Looking back:
Advocacy for Action for Kids in the Covid-19 Pandemic Recovery
During the pandemic, we partnered with First Call Society for Children and Youth to advocate for specific approaches to address rising inequities in BC amplified by the pandemic. Here is some of the work we did that is still relevant today.
Click here to view a PDF copy of the letter sent to government.
Click here to read the news release.
Click here to read about the letter in the Tyee.
Click here to hear Dr. Christine Loock, developmental pediatrician, talk about the call to action on CBC’s Early Edition.
Click here to add your name to the call to action!
June 16, 2020
Open letter to:
Premier John Horgan, Katrine Conroy (Minister of Children & Family Development), Katrina Chen (Minister of State for Child Care), Rob Fleming (Minister of Education), Adrian Dix (Minister of Health), Shane Simpson (Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction), Judy Darcy (Minister of Mental Health & Addictions), Carole James (Minister of Finance), Scott Fraser (Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation), with copies to: Dr. Bonnie Henry (Provincial Health Officer), Jennifer Charlesworth (BC Representative for Children and Youth)
Re: BC Children’s pandemic recovery task force
Dear Honourable Ministers,
We are a group of child advocates, physicians, researchers and health care professionals that share concerns about the significant impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on the wellbeing of families and children in British Columbia. Children with complex needs, disabilities, and those marginalized by socio-economic inequities, racism and structural violence are most impacted.
Their unique needs require an urgent, equitable and collaborative response in BC to support their wellbeing during the pandemic recovery, and prevent short-term and long-term harm. As Children First Canada and allies have expressed, every day of ongoing stress matters for children’s development and health outcomes. Urgent action is needed.
Research from Europe indicates a significant impact of the pandemic on children that will last for many years, and a similar impact is predicted in BC. Given pre-existing child poverty affecting 1 in 5 children in BC, and increased family stress and violence during the pandemic, families with more financial and relationship stress need additional support. A wealth of research indicates that resilience is more effectively supported through collective, system-level supports rather than relying on individual actions and the invisible labour of parents, caregivers and teachers to mitigate stress, often with insufficient resources to support them.
Children’s social environments have shrunk during the isolation measures, diminishing critical opportunities for co-regulation of emotion and stress through social connection and the support of broader families, communities, and culture. Most adults in children’s lives – parents, teachers, and caregivers – are working hard to protect children while carrying an additional burden of stress. Many adults supporting children are under additional financial strain, and a wealth of evidence indicates that this has significant health impacts in the short and long term, including long-lasting impacts on children’s biology and health. Furthermore, many organizations have raised concern about parallel epidemics of domestic violence and substance use, and dramatic increases in mental health concerns as parents struggle under real fears and pressures during the pandemic.
The return to school and phased increases in social supports present a critical opportunity to focus efforts on building resilience and wellness in children and families. This is within the scope of the Ministry of Children and Family Development, public health, and education systems, when resources are available to address the social determinants of health. However, exhausted by Covid-19 pandemic, these systems need more support to work at their full potential and ensure that no child is left behind. Additional, dedicated multi-disciplinary supports are needed to adequately support children, families, educators and care providers for children, to prevent short and long-term harm to children’s health and wellbeing.
This letter builds upon the evidence-based requests outlined by Children First Canada in May. We ask that a BC task force be urgently created to support an evidence-based, equity-oriented strategy for children’s wellness in the pandemic recovery. Supporting children’s wellbeing is a cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary effort that should not be delayed because of the complexity of the work. We propose drawing upon a wealth of expertise in this province that will be amplified in collaboration.
Recommendations:
That a collaborative, interdisciplinary Children’s Safety and Wellness Task Force be implemented in BC, including governmental and non-governmental representatives, to support work across sectors, and to build resilience and support a healthy recovery for children from the Covid-19 pandemic.
That public health departments provide ongoing transparent communication and direct support to child development and child-care providers, teachers, and organizations providing essential supports to children, including consideration of relative harms and benefits of recommendations to prevent viral transmission.
