On November 29th 2014, Minister Cathy Rogers issued an official declaration, making November 29th Children and Youth in Care Day in New Brunswick. The declaration, signed at the Government House with the blessing of Lieutenant Governor Jocelyn Roy-Vienneau, makes New Brunswick one of only a few provinces in Canada to take this important step.
This declaration is the result of years of hard work undertaken by the NBYICN leadership group. In November 2012, the NBYICN organized the first ever New Brunswick Youth in Care Hearings at the provincial legislature. The hearings gave six young people the chance to talk about their experiences in the care system to a room filled with elected officials, top civil servants, and a group of their peers. Following this event, the NBYICN published a report that listed a series of recommendations for the provincial government on how they could provide better support to youth in care. One of those recommendations was to set one aside one day to be an annual youth in care day in New Brunswick.
As the NBYICN’s parent organization, Partners For Youth could not be prouder than we are today. The strength and initiative displayed by NBYICN members throughout this process has been nothing short of inspiring. Stand tall. You deserve to.