Canadian Foster Family Association

[FiveParadox]

At the Canadian Foster Family Association Annual Conference, our representative of Her Majesty the Queen of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., the Governor General of Canada, today delivered a speech to members of the conference, in relation to foster care, her own experiences as a mother, and the importance for children to be given the opportunity to succeed.

Her Excellency the Rt. Hon. Michaëlle Jean[/color], C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.,]It is a pleasure for me to welcome you to Rideau Hall. I am the mother of a young girl whom, as I like to say, I have long carried in my heart before holding her in my arms. I know that caring for a child brings happiness and joy. But, no doubt we can all agree, it is also one of the most demanding of life's challenges. This challenge is all the more difficult when you are caring for a child who has been beaten down by unfortunate circumstances. You must put the pieces back together, one at a time, with infinite patience. Through simple, daily, repeated actions, you must rebuild their trust. Consoling, reassuring, listening, comforting. Day after day. Night after night. Consistently. Affectionately.

...

How do you give a wounded child faith in him or herself, faith in adults, faith in life? How do you fix what has been broken? How do you give that child wings so that he or she may fly once more? How do you help that child to realize his or her full potential?

Click here to read the entire speech in English.
Cliquetez içi pour lire la parole entière en français.

:arrow: My Opinion Re: Foster Care

I agree with Her Excellency entirely on this subject; too often, in my opinion, it seems as though children put into foster care are kept at a disadvantage due to unfortunate circumstances which are, more often than not, entirely outside of their own sphere of control. Perhaps it is time for the Government of Canada to work, hand-in-hand with the various Governments of the Provinces of Canada, to improve this system, and to ensure that the children of this country are given safe homes — and by extension, safe futures.

:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Governor General of Canada.