Adoption Awareness Month

The month of November marks the British Columbia Adoption awareness month.  Adoption Awareness Month is a government initiative to make the option as well as the benefits of adoption better known to both possible adopters as well as the rest of British Columbia.  As of now, over one thousand children and adolescents are currently looking for a permanent family.  These youth come from different backgrounds, and all are deserving of a loving family that will support them through their early lives, and ensure a positive future.  Adoption is a major focus of the Ministry of Children and Family development.  The ministry ensures that these youth obtain the best possible outcome, such as having youth grow up in an environment that is similar to their cultural heritage.  In addition, the ministry provides support to adoptive parents.  Through the Post-Adoption Assistance Program, the Ministry is committed to providing both adopted youth and their parents with financial assistance to ensure their well-being.  For more information, please check out the MCFD’s website on adoption here: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/adoption/. Hopefully Adoption Awareness month will provide information to potential adoptive parents who will support a child through the stages where family is crucial.

Royal Canadian Scottish Regiment 100th Anniversary

Today and Tomorrow will mark the celebrations of the Royal Canadian Scottish Regiment 100th anniversary celebrations.  Pro-Scottish citizens advocated for the formation of the regiment, which was founded on August 13th, 1913.  In the First World War the men of this regiment served in many historically significant battles, such as Ypres in April of 1915.  In the Second World War, the Canadian Scottish would yet again see action.  The men would serve on the D-Day assault, and would play a major role in the liberation of the Netherlands.  Today, it still remains as a reserves battalion, celebrating an important part of Canadian Military History and a proud symbol of Scottish heritage.  So if you are out in Victoria, be sure to attend the celebrations to recognize this special anniversary.

We Day and the Teck Initiative

Hello everyone! Next week on October 18^th, 2012 is Free the Children’s annual We Day event in Vancouver.  Free the Children is a Canadian charity that ensures the wellbeing and rights of children worldwide, as well as getting youth involved in combating humanitarian violations and injustice. We Day is a continuation of this belief, as Free the Children host events across Canada for the purpose of educating young youth in humanitarian issues, and promoting the message of getting involved. One of the messages this year is Zinc deficiency in children, which affects many worldwide.  In conjunction with We  Day, Teck is promoting their twitter campaign “One Tweet One Life”.  On the dates of the We Day events, Teck will donate 50 cents per retweet of the  @ZincSavesLives We Day message towards Zinc treatment.  The treatment costs 50 cents to administer, so every retweet received will save a child from the effects of Zinc deficiency.  So next Thursday, be sure to retweet the message “One Tweet One Life", and help rid the problem of Zinc deficiency.

Happy Thanksgiving and National Family Week

Hello everyone! As I am writing, I hope that everyone is looking forward to this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, spent with those dearest to us.

This week is National Family Week; it’s a week dedicated to celebrating the importance of our families, and how important our families are within our lives.  Under the administration of the Canadian Association of Family Resource Programs, National Family Week has for twenty years celebrated the importance of families within Canada.

The spirit of National Family Week is perfect for this upcoming Thanksgiving.  We have so much to be thankful for, especially for our loved ones and families.  On that note, I again wish that everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend!

National Organic Week

This Week is National Organic Week, as Canada comes together to celebrate the illustrious Canadian organic food and materials industry.  Organic products can be seen as the most environmentally friendly option that a consumer has in purchasing both food, and other products such as organic cotton clothing.  By utilizing environmentally friendly farming techniques, the growth of organic goods causes minimal harm to the environment.  In addition, these techniques also keep the growing environment fertile, and maintain the quality of Canadian farmland.  When one purchases organic products, they can be sure that they have undergone a thorough approval before they are sold on store shelves.

What can you do to celebrate organic week?  One way would be to make an active effort to buy locally produced organic foods.  The BC government is investing money to make locally produced foods more available to consumers.  With the many farms in Richmond, this provides a great opportunity to begin to purchase locally grown food.  Buying local both supports the local agriculture sector, and reduces the environmental costs of the transport of food.  Help us celebrate Organic Week.

Be More Than a Bystander

I am writing today to spread the word about “Be More Than a Bystander”, a new initiative between the Ending Violence Association of BC, and the BC Lions.  Over the course of two years, with the guidance of an advisory group composed of experts in the field, members of the BC Lions football team will raising awareness based on four main steps.  Step one will be forty BC Lions facilitated workshops aimed at youths from grade eight to twelve that hopefully encourage youths to step in and not just be a bystander.  The second step is training coaches of amateur sport on the issue, so that they can pass down the message to their players. Third, throughout Vancouver and Surrey there will be an advertising campaign designed to promote the importance of taking action against Women Violence.  Finally, an educational film will be developed promoting a positive message that it is not cool if you disrespect women, and that you should be more than just a bystander.  This project will hopefully reduce the number of women that are victims of various forms of violence, such as domestic and sexual assault.  Also, it will try to make it just as much as a men’s issue and have a positive effect on certain attitudes and behaviors that result in violence against women.

For more information, please visit www.endingviolence.org.  

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.