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Important Quote
"An
organizational culture that shuns openness and accountability is often
a major cause when institutions fail children" Lawyer Susan Fraser
Position Statement on Child-Welfare Services
It
is our position that child welfare authorities are necessary to protect
children who are being abused or seriously neglected and that these
authorities require strong, proactive, responsive, transparent, and
accountable oversight mechanisms to ensure that the best interests of
the child are being met.
GOVERNANCE
The Foster Care Council of Canada is governed by a volunteer board of directors which is made up of individuals who have lived in foster care as well as their supporters from the community. (see biographies below)
COUNCIL BUSINESS
The business of the Foster Care Council of Canada is governed by our by-laws. The directors meet over the Internet on a regular basis to conduct the business of the Council. You will find meeting agendas and minutes here.
DIRECTORS & VOLUNTEER STAFF
Our directors, volunteer staff, and their biographies are listed below.
Executive Director
John Dunn - (ON) * executive director
Board of Directors
* indicates current/former foster children.
Gary Curtis - (ON) *
Alice Daniels - (BC)
Michele Farrugia - (ON) *
David Witzel - (ON) *
Bev Yates - (ON)
Kate Anderson - (QC) community member
Volunteer Staff
Michele Farrugia - Manager of Advocacy
BIOGRAPHIES
John Dunn - ON - Former Foster Child - Executive Director (Volunteer)
John Dunn, of Ottawa, Ontario is the founder and volunteer executive
director of the Foster Care Council of Canada. As a child, John lived
in foster care for 16 years, most of which were with his brother Ron
Dunn. (Ron has been a bike courier in Toronto for over twenty years!)
Both John and his brother were moved 13 times while in foster care. In
1988, when John was 18 years of age, he chose to leave foster care and
live on his own. Approximately 13 years later, in 2001 when he
contacted the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto to get copies
of his own life records, he learned that Children's Aid Societies
generally, as a matter of internal policy, do not provide copies of
former foster kids' life records to them. John entered into a complaint
procedure with the Society and was unsuccessful in getting copies of
his records. John's discovery of how Children's Aid Societies treat
former foster children who are looking for copies of their life records
is what inspired the idea for the Foster Care Council of Canada which
continues its work today. John has been with the Society since it's
inception. Having lived in foster care, John is a 'Ward Member'. (Class 1: By-law article 7)
Listen to John's CBC Radio Documentary on his life in foster care [here]
See John's Youtube Channel [here]
Gary Curtis - ON - Former Foster Child - Director
Gary Curtis of Winchester,Ontario (South of Ottawa) was a Crown Ward
under the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa for his entire childhood up
to the age of 18. Gary lived in 6 different foster homes, an orphanage
and the Ottawa Children' Village, plus a couple of temporary homes all
by his 8th birthday. In 2003 Gary started out by requesting a copy of
his file from the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa and finally received
about 60% of it. During Gary's search, he discovered the Foster Care
Council of Canada and is now actively involved in various aspects of
its work where he specializes in Disclosure and Information aka:
Records. Having lived in foster care, Gary is a 'Ward Member'. (Class 1: By-law article 7)
You can visit Gary's Records website [here]
Alice Daniels - BC - Director - West Coast
Alice Daniels has been doing poverty law advocacy for approximately 13 years. She is based in Revelstoke British Columbia, but has worked on cases in almost every province of Canada. Her specialties are child welfare-services and family law issues, although over the years she has been, and continues to be involved with advocating for other issues as well. Alice works under a supervising lawyer and has done so for the past ten years. She is the mother of 8 children, 5 of which experience a disability or disabilities ranging from minor learning disabilities to severe behavioural disorders. Alice has informed us that she is the first person in the province of British Columbia to ever get her children back from child-welfare after they have been permanent wards of the government. Having never lived in foster care herself, Alice sits on the board of directors of the Foster Care Council of Canada as a non-ward, 'Community Member'. (Class 2: By-law Article 7)
