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CYFC New Initiatives & Current Projects
CYFC Awards
In 2002 the Society for Children and Youth of BC established the CHILD AND
YOUTH FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES AWARDS. The first awards were presented
to three communities at SCY's National Conference in May 2002.
Efforts are being made to ensure the continuation of this
award every year.
Click here for the Nomination
Form for 2004!
Criteria
A group that deserves special recognition for its efforts in making their community more child and youth friendly. (This could be a community group, a neighbourhood, an entire community, a local, provincial or national program, a corporate initiative…)
Requirements for the first award included:
- A description of the achievement (1,000 words)
- Three letters of support
- Photos, or video if appropriate
Selection criteria required that the following qualifications be demonstrated:
- Potential long-term benefit to the community
- A high level of community involvement and support
- Child and/or youth involvement
- In operation for at least one year
2002 Winners
Youth Ooutreach Initiative Program of the Maple Ridge-Pitt
Meadows Parks and Leisure Services, for giving youth
a strong voice and influence over their own programs.
Grandview/Uqinak'uuk Elementary School and the Grandview
Terrace Child Care, Vancouver, for the Spirit of Nature
garden. This project involved children in every step of
the transformation of a muddy one-acre elementary school
yard in a crowded inner city neighbourhood into a school/community
garden.
Child and Youth Friendly Calgary for being the
Canadian pioneer in the child and youth friendly cities
movement, for offering children and youth a chance to contribute
as citizens to their city and for helping other cities to
develop their own initiatives.
2003 Winners
Renfew-Collingwood Community, Vancouver,
for the myriad of efforts being made for children and youth,
including the Family of Schools program that links 1,500 youth
to seven elementary schools where they lead after school programs
for younger children; the Youth Adaptation program pairs immigrant
youth with a buddy to help ease the transition to a new country;
and a number of other initiatives include environmental stewardship,
safety and prevention, and nutrition programs. www.cnh.bc.ca/community.htm
Broadway Youth Resource Team, Vancouver,
for it’s work targeting the at-risk youth from aboriginal
and other multi-ethnic backgrounds in the heart of Vancouver’s
Mount Pleasant neighborhood. The BYRT demonstrates outstanding
leadership in providing much needed counseling, employment,
and education programs in a ‘one of its kind’
integrated model supported by seven agencies. www.pcrs.ca/byrc/index.htm
Montrose Youth Action Team Society, which
is tucked in among neighboring cities of Trail and Rossland,
for the efforts of one young man who was determined to see
a skateboard park built in his community, and the community
members (youth and adults alike) who supported him and his
efforts to make the park a reality. Contact Loren for more
information – (250) 367 7670
(Honourable Mention) Boston Bar’s
Building Bridges/New Beginnings Program, which pairs
young children with big buddies, supports interaction between
children and seniors, as well as crafts and family recreation
and is supported by a local six-person committee.
(Honourable Mention) Canadian Red Cross
Respect Ed Violence and Abuse Prevention Program,
which is a volunteer driven program that works in partnership
with a variety of community agencies to deliver training and
education on child abuse prevention. www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000294&tid=030
(Honourable Mention) Richmond Auto Mall’s
Kidsake Day, which involves 35 non-profit groups
in the Richmond area to deliver safety knowledge to over 900
parents each year during Kidsake Day – BC’s largest
child safety day.
(Honourable Mention) Riley Park Youth Council,
Vancouver, for making a positive impact on youth issues and
through its principles of preventative programming, collaborative
networking, cultural sensitivity, resource development and
networking opportunities for young people.
2004 Winners
John Howard Society of North Island, Campbell
River, for providing programs of rehabilitation, education,
prevention and healing for children and youth and opening
opportunities for them to achieve, maintain or regain balance
within their communities.
Abbotsford Youth Commission, for offering,
in addition to their regularly scheduled activities, a series
of free recreation programs for less-advantaged and marginalized
youth (all developed by youth) in the community over the last
year including activities surrounding Youth Week and other
community events.
New Westminster Youth Advisory Committee,
for developing an anti drinking and driving PSA with help
from the local radio industry and the Parks and Recreation
Department of the City of New Westminster.
(Honourable Mention) Sunshine Coast Strikers
U16 Rep Soccer Team, for offering an excellent example
of how parents, coaches and kids from all walks of life can
actively participate within, and collectively make decisions
for, one community sports team.
(Honourable Mention) Chetwynd Alcohol &
Drug Misuse Prevention Committee, for developing
an initiative whereby children and youth, in exchange for
attending an exciting and popular five-day physical theatre
workshop, are asked to take part in, and volunteer at, at
least one community event over the year.
National Child Day
Each year on National Child Day (November 20th) SCY encourages
communities to celebrate the contributions that young people
make to our communities and to find ways of involving children
and youth in community building. For more information on National
Child Day, see backgrounder, letter from Senator Pearson,
and ideas for involving children and youth in your communities.
Several mayors and councils throughout BC proclaim National
Child Day. To encourage your municipality to become more involved,
see a copy of a sample proclamation.
Sample
Mayor's Proclamation
Sample
Child Day Letter
Letter
from Senator Pearson
Getting
Young People Involved: Information & Resources
Background
Information
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