Child advocate

Three years after a report on the dire outlook for families and caregivers of young people with disabilities dealing with the pandemic, B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth says there’s still not enough being done. Jennifer Charlesworth’s office released the latest report Nov. 9, 2023. (Needpix.com)

3 years later, B.C. families of children with disabilities still struggling

25% of respondents say they either placed their children in care or considered it for better supports

 

Politicians and others who support policies that would require parental permission for teachers to use a student’s preferred pronouns at school say they are about including parents in the lives of their children. Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah, the executive director of the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity. Owusu-Akyeeah, in her role as a commissioner for the Ottawa People’s Commission on the Convoy Occupation, speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Spencer Colby

Debate over pronouns pits parental rights against children’s, experts say

New Brunswick, Saskatchewan making it requirement for schools to get parental consent for name change

 

Jennifer Charlesworth, B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth, says children and youth lost and missing from the child welfare system are “canaries in the coal mine” of a child welfare system that is “struggling to provide safe, nurturing and timely care” for them. (Black Press Media file photo) (InWithForward)

’Canaries in the coal mine’: Report highlights missing child, youth within B.C.’s welfare system

Report finds ‘systemic’ challenges in child welfare system but finds problems across social systems

 

Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)

B.C. children’s representative urges immediate help for children with special needs

Thousands of children with special needs receive little or no support: Charlesworth

Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)
A child poses for a photo with a Backpack Buddies bag of food. (Submitted by Backpackbuddies.ca)

B.C. food-aid programs seeing spike in hungry students amid high inflation, grocery costs

The school year began on Sept. 6, after a summer of inflation rates reaching as high as 8 per cent .

A child poses for a photo with a Backpack Buddies bag of food. (Submitted by Backpackbuddies.ca)
Former social worker Robert Riley Saunders is in court for 13 charges of fraud, theft and breach of trust (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna judge rules disgraced former social worker deprived youth

Robert Riley Saunders will be sentenced on June 22 and 23

Former social worker Robert Riley Saunders is in court for 13 charges of fraud, theft and breach of trust (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
(Autism BC photo)

B.C.’s new autism funding model a disappointment, says Autism BC

Part two in a series of stories related to autism awareness in B.C.

(Autism BC photo)
Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)

B.C.’s new autism funding model a disappointment, says Autism BC

Part one in a series of stories related to autism awareness in B.C.

Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)
National Child Day, an initiative of Children First Canada, was celebrated at Stelly’s Secondary School in Cental Saanich on Nov. 16. (Children First Canada/Facebook)

Stelly’s Secondary students in Central Saanich join celebration of National Child Day

Nationwide event Nov. 16 honoured resilience of children, unique rights of Indigenous children

National Child Day, an initiative of Children First Canada, was celebrated at Stelly’s Secondary School in Cental Saanich on Nov. 16. (Children First Canada/Facebook)
Phone screen in hand. (Pixabay)

Government-funded iPhones to connect B.C.’s youth in care to services, technology

Nearly 4,000 iPhones will be issued over the next two months to youth aged 13 or older

Phone screen in hand. (Pixabay)
Tagen Marshall (File photo)

Podcast: Inspirational tale of Vancouver Island University honour student Tagen Marshall

Talk includes advocacy for people with physical challenges, fundrasing, meeting Rick Hansen and more

Tagen Marshall (File photo)