Alice is also the founding executive director of the Columbia/Kootenay Advocacy and Education Resource Society . [here]
Michele
Farrugia - ON - Director
Michele Farrugia (pronounced Mickay-lay) is a former crown ward who recently left foster care and is now on extended care and maintenance (ECM). Michele says that he felt like he did not have a voice in most of the group homes he was at and that he was not afforded all of his rights. Michele is very interested in advocating for reforms to the child welfare system and has as his main focus the experiences of children and youth in group homes, legislative reform, and general child welfare related advocacy. Having lived in foster care, Michele sits on the board of directors as a "Ward Member". (Class 1: By-law article 7)
David Witzel - ON - Former Foster Child - Director
David Witzel was born in Timmins Ontario in 1947 to alcoholic parents
who were abusive to both him and his brother. His parents abandoned
them when David was seven years of age after taking them to the
Hamilton-Wentworth Children's Aid Society (HWCAS), under which they
were made Crown Wards. In their foster home David and his brother were
consistently and severely abused emotionally, physically and sexually
for years. When David was 21 he joined the US Marine Corps and remained
in service with them for 3 years. During that time he was deployed to
Viet Nam for 13 months. David suffered from alcoholism between the ages
of 13 to 35 when finally on Thanksgiving Day, October 18, 1982 he quit
drinking -- "with God's help" David emphasizes. 5 years later in 1987
David's life changed drastically for the better when he met his wife
and daughter. In 2004 David applied for his foster care records from
the HWCAS and
only received a 4 page summary. After pushing further for more
information David received an additional 8 page summary. Still
unsatisfied, David talked with the law firm (Torkin Manes Cohen Arbus
LLP) who kindly DONATED their services successfully obtaining not only
his own files, but those of his brother as well. David notes that they
also arranged and set him up with the law firm Jellinek Law Office and
Ms Simona Jellinek kindly took on the case on a pro-bono basis. David
sought accountability for the abuse he and his brother suffered while
in foster care both through the HWCAS and through the Police without
success. He initiated and is still involved in trying to obtain more
information on himself and his life through Freedom of Information and
Privacy Protection Act requests (FIPPA) and in 2008 joined the Board of
Directors of the Foster Care Council of Canada. David specializes in
FIPPA and MFIPPA requests with the Council. Having lived in foster
care, David is a 'Ward Member'. (Class 1: By-law article 7)
Bev Yates - ON - Director
Bev Yates is a community member who (Bio Pending) Having never lived in foster care herself, Bev sits on the board of directors of the Foster Care Council of Canada as a non-ward, 'Community Member'. (Class 2: By-law Article 7)
Kate Anderson - QC - Director
Kate Anderson is a parent of a child who has been subject to CAS investigation (bio pending) Having never lived in foster care him/herself, this director sits on the board of directors of the Foster Care Council of Canada as a non-ward, 'Community Member'. (Class 2: By-law Article 7)
The Foster Care Council of Canada is governed by a volunteer board of directors which is made up of individuals who have lived in foster care as well as their supporters from the community. (see biographies below)
COUNCIL BUSINESS
The business of the Foster Care Council of Canada is governed by our by-laws. The directors meet over the Internet on a regular basis to conduct the business of the Council. You will find meeting agendas and minutes here.
DIRECTORS & VOLUNTEER STAFF
Our directors, volunteer staff, and their biographies are listed below.
Executive Director
John Dunn - (ON) * executive director
Board of Directors
* indicates current/former foster children.
Gary Curtis - (ON) *
Alice Daniels - (BC)
Michele Farrugia - (ON) *
David Witzel - (ON) *
Bev Yates - (ON)
Kate Anderson - (QC) community member
Volunteer Staff
Michele Farrugia - Manager of Advocacy
BIOGRAPHIES
John Dunn - ON - Former Foster Child - Executive Director (Volunteer)
John Dunn, of Ottawa, Ontario is the founder and volunteer executive
director of the Foster Care Council of Canada. As a child, John lived
in foster care for 16 years, most of which were with his brother Ron
Dunn. (Ron has been a bike courier in Toronto for over twenty years!)
