Latest news with #CindyBlackstock
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Children First Canada Celebrates 10 Years of Impact and Honours 10 Iconic Champions for Children
TORONTO, May 27, 2025 /CNW/ - Children First Canada (CFC) is proud to mark its 10th anniversary by celebrating a decade of impact in advancing the rights and well-being of children, and by honouring 10 extraordinary Canadian leaders with the Champions for Children Awards. These awards recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership has significantly shaped policies, programs, and public awareness in support of Canada's 8 million children. The honourees will be celebrated at two milestone events, beginning today in Toronto (May 27 at the St. Regis Hotel) and Calgary (September 23 at the Fairmont Palliser), from 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. These celebrations bring together champions from across business, philanthropy, healthcare, public service, and civil society. 2025 Champions for Children Award Recipients: The Hon. Rona Ambrose, Deputy Chairwoman, TD Securities Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Darren Entwistle, CEO, TELUS Mary Jo Haddad, Founding Chair of CFC, Chancellor of the University of Windsor, Corporate Director, Past President and CEO of SickKids Wes Hall, Founder, BlackNorth Initiative, Chancellor of University of Toronto Gail O'Brien, Past Chair of CFC, Trustee of SickKids, Strategic Advisor to O'Brien Institute of Public Health and One Child Every Child Alex Munter, CEO, Canadian Medical Association Kathleen Taylor, Chair of SickKids, Chancellor of York University, Past Chair of RBC Benjie Thomas, CEO, KPMG Canada Karen Young, CEO, United Way of Calgary and Area In Memoriam The Hon. Landon Pearson, O.C., "The Children's Senator" and founder of the Landon Pearson Centre for the Study of Childhood and Children's Rights "Our Champions for Children have raised their hands and taken action in the face of tremendous challenges facing Canada's kids," said Sara Austin, Founder & CEO of Children First Canada. "Together, we've made enormous progress, but our work is far from over. Canada ranks just 66th on the Kids Rights Index. We are renewing our commitment to make this the best place in the world for kids to grow up." A Decade of ImpactSince its founding in 2015, Children First Canada has become the leading national charity focused on children's rights. Through research, advocacy, and youth empowerment—including the flagship Raising Canada report—CFC has spotlighted critical threats to childhood and mobilized action. CFC has directly impacted the lives of over 8 million children through initiatives like the Young Canadians' Parliament, National Child Day, and the Being, Belonging, Becoming program. Later this year, CFC will also host the Future is NOW! Awards to honour 10 outstanding young changemakers across Canada. Join the CelebrationProceeds from the events will directly support CFC's research, advocacy, and youth-led programs. Donations made will be matched up to 50% through Rogers Birdies for Kids. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit: Media Availability:Sara Austin, award recipients, and youth leaders will be available for interviews at the Toronto event on May 27. To coordinate, please contact: Andrea Chrysanthouachrysanthou@ 416-797-8194 About Children First CanadaChildren First Canada is a national charity dedicated to making Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up. Through research, advocacy, and youth empowerment, CFC defends children's rights and equips the next generation to lead SOURCE Children First Canada View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
Cision Canada
27-05-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Children First Canada Celebrates 10 Years of Impact and Honours 10 Iconic Champions for Children
TORONTO, May 27, 2025 /CNW/ - Children First Canada (CFC) is proud to mark its 10th anniversary by celebrating a decade of impact in advancing the rights and well-being of children, and by honouring 10 extraordinary Canadian leaders with the Champions for Children Awards. These awards recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership has significantly shaped policies, programs, and public awareness in support of Canada's 8 million children. The honourees will be celebrated at two milestone events, beginning today in Toronto (May 27 at the St. Regis Hotel) and Calgary (September 23 at the Fairmont Palliser), from 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. These celebrations bring together champions from across business, philanthropy, healthcare, public service, and civil society. 2025 Champions for Children Award Recipients: The Hon. Rona Ambrose, Deputy Chairwoman, TD Securities Dr. Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society Darren Entwistle, CEO, TELUS Mary Jo Haddad, Founding Chair of CFC, Chancellor of the University of Windsor, Corporate Director, Past President and CEO of SickKids Wes Hall, Founder, BlackNorth Initiative, Chancellor of University of Toronto Gail O'Brien, Past Chair of CFC, Trustee of SickKids, Strategic Advisor to O'Brien Institute of Public Health and One Child Every Child Alex Munter, CEO, Canadian Medical Association Kathleen Taylor, Chair of SickKids, Chancellor of York University, Past Chair of RBC Benjie Thomas, CEO, KPMG Canada Karen Young, CEO, United Way of Calgary and Area In Memoriam The Hon. Landon Pearson, O.C., "The Children's Senator" and founder of the Landon Pearson Centre for the Study of Childhood and Children's Rights "Our Champions for Children have raised their hands and taken action in the face of