That the task force take direction from Indigenous organizations and communities to ensure that the wellness of Indigenous children in BC are prioritized in the pandemic recovery, including respect for and upholding of self-determination of Nations regarding decisions about their children and families.
Recommended task force priorities:
Develop strategies to enhance the protective environment for children and build community resilience, by addressing poverty, food and housing insecurity, and toxic stress in children.
Address systemic racism throughout services and programs for children and families, to reverse the cumulative negative impact of systemic violence that is exerted through racism and discrimination, in particular towards Black, Indigenous and People of Colour.
Prioritize funding for accessible programs to support the mental and emotional health of children and families while taking into account the diverse needs of children, including increased funding for crisis support, appropriate follow-up, and ongoing mental health care.
Enhance access to equitable opportunities for outdoor play, learning and connection for all children in BC, as an evidence-based means of supporting the health and emotional regulation of children.
Support health care providers to inquire about and provide support for family experiences of stress, including racism and discrimination, poverty, food and housing insecurity, parental mental health struggles, violence exposure, and inadequate access to essential supports, as outlined in the CPS statement.
Support the essential needs of child development and child-care providers, and teachers, including support for financial and work-related stress, personal health needs, and child care, to create resilient environments for children and the adults who care for them.
References:
2019 BC Child Poverty Report Card, First Call BC Child & Youth Advocacy Coalition
Drs. Kobor, Odgers & Schmidt: The hidden costs of COVID-19 for children, May 30, 2020
Social Pediatrics Section recommendations, Canadian Pediatric Society, May 5, 2020
Children First Canada: Kids Can’t Wait! May 7, 2020.
Click here to add your name to the call to action!
Signed:
Adrienne Montani, Provincial Coordinator, First Call: BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition
Vanessa Brcic MD CCFP RTC, UBC Clinical Assistant Professor; Research Associate, CCPA-BC; Co-founder & Vice-Chair, Basics for Health Society
Sarah Kesselring MPH, Chair, Basics for Health Society
Teri Mooring, President, BC Teachers' Federation
Geoff Mann, Chair, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - BC Office
Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division
Public Health Association of BC
BC Council for Families
Parent Advocacy Network for Public Education
Health Sciences Association of BC
Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC
Family Support Institute of BC
Pacific Immigrant Resources Society
Donna Baines PhD, Professor and Director of the School of Social Work, UBC
Dianne Heath MSW RSW, Executive Director, BC Association of Social Workers
Deb Bryant, CEO, YWCA Metro Vancouver
Shannon Turner PhD(c), Executive Director, Public Health Association of BC (PHABC)
Maria Robinson, 'Namgis First Nation, Administrator of Whe-La-La-U Area Council Society, PHABC Board of Directors, Mother
Stephanie Howell, Executive Director, Society for Children and Youth of BC and The Child and Youth Legal Centre
Richard FitzZaland, Executive Director, The Federation of Community Social Services of BC
Karen Isaac, Executive Director, BC Aboriginal Child Care Society
Alanna Hendren, Executive Director, Developmental Disabilities Association
Amy S. FitzGerald, Executive Director, BC Society of Transition Houses
Tim Veresh, Executive Director, PLEA Community Services Society
Carol Madsen, Executive Director, Parent Support Services Society
Tracy Humphreys, Founder and Chair, BCEdAccess Society, Parent
Barbara DuMoulin, President, BC Council of the Canadian Federation of University Women
Elizabeth Saewyc PhD RN FASHM FCAHS FAAN; Professor and Executive Director, Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre, UBC School of Nursing
Kate Spence MEd, Early Literacy Teacher, Surrey School District, Coalition of Childcare Advocates of BC Board Member, Mother
Shawn Bayes, CEO, Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver
Christine Mohr, CEO, Options Community Services Society
Amanee Elchehimi, Director, Family Services, DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, Mother.
