User:Catcourage/sandbox

Youth Leaving Care Hearings were held on November 18 and 25, 2011 at Queen's Park, home of the Ontario Legislature, in Toronto, Ontario. For the first time in Canada, youth in and from care, also known as Crown Wards, held hearings focussed on improving the futures of children and youth living in care. At any one time, there are approximately 8,300 children and youth who are taken into care and the Province of Ontario becomes their parent.

Four youth leads and approximately 30 volunteers were supported by the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth, to organize and run hearings. Irwin Elman, the Provincial Advocate, was first inspired by the Children's Express: National Hearings on Violence in the Child's Life, at Home, at School & on the Streets, held in Washington, D.C., October 25-27, 1993. Irwin had seen television coverage of the hearings and was struck by how well even the youngest children asked questions and provided testimony. He vowed that one day he would support young people to hold hearings on issues of importance to them.