tremendous challenges facing Canada's kids," said Sara Austin, Founder & CEO of Children First Canada. "Together, we've made enormous progress, but our work is far from over. Canada ranks just 66th on the Kids Rights Index. We are renewing our commitment to make this the best place in the world for kids to grow up." A Decade of Impact Since its founding in 2015, Children First Canada has become the leading national charity focused on children's rights. Through research, advocacy, and youth empowerment—including the flagship Raising Canada report—CFC has spotlighted critical threats to childhood and mobilized action. CFC has directly impacted the lives of over 8 million children through initiatives like the Young Canadians' Parliament, National Child Day, and the Being, Belonging, Becoming program. Later this year, CFC will also host the Future is NOW! Awards to honour 10 outstanding young changemakers across Canada. Join the Celebration Proceeds from the events will directly support CFC's research, advocacy, and youth-led programs. Donations made will be matched up to 50% through Rogers Birdies for Kids. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities, visit: Media Availability: Sara Austin, award recipients, and youth leaders will be available for interviews at the Toronto event on May 27. To coordinate, please contact: Andrea Chrysanthou [email protected] 416-797-8194 About Children First Canada Children First Canada is a national charity dedicated to making Canada the best place in the world for kids to grow up. Through research, advocacy, and youth empowerment, CFC defends children's rights and equips the next generation to lead change.
Vancouver Sun
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Ottawa says child welfare talks stalled over AFN's 'unreasonable' requests
OTTAWA — The federal government has told the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal that negotiations with the Assembly of First Nations on reforming the child welfare system are stalled and the AFN's requests are 'unreasonable.' In a May 15 filing to the tribunal, Ottawa said it has made 'intensive and meaningful efforts' to reform the system since 2016 — when the tribunal concluded that the federal government had discriminated against First Nations children by underfunding the on-reserve child welfare system. But Ottawa told the tribunal that negotiations with the AFN are 'no longer working' and there is no 'practical utility' to continuing them. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Canada has met its obligations under the Tribunal's consultation orders, which do not require that Canada consult indefinitely or until the complainants obtain the variable outcomes they seek,' the filing says. Cindy Blackstock, who heads the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and helped to launch the initial human rights complaint against the federal government, said she is 'disappointed' by the filing. 'It read like a government that did not want to take responsibility for the way it's harming children and is trying to blame everyone else,' she said Tuesday. 'And it's out of alignment with what Prime Minister (Mark) Carney promised during the campaign, which is to come back to the table in good faith and stop Canada's discrimination, and prevent it from happening again to kids.' Indigenous Services Canada did not immediately respond when asked why the federal government didn't alert First Nations leaders that it was looking to suspend the talks. Chiefs have twice voted down a federal proposal to reform the child welfare system, saying it didn't go far enough to protect kids from discrimination. Ottawa said that deal, worth $47.8 billion, went beyond the scope of what was ordered by the tribunal. It accuses the AFN and the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of making 'extensive further demands.' Chiefs in Ontario, frustrated with other regions voting down the agreement, reached a deal of their own with the federal government earlier this year. In the filing, Ottawa said that instead of continuing with 'unproductive consultations,' it's in the best interests of First Nations children 'to move forward with implementing long-term reforms, beginning with (Chiefs of Ontario) and (Nishnawbe Aski Nation's) joint motion to approve the Ontario final agreement.' The federal government also claims that the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society imposed 'unreasonable conditions on the negotiations' and encouraged First Nations leaders to vote the deal down. 'The Caring Society publicly criticized the very reforms to which it had previously agreed, advocating in favour of their new approach to reform,' the government said in the filing. 'Rather than moving forward to long-term reform, the Caring Society's approach has brought progress to an impasse due to their fluctuating demands and unwillingness to compromise.' Blackstock said the Caring Society has been consistent in its position for more than a year and that if better information comes along, it might change. Asked about the claim that she encouraged leaders to vote down the deal, Blackstock said she did her due diligence by analyzing the offer, as did the chiefs. Blackstock didn't rule out heading back to court. 'If they don't sit down in good faith as the prime minister promised, and if they don't commit themselves to getting an agreement that stops their discrimination and prevents it from happening again, then yes, it's going back to court,' she said. 'We've been there over 30 times, and the kids keep winning because the facts are so strong against Canada.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