Taryn O'Flanagan MA BSW CCC; Executive Director, Vancouver Island Mental Health Society
Debbie Anderson Eng, CEO, Pacific Community Resources Society
Jason Gordon MHS BScPT, Provincial Advocate, BC Association for Child Development and Intervention
Deborah Pugh, Executive Director, Autism Community Training (ACT)
Lisa Meneian, Executive Director, Deaf Children's Society of BC
Sarah Stewart, Executive Director, Aunt Leah's Place
Sarah Chown, Executive Director, YouthCO HIV & Hep C Society
Faye Willick, Executive Director, DASH Dedicated Action for School Health
Sara Dent, Executive Director, Young Agrarians
Paola Ardiles, Co-founder, Bridge for Health Co-operative
Dana Osiowy, Executive Director, New Westminster Family Place
Gini Bonner, Executive Director, Mount Pleasant Family Centre Society
Janice Lambert, Executive Director, Richmond Family Place Society
Jennifer Chin MSC, Vice-Chairperson, on behalf of the Board of Directors at Richmond Family Place
Diane Elliott-Buckley, Executive Director, West Side Family Place
Tracy Beshara, Executive Director, Marpole Oakridge Family Place Society
Vanessa Riplinger, Executive Director, Cariboo Chilcotin Child Development Centre; President, Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce; Mother
Brenda Lenahan, Founder, BC Parents of Complex Kids; Mother
Calum Scott BCs, Director of Operations, Pacific Community Resources Society, Father
Judy Willows, Board Member, The Community Legal Assistance Society
William Brennan, Manager of Communications, SOS Children's Village BC
Jennifer Dehoney BSc.(PT); Indigenous Health Lead & Board Member, Kilala Lelum, Mother
Michael Dumont MD CCFP; Medical Director, Lu'ma Medical Centre; Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Jennifer Waters BSW, Social Navigator Lead, Lu'ma Medical Centre
Michael Kobor PhD, Professor, UBC Department of Medical Genetics; Canada Research Chair Tier 1 in Social Epigenetics; Theme Lead, Healthy Starts Theme, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
Candice Odgers PhD, Co-Director, Child & Brain Development Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research; Professor of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine
Anne Gadermann PhD, Human Early Learning Partnership & Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences, Assistant Professor, School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia
Mariana Brussoni PhD, Associate Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics, School of Population & Public Health; Investigator, BCCHR, Mother
S. Evelyn Stewart MD FRCPC, Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry; BCCH Director for Reproductive, Child and Youth Mental Health Research; BCCH Research Institute Lead for Brain, Behaviour and Development; Medical Director of BCCH Provincial OCD Program; Mother.
Wilma Arruda BSc BEd MD FRCPC, Pediatrician, Island Health; Advocacy Lead, BC Pediatric Society; CYMH Community of Practice Steering Committee Member
Gordon Neufeld PhD, Clinical & Developmental Psychologist, Founder of the Neufeld Institute
Gabor Maté MD CM (Order of Canada), Author of “Hold On To Your Kids”, “In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts”
Michael C. Klein CM MD FCFP Professor Emeritus, Family Practice, UBC (Order of Canada)
John Millar MD FRCPC, Former Provincial Health Officer; Clinical Professor Emeritus, UBC School of Population and Public Health
Christine Loock MD FRCPC DABP, Developmental Pediatrician; Associate Professor, UBC Pediatrics; Co-founder, Canadian Social Pediatrics Interest Group and & UBC RICHER Social Pediatrics Program
M Judith Lynam PhD RN, Professor Emeritus, UBC
Richard Sullivan PhD, Associate Professor Emeritus, Social Work, UBC
Beth Snow PhD MBA CE, Head of Program Evaluation, Centre for Health Evaluation & Outcome Sciences; Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, SFU
Kim Schmidt PhD, Research Manager, Healthy Starts Theme, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute
Sabrina Wong RN PhD, Professor, UBC School of Nursing and Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, Mother
Anonymous, PhD, UBC Professor
Lyana Patrick PhD, Assistant Professor (Indigenous health and justice), Faculty of Health Sciences, SFU
Hasina Samji PhD MsC, Assistant Professor, SFU Faculty of Health Sciences; Senior Scientist, BCCDC
Ruanne Vent-Schmidt PhD, Knowledge Translation Specialist, UBC Social Exposome Cluster; Mother.
