The Child Welfare League of Canada (CWLC) has announced its national achievement award winners, and a Gibsons youth is among this year's recipients.
Twenty-year-old Christopher Tait was presented with the RBC Youth Achievement Award at a winners' reception in Ottawa on March 22. The Ministry of Children and Family Development, Vancouver Coastal Region, nominated Tait for the award.
Tait's bio for the award described him as a young man who has taken a set of difficult life experiences and turned them into powerful teaching tools and motivation for B.C.'s Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCDF) staff, service providers and youth across the province.
"He has been an amazing contributor to change for youth in and from care and truly deserves the recognition that this award brings. Chris has endured hardships that would weigh heavily on anyone, but he continues to demonstrate an inspirational resiliency," according to a press release from CWLC. "He has undergone an incredible transformation from a confused and angry teenage to a confident, outgoing and well-spoken young man. He shares his experience with honesty, in a way that can invoke emotion in anyone, about the hardships that he continues to overcome as well as with pride over the amazing young man that he is.
"Chris has embraced a leadership role in his community and was instrumental in gathering other youth in his community, including his own siblings, to help plan and co-ordinate a hugely successful youth forum. Chris aged out of the system last year and continues to be a huge advocate for youth in care.
Special guest of honour Sharon Johnston, spouse of Governor General David Johnston, delivered remarks about the importance of working together with youth to build a better nation.
The awards recognize and honour individuals from across Canada who have shown exceptional dedication in specific areas of the child welfare system.
"The CWLC sees great value in recognizing and celebrating excellence among those who labour tirelessly to bring a voice to youth and who make a real difference in the lives of those who cannot yet advocate for themselves," said CWLC chief executive officer Peter Dudding.
The CWLC is a membership-based national organization dedicated to promoting the well-being and protection of vulnerable young people. CWLC plays a significant role in promoting best practices among those in the field of child welfare, child rights, children and youth mental health and youth justice. See more about the organization at www.cwlc.ca.
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