Irwin Elman
@irwinelman.bsky.social
President Defence For Children International- Canada, Ontario Child Advocate 2008-2019. Officer of the Order of Canada. Husband, Father www.the Elman.com
As urgent as today’s headlines.
Please join me in conversation with author, family therapist , advocate Maude Champagne in what can be different systemically and families supporting “complex special need children”
Wednesday October 1 on line
RSVP here www.eventbrite.com/e/1664459115...
Please join me in conversation with author, family therapist , advocate Maude Champagne in what can be different systemically and families supporting “complex special need children”
Wednesday October 1 on line
RSVP here www.eventbrite.com/e/1664459115...
September 26, 2025 at 11:42 PM
As urgent as today’s headlines.
Please join me in conversation with author, family therapist , advocate Maude Champagne in what can be different systemically and families supporting “complex special need children”
Wednesday October 1 on line
RSVP here www.eventbrite.com/e/1664459115...
Please join me in conversation with author, family therapist , advocate Maude Champagne in what can be different systemically and families supporting “complex special need children”
Wednesday October 1 on line
RSVP here www.eventbrite.com/e/1664459115...
If you are in Ottawa join me in this discussion organized by International Social Services on the growing crisis facing children “on the move” in Canada and globally.
September 9, 2025 at 12:12 AM
If you are in Ottawa join me in this discussion organized by International Social Services on the growing crisis facing children “on the move” in Canada and globally.
Ken Dryden was always a champion for youth from care. He set up the Ken Dryden Scholarship with the National Youth In Care Network well before any part of the child welfare system thought to do so.
He refused any credit for this act of caring and empowerment.
He refused any credit for this act of caring and empowerment.
September 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Ken Dryden was always a champion for youth from care. He set up the Ken Dryden Scholarship with the National Youth In Care Network well before any part of the child welfare system thought to do so.
He refused any credit for this act of caring and empowerment.
He refused any credit for this act of caring and empowerment.
I’m so proud to host this important conversation.
Please join us!
Hopeful Conversation
www.eventbrite.ca/e/1664459115...
Please join us!
Hopeful Conversation
www.eventbrite.ca/e/1664459115...
September 5, 2025 at 12:18 AM
I’m so proud to host this important conversation.
Please join us!
Hopeful Conversation
www.eventbrite.ca/e/1664459115...
Please join us!
Hopeful Conversation
www.eventbrite.ca/e/1664459115...
There is no system that promises more and delivers less to children than our education system. The govt answer is to add policing that will only widen the gap btwn promise and reality
August 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
There is no system that promises more and delivers less to children than our education system. The govt answer is to add policing that will only widen the gap btwn promise and reality
Join us this morning at Queens Park in Toronto 11am
A crucial conversation about our children and the schools that serve them.
A crucial conversation about our children and the schools that serve them.
August 27, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Join us this morning at Queens Park in Toronto 11am
A crucial conversation about our children and the schools that serve them.
A crucial conversation about our children and the schools that serve them.
Join me and so many other speakers of much more note at Queen’s Park on Wednesday.
We must build our systems on love and belonging. Force, exclusion, fear will never create safety. Inclusion will.
We must build our systems on love and belonging. Force, exclusion, fear will never create safety. Inclusion will.
August 24, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Join me and so many other speakers of much more note at Queen’s Park on Wednesday.
We must build our systems on love and belonging. Force, exclusion, fear will never create safety. Inclusion will.
We must build our systems on love and belonging. Force, exclusion, fear will never create safety. Inclusion will.
The child protection system in the aftermath of Katelynn’s death has shown it is incapable of fundamental change. A system built in risk and liability can not see and hear children, cannot support families, cannot keep children “safe”
August 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
The child protection system in the aftermath of Katelynn’s death has shown it is incapable of fundamental change. A system built in risk and liability can not see and hear children, cannot support families, cannot keep children “safe”
An Inquest into Katelynn’s death ushered in a host of institutional changes including Katelynn’s Principle - that children involved in the child protection system must be seen and heard.
Yet still today they are not.
Yet still today they are not.
August 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
An Inquest into Katelynn’s death ushered in a host of institutional changes including Katelynn’s Principle - that children involved in the child protection system must be seen and heard.
Yet still today they are not.
Yet still today they are not.