Shari Laliberte RN PhD, Nursing, School of Health Sciences, Vancouver Community College
Grant Charles PhD, Associate Professor, UBC School of Social Work
Jennifer Russel MD FRCPC(C) MSW, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry UBC; Clinical Director, Compass Mental Health Program
Tahmeena Ali MD CCFP, FCFP; 2020 Family Physician of the Year, BC College of Family Physicians Member, ACEs CoP; Clinical Lecturer, UBC Department of Family Medicine
Dr. Veronic Clair MD MSc PhD CCFP FRCPC, Post-Doctoral Fellow, UBC School of Population and Public Health; Public Health and Preventive Medicine Specialist, Addiction Medicine Physician; Mother of two awesome children, including one with a disability
Dean Brown MD FCFP(EM), Clinical assistant professor, UBC Department of Family Practice; Department Head, Family Practice, Lions Gate Hospital
Ashnoor Nagji CCFP(AM) FCFP, Clinical Associate Professor, UBC Faculty of Medicine; Associate Professor, School of Population and Public Health UBC
Kate Bodkin MD CCFP, Physician at Sheway Maternity Services, VCH and Perinatal Addiction Service at BCWH, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Anonymous, family physician, Division co-chair
Jennifer Lee MD CCFP, Medical Lead, Foundry Victoria, Victoria Youth Clinic Society; Clinical Faculty, UBC Department of Medicine, Mother
Sheik Hosenbocus MD Dip.Psych DABPN CSPQ FRCPC, Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry; Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Anonymous, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Jane Donaldson MD CCFP(EM) FCFP, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Family Practice, Educational lead, Noakes Maternity Clinic
Sarah Freedman MD FRCPC, Pediatrician, BC Children's Hospital and Lions Gate Hospital, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Pediatrics
Simon Davidson MBBCh FRCPC, Clinical Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Haydeh Esmaili MD FAPA, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry, Outpatient psychiatrist, Mother, Grandmother.
Sandy Whitehouse MD, Clinical Associate Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics; Chief Medical Officer, Tickit Health; Mother, Grandmother
Anonymous, pediatrician
Christy Sutherland MD CCFP(AM) dABAM Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Family Medicine
Gurpreet (Preety) Dhaliwal MD FRCPC; Developmental Pediatrician, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children
Anonymous, family physician
Russet Killough MD FRCPC, Provincial ADHD Clinic, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Janine Hardial MD CCFP FCFP, Clinical Assistant Professor UBC, Medical Coordinator, Sheway
Anonymous, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Anonymous, child psychiatrist
Semion Strovski MD CCFP, Head, Peace Arch Hospital Maternity clinic
Randall F. White MD FRCPC, Clinical Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Naomi Paice MDCM FRCPC FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics
Ashley Miller MD,CM FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Vernon Reynolds MBChB, FRCPC, Child, Adolescent, Family & General Psychiatrist
Rupinder Brar MD CCFP(AM), Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Anonymous, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Glenn Fedor MD, Sessional Mental Health Physician, RCCBC Lifetime Achievment Award recipient
Kasandra Harriman MD CCFP, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice, Mother
