Children’s Aid Societies across Ontario, including North Bay, launched the annual Ontario Dress Purple Day campaign, to raise awareness about the important role that adults and communities play in supporting children and youth, especially those who are facing challenges.
The campaign promotes every child and youth’s right to safety and well-being in all areas of their lives.
Supporters gathered, including Mayor Al McDonald in his unique purple suit, on a chilly and blustery Main St. West this morning.
Executive Director of the local Children's Aid Society, Gisèle Hébert told CKAT that a success story involves 'kin families'.
That's where children are placed with other family members or a coach, or teacher, instead of the traditional foster home.
Herbert says they're seeing that kids so do much better with family, and are focusing on increasing the number of kin homes.
"Kin families aren't well-supported financially so there's a lot of advocacy happening from a provincial level on that piece, but we're really proud of the fact that there are now 88 (kin homes) when typically there could have been a few, historically," she says.
Hébert says just two or three years ago there were only about 24 kin homes.
Another awareness event happens tonight, with the lighting up of the Energy Park behind Memorial Gardens at dusk.
Community organizations across the province will also be joining the campaign tonight to explain how they are part of the “community that cares for kids.” Landmarks across the province will be lit purple including the CN Tower and Niagara Falls.
“On Ontario Dress Purple Day, we are asking adults and community partners to think more deeply about how they can better support the safety and well-being of the young people around them,” said Nicole Bonnie, CEO of the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies. “Youth tell us the most important thing we can do is listen. How can you protect a child or youth if you are not engaging with them?”
“Dress Purple Day is about raising awareness and the role we all play in supporting vulnerable children, youth and families. We need to speak up for every child and youth’s right to be safe in all spaces,” said Jill Dunlop, Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues.