Child Care Month in B.C.

It is my pleasure to rise in the House today to recognize and celebrate the upcoming month of May as Child Care Month in B.C.

Every year in May, the B.C. government, families, child-care providers, early childhood development professionals, community organizations, and municipalities join together to commemorate this important month.

It’s about shining the spotlight on child-care providers – and the important work they do each and every day – for young children and their families!  These children are our youngest learners – and they are growing, learning, and thriving, thanks in part to the dedication of child-care providers across the British Columbia.

The high quality of child care in this province is evident - and it definitely shines through when you walk through the doors of child-care facilities.  Child care providers in family child care environments and in group child care centres organize and offer an array of play-based learning activities for babies, toddlers, and children.

Child care also gives young children a chance to interact and socialize with other young children – an important part of the early years.  What this means for families – is peace of mind.  It means that parents can pursue career, education and training opportunities, knowing their children are safe, happy and well-cared for.

We are very fortunate here in B.C. to provide many options for parents – ranging from large, group child care facilities, to smaller, family- based care.

Many child care programs are tailored to meet diverse needs - Aboriginal child cares offer cultural programming for children to help them stay connected to their cultural roots, and programs are available for young parents who are still in school.

Child-care providers and early learning professionals – caring, committed and skilled individuals who take on the important role of helping to care for our children – carry out their extremely valuable work throughout the year. THe annual Child Care Awards of Excellence – honouring child-care professionals, organizations, and local governments who have demonstrated outstanding service to children and families – will be held on May 11 in Vancouver.
The B.C. government is also recognizing the valuable service child-care providers provide by proclaiming May 17 as Child Care Provider Appreciation Day.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that the members of the House join me in celebrating Child Care Month and the extraordinary work of thousands of child care professionals across the province.

Purple Day

Yesterday, March 26, 2012 was Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness.  MLA Guy Gentner rose in the house and shared a personal story of a childhood friend who had epilepsy.  This friend and his parents wouldn’t talk about what was happening to him.  Epilepsy has long been a stigmatized disorder due to various misconceptions and myths about what epilepsy is and what causes it.  These misconceptions include fears of contagion, stemming from the idea that epilepsy is a disease rather than a disorder, and fears that epilepsy is a sign of psychological disorder, which it is not. 

Epilepsy refers to a diverse set of chronic neurological disorders which are characterized by the occurrence and reoccurrence of seizures.  A seizure is an event which is caused by excessive neuronal activity in the brain.  Seizures vary in their manifestations: they may cause convulsions, loss of motor control, and temporary changes in psychic state.  One seizure does not indicate a diagnosis of epilepsy; those with epilepsy have multiple seizures.  Approximately 300,000 Canadians are living with epilepsy.

Purple Day was started in 2008 by young Cassidy Megan from Nova Scotia when she was just nine years old.  Motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy, she sought to bring awareness to the disorder and, in so doing, destigmatize it.  The movement Cassidy started is now recognized worldwide.  For more information on Purple Day, and for information on ways in which you can support those with epilepsy, please visit www.purpleday.org  and www.epilepsyfoundation.org .

The Therapeutic Relationship with Pets

I would like to dedicate this post to Jane Dison, the executive director with the B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities.

Comfort, solace, companionship, and bonding are all basic human needs. Dr. Corn of UBC talks about one of the newest trends in medical research, which focuses on the relationship between people and their pets and the effect this has on their physical and mental wellbeing.

The scientific data is unequivocal in showing that dogs can be a significant factor in reducing stress responses in all people, and can have a major beneficial effect on special groups, such as persons with physical and mental disabilities, seniors and others who may be socially isolated.

The medical recognition of the significance of the human-animal bond and its influence on human psychological health has become a subject of serious research. Human findings include: lower blood pressure, relaxed heart rate, regular breathing and less muscle tension — all signs of reduced stress. Individuals with disabilities are particularly susceptible to stress. Up to 25 percent of people who seek the services of general practitioner do so for depressive and anxiety disorders.

Depression is considered to be much more disabling, socially and physically, than many chronic conditions. Although depression can be caused by many factors, one of the most common is loneliness. People who lack human contact often benefit from pet ownership and the emotional bond that pets provide.

Recently researchers looked at a group of people 60 and older living alone or only with a pet. Non–pet owners were four times more likely to be diagnosed with clinical depression than were pet owners of the same age. The evidence also showed that pet owners required fewer medical services and were more satisfied overall with their lives.

In the year 2010, Dr. Arby Fine edited a stunning collection of chapters on animal-assisted therapy, theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice, in which the authors explore the animal-human bond — from the use of animals with individuals with autism spectrum disorder, to human-animal interactions in successful aging.

Animals have become an important part of the lives of many people of all ages, and there are now numerous studies to support the beneficial effects, both physiological and psychosocial.

Scottish Ancestry

January is a celebratory month for those of Scottish descent, starting with the first footing on New Year’s Day and followed by the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robbie Burns, on January 25. .  Burns wrote both in the Scots language as well as in standard English and his poems and songs became famous the world over.  His song Scots Wha Hae served as Scotland’s unofficial national anthem for years and Burns himself came to be regarded as a cultural icon.