Elizabeth Zubek BScMed MD CCFP FCFP, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Sarah Tranquilli-Doherty MD CCFP, Clinical Associate Professor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Julia Gibson MD FRCPC, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Psychiatry, Mother
Mei-ling Wiedmeyer, MD, CCFP; Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Julia Gibson MD FRCPC, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Psychiatry, Mother
Anonymous, family physician
Katrina Stockley MD FRCPC, Pediatrician & Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Pediatrics
Michelle Yuen MD CCFP, BCWH Department of Family Practice, Mother
Ainsley Sutherland MD PhD FRCPC; Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Anesthesia, St. Paul's Hospital
Kathryn Toews MD CCFP; Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Emergency Medicine; Mom
Sari Raber MD CCFP, Family Doctor, Unceded Coast Salish Territories
Karenza Van Leeve MD FRCP, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC
Christine Singh MD CCFP(AM) FCFP, UBC Clinical Assistant Professor, Mother
Francois Proulx MD FRCPSC, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Surrey Memorial Hospital, Father
Harry Keyter MD Rural General Practitioner, Valemount BC
Werner Spangehl MD DipABLM, Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Venetia Mah MD CCFP, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Ashley Smith MD CCFP, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Mandeep Mahal MD FRCPC, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Paediatrics
Devon Christie MD CCFP RTC, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Eric Cattoni MD CCFP, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Medicine
Anonymous, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Anonymous, Pediatrician
Moira Anne de Valence MD CCFP, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Family Practice
Gloria Yuen MD FRCPC, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Chantal Guillemette MD CCFP, Family Physician, Mother
Valerie Athaide MD FRCPC, Emergency Medicine
Jeanette Boyd MD CCFP FCFP
Laura Knebel MD CCFP FCFP
Linda Uyeda MD CCFP
Myles K. Blank MD FRCP(C), Psychiatrist
Marsha Santerre MD CCFP
Jennifer Leavitt MD CCFP, Mother
Anonymous, family physician
Charissa Patricelli MD CCFP(AM) FCFP DABAM
Valerie Ehasoo MD CCFP
Melissa Lem MD CCFP FCFP
Alisa Sanregret MD CCFP
Anonymous, family physician
Kurt Samer BA MD FRCPC
Caroline Eberdt MD CCFP-EM
Charles Ho MD FRCPSC, Psychiatry
Kelly Lau MD CCFP
Gabriela Glattstein-Young MD CCFP MPH
Anonymous, specialist physician
Laura Malley MD CCFP
Shirley Sze MD CCFP FCFP
Anita Adlam MBChB MMed(Paeds) FRCPC, Pediatrics
Evelyne Perron MD CCFP
Justine Spencer MD CCFP
Julie Milligan MD FRCPC, Pediatrics
Vivian Paul MD CCFP
Stephanie Crompton MD CCFP, Mother
Stephanie Balog MD CCFP
Jennifer Rozylo MD FRCPC, Child Psychiatrist
Anonymous, psychiatrist
Anonymous, family physician
Alena Ladki FRCPC, Pediatrician
Vicki Klassen MD CCFP (AM) FCFP
Anonymous, physician
Kelly Apostle MD FRCSC
Karen Wong MD FRCPC
Haseena Majeed MD CCFP
Matt Blackwood MD CCFP FCFP
Anonymous, family physician
Diana Peters MD CCFP
Matthew Carwana MD FRCPC, Pediatrician
Keri Ruthe MD CCFP
Anonymous, family physician
Adriana Mejia-French MD CCFP
Ulrike Meyer MD, Family Physician
Sandi Witherspoon MD, Family Medicine
Anonymous, physician
Derek Chang MD
Jenny Hernandez BSW MD
Janelle Syring BMR(PT) MD, Family Medicine resident, UBC Indigenous Family Medicine program
Elise Van Brummelen BSc MD, Resident Doctor, UBC Pediatrics
Paige Zhang MD, Resident, UBC Psychiatry
Emily Ower MD, UBC Family Medicine Resident
Curtis May MD, Incoming Resident, UBC Public Health and Preventive Medicine
