, including:
Alberta
and Saskatchewan
were the most popular provinces for settlement, followed by Manitoba
, British Columbia
and Ontario
. There were far fewer applications for the other provinces.
All Dominion lands within fifteen miles (24 km) of a railway were reserved for veterans. In the three Prairie Provinces, every eligible soldier was entitled to a grant of 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) and also had the right of any civilian to homestead
a further 160 acre (0.6474976 km²).
Other Dominion lands were also opened for settlement, including Forest Reserves and Indian Reserve
s.
All settlers helped by the Soldier Settlement Board were regularly visited by field supervisors to check on their progress and give advice. A Home Service Branch was established to give help and advice to wives, including free courses in home economics
and farm subjects.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1917 to assist returned servicemen to set up farms.
The Board would give assistance to any man who had served abroad with the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
, to any former Canadian serviceman who had not left Canada but was in receipt of a service pension, to any member of the Imperial
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, Dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
or Allied
Allies of World War I
The Entente Powers were the countries at war with the Central Powers during World War I. The members of the Triple Entente were the United Kingdom, France, and the Russian Empire; Italy entered the war on their side in 1915...
forces who had lived in Canada before the war, or to any member of the Imperial or Dominion forces who had served outside their own country and who had since emigrated to Canada. The last category were required to first work on a Canadian farm for a time to prove that they had the capability to farm on their own, to have sufficient working capital to establish themselves, and to make a down payment of 20 per cent for land, stock, implements and buildings.
Applicants for a loan were first investigated as to their fitness, moral character, assets and abilities. If they did not have sufficient farming experience, they could be asked to work on a farm first for a period, and until 1 May 1921 pay and allowances could be granted for such training, especially to men with families. Special training centres for this purpose were established in some places, but these were all closed in 1921.
By 1921, nearly 60,000 applications for loans had been made, of which 43,000 had been deemed suitable. Loans were made at 5 per cent interest. They were repayable in six annual instalments in the case of loans for stock and equipment, and in 25 annual instalments in the case of loans for land and buildings.
Loans on land to be purchased could be made up to a total of $7,500, including:
- up to $4,500 for land
- up to $2,000 for stock and equipment
- up to $1,000 for permanent improvements
Loans on land already owned by the applicant could be made up to a total of $5,000, including:
- up to $3,500 for removal of encumbrances
- up to $2,000 for stock and equipment
- up to $1,000 for permanent improvements
Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
were the most popular provinces for settlement, followed by Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. There were far fewer applications for the other provinces.
All Dominion lands within fifteen miles (24 km) of a railway were reserved for veterans. In the three Prairie Provinces, every eligible soldier was entitled to a grant of 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) and also had the right of any civilian to homestead
Homestead principle
The homestead principle in law is the concept that one can gain ownership of a natural thing that currently has no owner by using it or building something out of it...
a further 160 acre (0.6474976 km²).
Other Dominion lands were also opened for settlement, including Forest Reserves and Indian Reserve
Indian reserve
In Canada, an Indian reserve is specified by the Indian Act as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty, that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band." The Act also specifies that land reserved for the use and benefit of a band which is not...
s.
All settlers helped by the Soldier Settlement Board were regularly visited by field supervisors to check on their progress and give advice. A Home Service Branch was established to give help and advice to wives, including free courses in home economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
and farm subjects.