Symbols represent our identity and how we understand each other, both past and present. Some may ask why a tartan is a symbol for British Columbia. The B.C. tartan was initially created to mark the double centenaries of the union of B.C. and the Confederation of Canada in 1966 and 1967. It was eventually recognized in legislation through the British Columbia Tartan Act of 1974.

The provincial tartan has five colours, each with its own significance: blue for the ocean, white for the dogwood, green for the forests, red for the maple leaf, and gold for the Crown and the sun on the shield and flag.

An official tartan pays tribute to the many and varied contributions of Canadians of Scottish ancestry to Canada. Sir John A. Macdonald and other fathers of Canadian Confederation, who laid down the legal and legislative basis for the new nation of Canada, were Scots. The direct impact of Scottish culture on Canada has been and continues to be significant.

Housing Partnerships

On February 17^th, there was a town hall meeting to address the issue of affordable housing in our community.  Minister Responsible for Housing, the Honourable Rich Coleman, spoke about the challenges which face us in ensuring that every person in our community has access to affordable, comfortable housing.

Affordable housing is a fundamental part of a vibrant and healthy community.  Minister Coleman discussed strategies and actions which have been successful in increasing the availability of affordable housing in communities around the province.  He stressed that the provincial government is aiming to develop affordable housing initiative partnerships with individual municipal governments.  The goal of each of these partnerships is to develop long term strategies to combat homelessness and unsafe housing in each municipality.

We are seeing some steps forward where affordable housing is concerned.  In Richmond, 2007 saw the opening of the Austin Harris Residence, which consists of 50 assisted-living units for seniors.  Maple Residences, located in Steveston Village, is currently under construction and will offer 144 units with supports for independent seniors.  Also currently under construction is the Remy, which will include 33 units which are subsidized by the government.   A subdivision proposed on Ash Street in Richmond East will offer affordable housing to first time homebuyers with low to moderate incomes.

It is my hope that Richmond can continue to work with the BC Government to provide affordable housing to the members of its community who are in dire need of it.  We want to make sure that every family in our community has a safe, healthy, affordable home in which to grow up and take care of each other.

BEAUTIFULLY COMBINED

Today, I spoke in the Legislature to pay tribute to the Heart of Richmond AIDS Society:

I rise today to dedicate my remarks to two amazing Richmond residents, because in the words of k.d. lang, Joanne and Brian Wardley ‘beautifully combine.’ They have been the heart and soul of the Richmond AIDS Society since its inception.

After 14 years of operation the Heart of Richmond AIDS Society continues to address HIV/AIDS in the community of Richmond by supporting the needs of HIV-positive persons and their family and friends. The creation of the Gilwest Clinic at Richmond Hospital — which provides access to specialists, nurses, pharmacists, counsellors, social workers and a dietician — is a critical achievement which continues to build awareness.

Their prevention education program moved into its fourth year of operation in 2011 and continues to reach young people throughout the Richmond school district. The program also continues to be well received by youth and school staff alike.

Supporting persons with HIV/AIDS and their families and loved ones continues to be a central focus of the society. This past year this support program experienced another solid year of service provision in the areas of counselling, group support, advocacy and food and health care. They have maintained a range of material supports offered to their clients, while their relationships with other health professionals and service providers have deepened.

These connections continue to play an integral role in providing support services to their clients. I have attended their monthly dinners and know how important this outreach is in our community.

The services of the Heart of Richmond endeavour to respond in the most effective manner possible to the impact that HIV and AIDS have on the members of our community. I would like to extend special thanks to everyone who's involved and in particular to the volunteer board member staff for their ongoing dedication to providing these services.

It was my pleasure to attend their gala in November and reconnect with lovely souls who believe in this work. My heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you.

Please visit my website at www.lindareidmla.bc.ca

MLA REID HIGHLIGHTS ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH

I am pleased to rise in the House today to recognize November as Adoption Awareness Month in British Columbia. Adoption Awareness Month provides us the opportunity to thank adoptive families for opening their hearts and committing their lives to the love and care of a child. It gives us time to recognize the invaluable impact that adopted families have on the lives of children.

Every child deserves to have a family to call their own and a permanent place to call home. Every child deserves the support that a family brings, whether it's someone to help with homework; someone to tuck them in at night; someone to cheer them on at a sporting event or attend their school play; someone to listen to their stories, be proud of them, or a shoulder to cry on when life seems hard.

Every child deserves a glorious childhood.

What I wish for my children is what I wish for every child in the province of British Columbia. Every child and teenager deserves the nurturing affection of a family environment, and more than 1,200 children in government care are still looking for a place to call home, with more than 500 children ready to be adopted today.

I encourage anyone who's interested in the joy that a child can bring to call 1-877-ADOPT-07 or visit the Ministry of Children and Family Development website.

I ask the people of British Columbia to join me in recognizing and celebrating Adoption Awareness Month, the families that adoption creates and how adoption embodies the meaning of putting families first.