James Wang MD, Resident, UBC Department of Pediatrics
Gwyneth McIntosh NP(F), Nurse Practitioner
Denise Hanson MN NP(P), Nurse Practitioner, Pediatrics
Leane Mathias NP(F), Nurse Practitioner, Mother
Donna Jepsen RN MSc, Community Health Nurse
Rachel Nicoletti RN BSN
Kristen Wade RN
Catherine Astin RN, MSN
Laraine Michalson RN MSN, Sheway Nurse
Sara Cameron MSW RSW, Senior Manager, Children and Family Programs, MOSAIC
Anonymous, Youth Program Coordinator
Parbs Bains MEd BCBA, Building Blocks Behaviour Consulting, Mother
Keri Guelke, VCH Outreach Worker, Mother
Sky Lee MSW
Brandon Burke MSW RSW
Isaiah Finkelstein BSW
Anonymous, MSW
Ferma Ravn-Greenway RSW MSW BSW
Shannon Tully RCC, Registered Speech Language Pathologist (RSLP)
Rhiann Grills, MA SLP(C)
Carla Elfers PhD, Registered Psychologist
Adrienne Rombough PhD, Registered Psychologist
Jennifer Mervyn PhD, Registered Psychologist
Jodi Yager PhD, Registered Psychologist
Heather Webster MEd MA RCC
Danielle Bowersock MA RCC, Mother
Anonymous, Public Health Dietitian
Kiley Ketchum, RD
Jodie Pulsifer BaKPE MPT, Registered Physiotherapist, owner of Full Circle Physiotherapy, mother
Heather Walmsley PhD, Health Researcher and Writer, Mother
Jenna van Draanen PhD MPH, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of British Columbia
Amy Lubik PhD, Public Health Researcher
Sheila Matano MPH, Evaluation Specialist
Lisa O'Reilly MPA CE, Management & Evaluation Consultant
Jessica Lusuegro, Student Nurse
Sabine Bruyere, UBC Bachelor of Social Work student
Ferdeliza Lontok, UBC Bachelor of Social Work student
Jancis Wong, Social Work Student
Colin Dring, PhD Candidate, UBC
Charlotte Humphries MAP (Planning)
Alison Matthews MEd, Elementary School Teacher
Sarah Kim MD CCFP(SEM) FCFP MScCH
Barbara McEachern, PACE Program
Nora King, teacher, mother
Lori Damon MA RCC
Sarah Dobson MSc; Co-founder, Basics for Health Society; Small business owner, Parent
Sara Sandwith MD CCFP; Medical Co-Lead, Maternity Care for North Island Hospitals, Comox Valley
Angelika Francis, Early Childhood Educator
Megan Pechin; Early Childhood Educator, Elizabeth Fry Family Centre
Shazeen Suleman MD MPH FRCPC
Wingfield Rehmus MD MPH, Clinical Associate Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics - Pediatric Dermatology
Colleen Soares, Early Childhood Educator
Matthew Smyth MD; Pediatric Resident, UBC
Kelly Mould, Infant/Toddler Educator, Elizabeth Fry Family Centre
Anonymous, Early Childhood Educator
Anamaria Richardson MD FRCPC BEd, Pediatrician; Clinical Instructor, UBC
Kathy Price, Delta, Early Childhood Educator
Theresa Wilson MD CCFP FCFP; Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Family Practice, Parent
Christine Zammit, Early Childhood Educator
Oryanna Lee, Early Childhood Educator
Michelle Paquette, Mother of two special needs children
Kimberly Thomson PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Human Early Learning Partnership, UBC School of Population and Public Health & Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences
Jane Hughes, Program Manager CPNP & CAPC Programs, Comox Valley Family Services Association
Michelle Guthrie BSW, Early Years Group Coordinator, Comox Valley Family Services Association
Dianne Goldberg, Courtenay, BC
Peggy Hatcher, Volunteer child minder, Healthy Families, Courtenay BC
Dr. Jean L Moore, BC Alliance, Mental Health, Illness and Addiction
Tonje Molyneux MEd; Mother; UBC Graduate Student; Educational Designer
Betty Tate, Courtenay, BC
Jacquie Anderson, Early Learning Support Teacher, SD71, Comox Valley
Colleen Soares, ECE & Early Learning Centre Owner