Both John and his brother were moved 13 times while in foster care. In
1988, when John was 18 years of age, he chose to leave foster care and
live on his own. Approximately 13 years later, in 2001 when he
contacted the Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto to get copies
of his own life records, he learned that Children's Aid Societies
generally, as a matter of internal policy, do not provide copies of
former foster kids' life records to them. John entered into a complaint
procedure with the Society and was unsuccessful in getting copies of
his records. John's discovery of how Children's Aid Societies treat
former foster children who are looking for copies of their life records
is what inspired the idea for the Foster Care Council of Canada which
continues its work today. John has been with the Society since it's
inception. Having lived in foster care, John is a 'Ward Member'. (Class 1: By-law article 7)Listen to John's CBC Radio Documentary on his life in foster care [here]
See John's Youtube Channel [here]
Gary Curtis - ON - Former Foster Child - Director
Gary Curtis of Winchester,Ontario (South of Ottawa) was a Crown Ward
under the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa for his entire childhood up
to the age of 18. Gary lived in 6 different foster homes, an orphanage
and the Ottawa Children' Village, plus a couple of temporary homes all
by his 8th birthday. In 2003 Gary started out by requesting a copy of
his file from the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa and finally received
about 60% of it. During Gary's search, he discovered the Foster Care
Council of Canada and is now actively involved in various aspects of
its work where he specializes in Disclosure and Information aka:
Records. Having lived in foster care, Gary is a 'Ward Member'. (Class 1: By-law article 7)You can visit Gary's Records website [here]
Alice Daniels - BC - Director - West Coast
Alice Daniels has been doing poverty law advocacy for approximately 13 years. She is based in Revelstoke British Columbia, but has worked on cases in almost every province of Canada. Her specialties are child welfare-services and family law issues, although over the years she has been, and continues to be involved with advocating for other issues as well. Alice works under a supervising lawyer and has done so for the past ten years. She is the mother of 8 children, 5 of which experience a disability or disabilities ranging from minor learning disabilities to severe behavioural disorders. Alice has informed us that she is the first person in the province of British Columbia to ever get her children back from child-welfare after they have been permanent wards of the government. Having never lived in foster care herself, Alice sits on the board of directors of the Foster Care Council of Canada as a non-ward, 'Community Member'. (Class 2: By-law Article 7)
Alice is also the founding executive director of the Columbia/Kootenay Advocacy and Education Resource Society . [here]
Michele
Farrugia - ON - DirectorMichele Farrugia (pronounced Mickay-lay) is a former crown ward who recently left foster care and is now on extended care and maintenance (ECM). Michele says that he felt like he did not have a voice in most of the group homes he was at and that he was not afforded all of his rights. Michele is very interested in advocating for reforms to the child welfare system and has as his main focus the experiences of children and youth in group homes, legislative reform, and general child welfare related advocacy. Having lived in foster care, Michele sits on the board of directors as a "Ward Member". (Class 1: By-law article 7)
David Witzel - ON - Former Foster Child - Director
David Witzel was born in Timmins Ontario in 1947 to alcoholic parents
who were abusive to both him and his brother. His parents abandoned
them when David was seven years of age after taking them to the
Hamilton-Wentworth Children's Aid Society (HWCAS), under which they
were made Crown Wards. In their foster home David and his brother were
consistently and severely abused emotionally, physically and sexually
for years. When David was 21 he joined the US Marine Corps and remained
in service with them for 3 years. During that time he was deployed to
Viet Nam for 13 months. David suffered from alcoholism between the ages
of 13 to 35 when finally on Thanksgiving Day, October 18, 1982 he quit
drinking -- "with God's help" David emphasizes. 5 years later in 1987
David's life changed drastically for the better when he met his wife
and daughter. In 2004 David applied for his foster care records from
the HWCAS and
only received a 4 page summary. After pushing further for more
information David received an additional 8 page summary. Still
unsatisfied, David talked with the law firm (Torkin Manes Cohen Arbus
LLP) who kindly DONATED their services successfully obtaining not only
his own files, but those of his brother as well. David notes that they
also arranged and set him up with the law firm Jellinek Law Office and
Ms Simona Jellinek kindly took on the case on a pro-bono basis. David
sought accountability for the abuse he and his brother suffered while
in foster care both through the HWCAS and through the Police without
success. He initiated and is still involved in trying to obtain more
information on himself and his life through Freedom of Information and
Privacy Protection Act requests (FIPPA) and in 2008 joined the Board of
Directors of the Foster Care Council of Canada. David specializes in
FIPPA and MFIPPA requests with the Council. Having lived in foster
care, David is a 'Ward Member'. (Class 1: By-law article 7)Bev Yates - ON - Director
Bev Yates is a community member who (Bio Pending) Having never lived in foster care herself, Bev sits on the board of directors of the Foster Care Council of Canada as a non-ward, 'Community Member'. (Class 2: By-law Article 7)
Kate Anderson - QC - Director
Kate Anderson is a parent of a child who has been subject to CAS investigation (bio pending) Having never lived in foster care him/herself, this director sits on the board of directors of the Foster Care Council of Canada as a non-ward, 'Community Member'. (Class 2: By-law Article 7)
