Making
Children Matter: Building Better Communities for Children
brought together more than 300 people at all levels from the
service, public and private sectors to examine and discuss
the issues related to building better communities for children.
Beginning
with an inspiring keynote address from Stephen Lewis and ending
with moving words from Sandra Griffin, the conference offered
a wealth of information and on ideas for improving community
capacity, recognizing and responding to issues and much more.
Presentations by Doug Willms and Sharon Rich, in partnership
with a series of workshops, had the air crackling with a revitalized
energy formed of new ideas, partnerships and possibilities.
What
happened at Making Children Matter?
by
Jean Clinton MD FRCP(C)
 One
of Canada’s Great Ones passed away Easter Saturday.
Dr Dan Offord was a champion for all children, especially
the disadvantaged, a world leader in the field of science
and research, a tireless advocate for his belief that:
“In
a civic community, all children deserve the right of full
participation in community life. Adults must take responsibility
for more than their own children”
Dan was
also a gentle, kind and funny man. He bellowed hello, he loved
sports and the Young and the Restless. Everyone who
met him left feeling they had something unique tooffer, felt
more hopeful, challenged to try things in a different way.
For 47
summers he directed Christie Lake camp. He loved the kids
, and the kids loved him. Thousands of young people tell of
their lives being changed by the touch of Dr Dan Offord.
His legacy
is the social fabric he weaved among those who knew him and
were touched by him. His words and phrases, ‘the burden
of suffering, a level playing field for all kids, a civic
community” will continue to resound by those of us inspired,
mentored and humbled by the Greatness of the Man.
At
the end of May, the Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood
Development and the Society for Prevention Reasearch hosted
a conference in Quebec City looking at Building a Comprehensive
Early Childhood Development System.
More
details on this conference
Investing In Children
795 Wonderland Rd. S., Suite 103
London, ON N6K 3C2
phone: 519-433-8996 fax: 519-433-6698
www.investinginchildren.on.ca
info@investinginchildren.on.ca
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