Jennifer Stevenson, Secondary School Teacher Vancouver
Eva Moore MD MPSH, Clinical Associate Professor, Adolescent Medicine Pediatrician, UBC Department of Pediatrics
Ashley Roberts MD MEd FRCPC, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, BC Children's Hospital
Laura Sauve MD MPH FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics; Pediatrician, Oak Tree Clinic, BC Women's Hospital
Kristopher Kang MD FRCPC, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Pediatrics
Jan Alexander, Teacher, Teacher-Librarian, Vancouver School Board
Manish Sadarangani BM BCh DPhil, Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics
Tamara Schindeler RN MPH
Joanna Cheek MD FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry
Lori Damon MA RCC
Ariane Alimenti MD, UBC Dept of Pediatrics, BC Women's and Children's Hospital
Claire Seaton MD FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital
Esther Lee MD FRCPC, Pediatrician, Vancouver, BC
Will Lau, Vancouver, BC
Samara Laskin MD FRCPC, Consultant Pediatrician
Hal Siden MD MHSc, Clinical Professor, UBC Dept of Pediatrics; Medical Director, Canuck Place Children's Hospice; Division Medical Lead, Palliative Medicine, BC Children's Hospital
Tiffany Wong MD FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology; Medical Lead, Allergy Clinic; Hudson Scholar 2020/22
Nita Jain MD FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics; Medical Director, Child Protection Service Unit, BC Children's Hospital
Tom McLaughlin MD MPP FRCPC FAAP, Clinical Instructor, UBC Department of Pediatrics; Medical Director, Clinical Teaching Unit, BC Children's Hospital
Michaela Remington MD FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Pediatrics; Associate Program Director UBC Pediatric Residency Training Program; Mother
Megan Kilvert MD FRCPC, Consultant Pediatrician, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital
Hana Mijovic MD FRCPC, Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, BC Children's Hospital
Bahaa Abu-Raya MD, Department of Pediatrics, UBC
K. Broom, Youth & Family Advocate, Courtenay, BC; Parent
Lois Yelland MD MHSc, Health Care and Epidemiology; Retired Medical Health Officer
Shelley Neufeld, Child & Youth Care/Family Support Worker, Williams Lake, BC
Matthew Burkey MD FRCPC, Clinical Assistant Professor, UBC Department of Psychiatry; Medical Lead for Child and Youth Mental Health, Northern Health; Father
Susan Coodin, Teacher; Parent
Ruth Comfort BMw RM, Mother
Tracey Young MSW RSW
Lynell Anderson CPA GCA, Coquitlam BC
Sandy Berman, Consultant (Diversity and Inclusion), Vancouver BC
Wendy Brundige, UBC Child Care Services teacher (27 years, Retired); Former Chair, Fund Development, Westcoast Child Care Resource Centre; aunt/great aunt
Lisa Briggs BSW RSW
Cliff Boldt BEd MEd, Past president of BC Retired Teachers' Association
Leonard Schein, Registered Psychologist (Retired)
Laura Jones MSW
Amy Childs, Mother
Catherine Hajnal PhD; Grief Educator; Founder, Life Fundamentals Education & Coaching
Larry Stoffman, Director, Occupational and Environmental Health, LDS Ltd. Vancouver
Deborah Thomas MLIS (Retired)
Cindy Andrew, Health Promotion Consultant, Victoria BC
Marjorie Batoon CPA-CGA, Financial Administrator, Mount Pleasant Family Centre Society, Grandmother of 5 (ages 0-6)
Betisa Mohammadi MA RCC, Program Manager, Mount Pleasant Family Centre Society, Mother
Jasmine Olson BSW, Child and Family Settlement and Support Worker, Circles of Care and Connection Early Years Refugee Program, Mount Pleasant Family Centre
Stacia Leech Trustee & Vice Chair School District 46 (Sunshine Coast)
Jessica Lenihan MSW RSW