Jessica Van der Veer

“If you care enough that you want to see a change, that's enough to be an advocate”

Jessica was adopted at six years old. She spoke in the House of Commons for the first time at age 12 and has not slowed down since. She has won numerous community awards for advocacy and volunteerism, and has created safe spaces across Canada for youth in care to support each other. She is working towards a future where no child has to feel alone in the child welfare system.

Watch Jess’ Digital Story

Princess Land

“Just going out there and being able to share your stories makes you a good advocate.”

Princess has worked as an advocate since first taking part in a youth panel about the importance of permanency. By speaking out and connecting with other youth in and from care, she has learned about the widespread issues and challenges within the system at large.

She now writes a blog to share her experiences and insights, with the hope that readers will feel less alone. This motivates Princess to keep writing and shining light on the child welfare system..

Read Princess’ Blog

Kaygan Drew Beardy

“You can't rely on jurisdictions or people of authority to fix these issues. They need to have ideas and solutions to be able to do it.”

Kaygan has been advocating for years. He has a simple idea to improve the child welfare system: make communication more efficient. He wants to make sure that no youth has to wait for someone to answer an email for help.

He hopes that no child will feel neglected by the system meant to protect them.

Watch Kaygan’s Digital Story

R. Metatawabin

“Through active listening, you're going to learn so much more than what you already know, because the people who are speaking have a real time view of what's going on in today's world”

R became a youth collaborator with the Children’s Aid Society at the age of 15, consulting and volunteering to share youth voice. She has continued to advocate for children and youth throughout her life and is currently a youth support worker.

She works to improve the system, with the hope of breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty and trauma.

Watch R’s Digital Story

Brigitte Fernandez

“The real power comes from the youth themselves, and from the workers themselves, not from being a part of the system”

Brigitte aged out of the child welfare system without permanence. She communicates her experiences through poetry and prose, putting words to the more difficult events of her youth.

She wants every youth to remember they have a voice. And, perhaps most of all, to remember that they are capable of transcending even the most difficult of circumstances.

Watch Brigitte’s Digital Story

Susan Russell-Csanyi

“I firmly believe that no other youth should have to endure the system that we endured”

No one should age out of care into homelessness or the other many adverse outcomes that accompany unsupported youth transitions. Sustained post-majority support is an issue Susan is advocating for in British Columbia.

Once she found her calling as an advocate, she could never go back. She continues to mobilize and engage youth in decision-making, with the hope that no one will have to endure the system she endured.

She is now a campaign organizer for a group called Fostering Change.

Zo Amelia

“The wheels of government work slow, but I have patience. I've been doing this for 10 years. I'm gonna keep going.”

Zo was 15 when she gave her first public speech. She spoke at her foster mother’s retirement party, sharing how adoption changed her life for the better. She started to share her experiences and make change long before the inclusion youth voice was commonplace

For the last decade, Zo has been building community and advocating for change. While governmental and policy changes are slow-moving, she refuses to give up. She is currently a social worker and program coordinator.

Watch Zo’s Digital Story