Annual Awards Dinner Celebration
By Marie-Lauren Gregoire, OACAS Communications Coordinator

On June 2, OACAS recognized youth in care pursuing post-secondary education, health professionals advocating for best practices for children and private corporations assisting agencies to educate the public at the 2008 Annual Awards Dinner.

The Clark Bursary Fund, established in 1989 through a generous donation by Ron and Nancy Clark of Caledonia, was created to assist youth receiving services from Ontario Children’s Aid Societies (CASs) and former wards to achieve their academic and career goals. The number of bursaries awarded annually has steadily increased from five in 1989 to 20 in 2008. The Clark Grants were introduced in the mid-1990s for young people pursuing educational, employment or skills development programs who require financial assistance. The Clarks’ generosity continued with the introduction of Clark Graduation Awards in 2007.

Twenty young people received Clark Bursary Awards of $3,000 per year for two to three years of college studies and $4,500 per year for four years of university studies. Minister Deb Matthews joined the Clarks in presenting the awards to exceptional young people who had achieved academic success and excellence in community involvement. To date, the Clarks have donated $1,727,262 towards the post-secondary, educational and skill development aspirations of young people in care.

Retired Deputy Coroner Dr. Jim Cairns was honoured for his dedication and commitment to improving children’s lives through education and activism with the 2008 Outstanding Leadership in Child Welfare Award. As Deputy Chief Coroner of Ontario, Dr. Cairns was instrumental in improving the system that cares for and protects children in Ontario.

During the mid 90s OACAS and the Coroner’s Office created the Ontario Child Mortality Task Force, which Dr. Cairns and former OACAS Executive Director Mary McConville co-chaired. Dr. Cairns’ work on the task force, and its reports and recommendations, led to a $15 million funding commitment from the provincial government to support the implementation of those recommendations. This initiative educated the public and increased awareness of child maltreatment and, in particular, highlighted the issue of neglect.

Dr. Cairns has been influential in improving the review of child deaths in Ontario through the use of the multidisciplinary Paediatric Death Review Committee which he chaired until his retirement this year. Toronto Catholic Children’s Aid Society Executive Director Mary McConville and OACAS Executive Director Jeanette Lewis presented Dr. Cairns with the award.

This year, OACAS recognized two corporations for their outstanding contributions in improving the well-being of children, youth and families in Ontario through the development and implementation of the October awareness campaign.

PHD Canada (PHD) and john st. donated their talents and their time to the Child Abuse Prevention Campaign for Ontario’s CASs to help OACAS and member agencies promote the protection and well-being of children and youth.

In 2005, Ontario’s CASs partnered with john st. to develop the Use Your Voice campaign to ask Ontarians to use their voice to report any signs of child abuse. That year, the theme was “Abused children don’t have a voice, give them one. Use your voice.” In January 2007, PHD accepted the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies as a pro-bono account and the partnership with john st. continued.

The theme of the 2007 campaign, “Abused children don’t always look it”, was re-developed in partnership with john st. who re-created elements of the campaign as thought-provoking posters and a phenomenal, interactive website.

Last year’s partnership between john st., PHD, OACAS and member agencies was a huge success in launching a new, integrated, bilingual campaign, the Child Abuse Prevention Campaign. PHD ensured the creative elements of the campaign created by john st. received high visibility so that Ontario’s CASs were able to reach communities in Ontario with their message.

Co-chair of the Provincial Communications Working Group and Director of Communication at Peel Children’s Aid Lucie Baistrocchi and OACAS Executive Director Jeanette Lewis presented Brian Wylie of PHD Canada and Peter Bolt of john st. with the 2008 Award of Distinction for the corporations’ contributions to member agencies’ public education campaigns to prevent child abuse and neglect.

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