I live in a non-descript semidetached on a quiet short cul de sac in west end Toronto. As I peered off my porch this morning, testing the air, I noticed four construction bins dotting the street. Its happened. My neighbours have stated “the hell with banana bread, we are on to Read more…
What do we do when a child dies in Ontario? What do we do when that child has not survived our collective attempts to protect them? Every three days on average a child dies who, within a 12 monthperiod, is somehow connected to our child protection system. Most of these children are still living Read more…
The news stories that make us ask “How can this happen in Canada?” have hit harder this year. Especially those that concern our most vulnerable children and youth. Alarmingly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are more children than ever in our country living far removed from their fundamental rights. To offer just Read more…
Have you heard about a fellow named Janus Korczak. No I thought not. Bear with me here. Janus Korczak across Europe and in other parts of the world is known as the father of Childrens Rights. Born in Poland he was a Jewish Pediatrician who established an orphanage of his own design in 1911-12. The orphanage was Read more…
Two years ago I had the chance to visit India. I was with my Dad and my Aunt and Uncle as part of a team supporting projects in a part of the country. We were in the Odissa region of India. We stayed in a city called Visakhapatnam for a Read more…
“Seven-year-old Katelynn Sampson was murdered by her two caregivers in their Parkdale apartment eight years ago. Paramedics found her lifeless body in a pool of blood, covered in 70 wounds, each more ghastly than the last. Eight of her ribs had been broken, her teeth had cut through both her Read more…
The Case For Readiness-Based System For Leaving Child Welfare Care In 1986 I received a copy of the National Youth In Care Network publication ( written by a former youth in care Brian Raychaba) “On My Own With No Direction From Home”. It depicted how our child protection systems across Read more…
Last month I was asked to provide testimony to the Quebec Commission into Child Protection. My testimony centred upon questions provided to me by the Commission. The Commission took the notes below following my testimony. They are close to verbatim. It is my belief the Commission will recommend the creation Read more…
Deeds Not Words An Open Letter to Ontarians On Youth in Care Day, May 14, 2020 Irwin Elman ( Former Ontario Child Advocate 2007-2019, Global Advisor Until The Last Child, Laidlaw Fellow, Laidlaw Foundation “ This pandemic is a real test of our mental toughness and resilience” said the young girl Read more…
When the planes hit the twin towers on September 11, 2001, I was the Director of a Centre supporting youth in and from care living on their own across the Greater Toronto Area. I remember ironing my shirt at home watching CNN as the first tower was hit. By the Read more…