Child advocate

Jennifer Charlesworth, B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth, says children and youth lost and missing from the child welfare system are “canaries in the coal mine” of a child welfare system that is “struggling to provide safe, nurturing and timely care” for them. (Black Press Media file photo) (InWithForward)

’Canaries in the coal mine’: Report highlights missing child, youth within B.C.’s welfare system

Report finds ‘systemic’ challenges in child welfare system but finds problems across social systems

 

BC United leader Kevin Falcon (centre) speaks to staff during a visit to Starbright Childcare Centre flanked by local MLAs (l-r) Renee Merrifield, Norm Letnick and Ben Stewart. (Photo/Gary Barnes Capital News)

BC United leader Falcon urges NDP to keep Kelowna’s Starbright open

‘It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing’

 

First Call Child and Youth Society report found 1 out of 8 children in B.C. and Canada were living in poverty in 2020. (Black Press file photo)

Child poverty rates drop below provincial average in Central Okanagan

High child poverty rates were clustered near downtown Kelowna in 2020

 

Starbright Child Development Centre is set to close at the end of June. (Photo/Starbright)

Kelowna child development centre strives to shine in face of closure

‘Our agency has been a hub of services for decades’

Starbright Child Development Centre is set to close at the end of June. (Photo/Starbright)
Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)

B.C. children’s representative urges immediate help for children with special needs

Thousands of children with special needs receive little or no support: Charlesworth

Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)
The Vernon Lions are vision screening at elementary schools throughout Vernon. (Contributed)

Lions take a close look at vision of North Okanagan kids

Service club has screened hundreds of elementary students, some found with very poor eye sight

The Vernon Lions are vision screening at elementary schools throughout Vernon. (Contributed)
A child poses for a photo with a Backpack Buddies bag of food. (Submitted by Backpackbuddies.ca)

B.C. food-aid programs seeing spike in hungry students amid high inflation, grocery costs

The school year began on Sept. 6, after a summer of inflation rates reaching as high as 8 per cent .

A child poses for a photo with a Backpack Buddies bag of food. (Submitted by Backpackbuddies.ca)
Former social worker Robert Riley Saunders is in court for 13 charges of fraud, theft and breach of trust (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)

Kelowna judge rules disgraced former social worker deprived youth

Robert Riley Saunders will be sentenced on June 22 and 23

Former social worker Robert Riley Saunders is in court for 13 charges of fraud, theft and breach of trust (Jacqueline Gelineau/Capital News)
(Autism BC photo)

B.C.’s new autism funding model a disappointment, says Autism BC

Part two in a series of stories related to autism awareness in B.C.

(Autism BC photo)
Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)

B.C.’s new autism funding model a disappointment, says Autism BC

Part one in a series of stories related to autism awareness in B.C.

Children protest in front of BC Parliament for autism support in B.C. in 2021. (Autism BC)
Phone screen in hand. (Pixabay)

Government-funded iPhones to connect B.C.’s youth in care to services, technology

Nearly 4,000 iPhones will be issued over the next two months to youth aged 13 or older

Phone screen in hand. (Pixabay)
Heather Leggett (right) joined close to 20 people to march along 32nd Street in the intense heat Thursday, July 30 to raise awareness around sex trafficking. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Vernon woman recounts emotional sex trafficking past

Local rally raises awareness, helps local lady regain power by sharing story

Heather Leggett (right) joined close to 20 people to march along 32nd Street in the intense heat Thursday, July 30 to raise awareness around sex trafficking. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)