Katelynn was known to two child protection agencies that had sets of workers responsible for protecting her. They didn’t
August 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Katelynn was known to two child protection agencies that had sets of workers responsible for protecting her. They didn’t
August 3, 2008 , 7 year old Katelynn Sampson was found brutally murdered . Beside her a note in her handwriting “I am A awful girl. That’s why no one wants me”
August 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
August 3, 2008 , 7 year old Katelynn Sampson was found brutally murdered . Beside her a note in her handwriting “I am A awful girl. That’s why no one wants me”
The calls have been growing for months and months.
The Minister @MichaelParsa and government held this child’s life and many others in their hands. They let those lives slip through their fingers.
The Minister @MichaelParsa and government held this child’s life and many others in their hands. They let those lives slip through their fingers.
July 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The calls have been growing for months and months.
The Minister @MichaelParsa and government held this child’s life and many others in their hands. They let those lives slip through their fingers.
The Minister @MichaelParsa and government held this child’s life and many others in their hands. They let those lives slip through their fingers.
With the news this week that every 65 hours a child in Ontario connected to the child protection system dies this conversation is vital and needs you.
If you are in Toronto please join us
RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
If you are in Toronto please join us
RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
May 25, 2025 at 9:35 PM
With the news this week that every 65 hours a child in Ontario connected to the child protection system dies this conversation is vital and needs you.
If you are in Toronto please join us
RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
If you are in Toronto please join us
RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
With the news that 2023 was a record year for deaths of children connected to child protection in Ontario. 134.
This conversation about what different could look like is never more crucial.
Please join us. Your ideas, thoughts are needed
www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
This conversation about what different could look like is never more crucial.
Please join us. Your ideas, thoughts are needed
www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
May 23, 2025 at 1:38 AM
With the news that 2023 was a record year for deaths of children connected to child protection in Ontario. 134.
This conversation about what different could look like is never more crucial.
Please join us. Your ideas, thoughts are needed
www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
This conversation about what different could look like is never more crucial.
Please join us. Your ideas, thoughts are needed
www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
“90 deaths 90 voices silenced in 2008” from Ontarios Child Advocate.
134 children dead, 134 voices silenced 2023.
One death of a child connected to CAS every 60 hours.
It is a scandal.
globalnews.ca/news/1119062...
134 children dead, 134 voices silenced 2023.
One death of a child connected to CAS every 60 hours.
It is a scandal.
globalnews.ca/news/1119062...
May 23, 2025 at 1:20 AM
“90 deaths 90 voices silenced in 2008” from Ontarios Child Advocate.
134 children dead, 134 voices silenced 2023.
One death of a child connected to CAS every 60 hours.
It is a scandal.
globalnews.ca/news/1119062...
134 children dead, 134 voices silenced 2023.
One death of a child connected to CAS every 60 hours.
It is a scandal.
globalnews.ca/news/1119062...
The system says “one death is too many”. Now it is 134. A death of a child every 60 hours
No more “thoughts and prayers” @MichaelParsa @our_children
Serious fundamental change is needed.
Join us Minister on June 11
www.eventbrite.com/e/1372726063...
globalnews.ca/news/1119062...
No more “thoughts and prayers” @MichaelParsa @our_children
Serious fundamental change is needed.
Join us Minister on June 11
www.eventbrite.com/e/1372726063...
globalnews.ca/news/1119062...
May 23, 2025 at 1:13 AM
The system says “one death is too many”. Now it is 134. A death of a child every 60 hours
No more “thoughts and prayers” @MichaelParsa @our_children
Serious fundamental change is needed.
Join us Minister on June 11
www.eventbrite.com/e/1372726063...
globalnews.ca/news/1119062...
No more “thoughts and prayers” @MichaelParsa @our_children
Serious fundamental change is needed.
Join us Minister on June 11
www.eventbrite.com/e/1372726063...
globalnews.ca/news/1119062...
With thanks to Grandview Kids we at Defence for Children International- Canada were able to fill a shipping container for a centre for disabled children in our of home care and those children rescued from Russia launched by our partner in Kyiv @SaveukraineUs
May 20, 2025 at 5:43 PM
With thanks to Grandview Kids we at Defence for Children International- Canada were able to fill a shipping container for a centre for disabled children in our of home care and those children rescued from Russia launched by our partner in Kyiv @SaveukraineUs
Tomorrow 1pm est on line join us for the first of a series of hopeful conversations on what a fundamentally different approach to protecting children and supporting families could look like.
