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Irwin Elman

@irwinelman.bsky.social
173 followers 149 following 217 posts

President Defence For Children International- Canada, Ontario Child Advocate 2008-2019. Officer of the Order of Canada. Husband, Father www.the Elman.com

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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Today is Child and Youth In Care Day in Ontario. It is a day of recognition for children who are too often invisible — and too often silenced. A day to say: We see you. You matter. Read how and why young people forced the Province to create the day. theelman.com/index.php/20...
theelman.com
On Child and Youth in Care Day – TheElman.com
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Join me for what I hope is a critical “warts and all” discussion on youth participation into policy and legislation making. Register here. torontomu.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Please take a moment to watch this memorial service for four year old Naveah. “A child who was failed by the system meant to protect her deserves to be remembered “ “We choose to remember. We choose to say her name. Naveah” I invite @MichaelParsa to do the same www.youtube.com/live/4PAIzbH...
youtube.com
Rosedale Presbyterian Church, Toronto | 5th Sunday of Easter/Remembering Neveah Tucker | May 3, 2026
YouTube video by Rosedale Presbyterian Church - RPC Toronto Media
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
On May 3 2022 4 yr old Naveah was found dead in a dumpster in Toronto. I call upon @torontopolice to publicly update the public on the investigation into her death. We must remember Naveah Read about my call theelman.com/index.php/20...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
As the Vice President of Abrar Trauma and Mental Health I invite you to attend the community gathering in Hamilton of Nabil Askafe. Nabil was shot and killed by a younger youth. Nabil, a member of the Abrar community,travelled to Canada as a child from Syria seeking a kinder gentler safer life
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Our Ombudsman in Ontario was given jurisdiction of our school system but because that office can’t and won’t advocate there will be not a peep. It is sad and embarrassing that we must rely on Newfoundland around this issue vocm.com/2026/04/21/2...
vocm.com
Acting NL Child and Youth Advocate Cautions Against Ontario Approach to Chronic Absenteeism
The province's Acting Child and Youth Advocate is speaking out following the Ontario government's decision to ...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
It’s not that the child protection system is broken. It’s that it doesn’t work. It is old and out of date. It can’t be repaired. It must be replaced. This is no longer a radical stance. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
N.S. child welfare system 'incredibly broken,' say experts after guilty plea in toddler death | CBC News
A mother pleaded guilty to manslaughter this week in the death of her 17-month-old, who had just been returned to her from foster care. Observers say the case sheds a rare and needed spotlight on the ...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
The argument at the murder trial ends today. It already is obvious that the child protection system , 130 plus years old , is at the root of what took place regardless of what the verdict is. www.cbc.ca/player/play/...
cbc.ca
Child advocate calls for change to century-old foster care system
Closing arguments in the trial of a Burlington, Ont. couple accused of murdering a 12-year-old boy and torturing his younger brother that they had been trying to adopt is nearing an end. The case has ...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
I will be assisting in supporting the crucial dialogue that will take place at this symposium. Grateful to EFTO for having the courage to explore how children are being harmed by the crisis in our elementary schools.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Please join me in conversation with Heidi Chan , Founder of Youth Led , Kids Rights Canada for a discussion sure to disrupt current narratives around social media, all things digital and child safety. Monday April 20 , 1pm on line RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/beyond-the...
eventbrite.ca
Beyond The Ban - Empowering Children In The Digital Age
Join a conversation focussed on disrupting the current narratives on child safety in digital spaces by inserting a child rights analysis
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 18/11/2025
Don’t forget this upcoming hopeful conversation. Please join us. RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/1761038326...
eventbrite.ca
Embracing Neurodiversity Disrupting The Narratives Of Child Welfare
A hopeful conversation with Angela Taylor, author, therapist, ived expert advocate on embracing neurodiversity and fundamental system change
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
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...
eventbrite.com
A Hopeful Conversation : Decoding Childhood Aggression Lessons for Change
A hopeful Conversation with therapist /trainer/author Maude Chanpagne - understanding childhood aggression and its meaning re system change
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
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...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
A system built in liability and risk can not keep children safe. The system must be abandoned. From the ashes a new system built in other concepts of safety : community, social determinants of health can be created. www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
