On May 14, OACAS and the YouthCAN program hosted the third Children’s Aid Youth Civics Day at Queen’s Park. The day commemorated the second Children and Youth in Care Day, enacted into law in 2014 and recommended in My Real Life Book, the report from the Youth Leaving Care Hearings organized in 2011 by the Provincial Advocate for Youth.
CAS youth and chaperones from across the province joined their peers in a day of education, networking and fun. The program included formal remarks by MCCSS Minister MacCharles and the Opposition Critics, Jim McDonnell and Monique Taylor, as well as the Provincial Advocate. Over lunch, youth and staff were able to meet and mingle with their elected representatives.
Minister MacCharles introduced youth and staff during a visit to the public gallery and made statements, as did MPPs McDonnell (Stormont-Dundas, PC Critic), Taylor (Hamilton Mountain, NDP Critic), Wong (Scarborough – Agincourt) and Lalonde (Ottawa-Orléans).
Highlights:
- 111 CAS youth and staff attended
- 17 MPPs and government staff attended (including Minister MacCharles and Education Minister Liz Sandals)
- Introductions in the public gallery by the Minister
- Civics educational program by legislative staff
- Giant group photo on the elegant central staircase (attached)
- A great deal of social media