With La Maison Bleu of Quebec.
RSVP here for the link
www.eventbrite.com/e/1302019277...
With La Maison Bleu of Quebec.
RSVP here for the link
www.eventbrite.com/e/1302019277...
May 14, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Tomorrow 1pm est on line join us for the first of a series of hopeful conversations on what a fundamentally different approach to protecting children and supporting families could look like.
With La Maison Bleu of Quebec.
RSVP here for the link
www.eventbrite.com/e/1302019277...
With La Maison Bleu of Quebec.
RSVP here for the link
www.eventbrite.com/e/1302019277...
This Youth In Care Day two conferences I attended “Transforming Trauma” and “Against The Current” paused to reflect on our commitment to doing better for children in care.
May 14, 2025 at 9:14 PM
This Youth In Care Day two conferences I attended “Transforming Trauma” and “Against The Current” paused to reflect on our commitment to doing better for children in care.
Tomorrow is Youth in Care Day in Ontario !
May 13, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Tomorrow is Youth in Care Day in Ontario !
I will be speaking at Against the Current -hundreds of youth in and frcare held public hearings , wrote “My Real Lifebook” and changed the way we look at child welfare.
13 yrs ago legislation passed making every May 14 ( the day My Real Lifebook was released) Youth In Care Day
13 yrs ago legislation passed making every May 14 ( the day My Real Lifebook was released) Youth In Care Day
May 13, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I will be speaking at Against the Current -hundreds of youth in and frcare held public hearings , wrote “My Real Lifebook” and changed the way we look at child welfare.
13 yrs ago legislation passed making every May 14 ( the day My Real Lifebook was released) Youth In Care Day
13 yrs ago legislation passed making every May 14 ( the day My Real Lifebook was released) Youth In Care Day
With Sonor Foundation as they facilitate gathering seeking ways in which to fundamentally change and support Kinship care in child protection.
More convinced than ever that fundamental change is needed.
More convinced than ever that fundamental change is needed.
May 8, 2025 at 2:52 PM
With Sonor Foundation as they facilitate gathering seeking ways in which to fundamentally change and support Kinship care in child protection.
More convinced than ever that fundamental change is needed.
More convinced than ever that fundamental change is needed.
Fundamental change is now possible.
Join me for a first in a series of hopeful conversations with people and organizations doing things differently.
On Thursday May 15 1pm an online conversation with La Maison Bleu of Quebec.
RSVP here eventbrite.com/e/130201927770…
Join me for a first in a series of hopeful conversations with people and organizations doing things differently.
On Thursday May 15 1pm an online conversation with La Maison Bleu of Quebec.
RSVP here eventbrite.com/e/130201927770…
May 6, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Fundamental change is now possible.
Join me for a first in a series of hopeful conversations with people and organizations doing things differently.
On Thursday May 15 1pm an online conversation with La Maison Bleu of Quebec.
RSVP here eventbrite.com/e/130201927770…
Join me for a first in a series of hopeful conversations with people and organizations doing things differently.
On Thursday May 15 1pm an online conversation with La Maison Bleu of Quebec.
RSVP here eventbrite.com/e/130201927770…
If you are in London area please support this event for health equity.
May 5, 2025 at 11:18 PM
If you are in London area please support this event for health equity.
Naveah’s little body 3 yrs ago was found in a dumpster in the community surrounding this church.
The system meant to protect her refused to see her.
This community refuses to look away.
In the shadow of Youth in Care Day May 14 I will have the chance to express my gratitude
The system meant to protect her refused to see her.
This community refuses to look away.
In the shadow of Youth in Care Day May 14 I will have the chance to express my gratitude
May 4, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Naveah’s little body 3 yrs ago was found in a dumpster in the community surrounding this church.
The system meant to protect her refused to see her.
This community refuses to look away.
In the shadow of Youth in Care Day May 14 I will have the chance to express my gratitude
The system meant to protect her refused to see her.
This community refuses to look away.
In the shadow of Youth in Care Day May 14 I will have the chance to express my gratitude