thestar.com
‘Terrified’ teacher called Children’s Aid over family at centre of horrific Ontario murder trial. She was told ‘it’s too political’
Teacher says she called Children’s Aid after her Grade 2 student tried to strangle himself.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
The life and death of this little boy is a devastating indictment of every system meant to touch the life of a child including but not solely the child protection system. www.thestar.com/news/ontario...
thestar.com
Teacher describes prospective parents’ ‘bizarre’ rules for boy, 12, they allegedly ‘left to die’ in a basement
The prosecution at the ongoing trial in the Milton courthouse has argued that Hamber and Cooney “despised” their prospective son.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
This is yet another example of a system in complete decay unable to fulfill its mandate to protect children. This is the product of “system redesign” instead of system replacement. On so many levels simply horrifying www.thestar.com/news/gta/chi...
thestar.com
Children’s Aid hid kids’ serious behavioural problems, defence argues at horrific Ontario murder trial
The defence at an ongoing first-degree murder trial is arguing that Children’s Aid failed to warn Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber about their prospective sons’ histories of serious behavioural and
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Ugly and outrageous Another symptom of a child protection system collapsing In further chaos from govt attempts to tinker and “redesign” with no courage to create a fundamentally different way of understanding “safety” and a system to achieve it. www.insidehalton.com/news/crime/l...
insidehalton.com
‘Left to die’: 2 moms on trial for murder of would-be adoptive son in Burlington
Becky Hamber and Brandy Cooney are charged with first-degree murder in the case of their would-be adoptive son, aged 12. The Crown told a court of the horrific conditions he was allegedly living in pr...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
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.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 07/09/2025
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.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 06/09/2025
Ken Dryden cared abt children. He was Ontario’s “Children’s Commissioner” for a time decades ago. I met him then and from that meeting on he always was an amazing wise advisor to me. He countered the adage and proved it actually can be good to meet your heroes.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
I’m so proud to host this important conversation. Please join us! Hopeful Conversation www.eventbrite.ca/e/1664459115...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
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
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Join us this morning at Queens Park in Toronto 11am A crucial conversation about our children and the schools that serve them.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 24/08/2025
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.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
ow many more times must Municipal and Provincial govts be told to take the McMurtry/Curling report “The Roots of Youth Violence” off the shelf and implemented. www.thestar.com/news/gta/mou...
thestar.com
Mourners gather for visitation for JahVai Roy, 8, as community searches for answers
JahVai Roy was struck by a stray bullet that entered through the window of the Roy’s apartment on Martha Eaton Way, near Trethewey Drive, on Aug. 16
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 03/08/2025
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”
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Whatever the outcome of today’s Fed govt meeting with Indigenous leadership remember that the 10th anniversary of the TRC calls to action is on Dec 15. A decade and not one call related to children is complete. 10 years. It’s why “trust us” just doesn’t cut it.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
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.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 29/06/2025
“The Minister is the point person under the CYFSA. The Minister held Jade’s life in his hands. The Minister let it slip through his fingers” theelman.com/index.php/20...
theelman.com
Someone Must Stand Up – Jade’s Story – TheElman.com
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
With the @fordnation govt feeling it can educate and support students better than School Boards how long until they decide they can protect children better than CASs? Ontario is the only Prov where child protection system is not direct operated by govt.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
I am grateful that more people are speaking out. More funding is needed immediately to stop the bleeding but only fundamental systemic change can cure this crisis windsorstar.com/news/local-n...
windsorstar.com
'Heartbreaking decision' — Windsor MPP says Ontario failing parents forced to give up kids
No parent should have to surrender custody of a child in hopes of accessing medical care, Windsor West's MPP said after Ombudsman's report.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
Glad the Ombudman of Ontario finally forced to come out of hiding after 7 years to say something. www.thestar.com/news/investi...
thestar.com
15 Ontario families were forced to surrender kids to CAS because they couldn’t get medical care, ombudsman reveals
The unsettling disclosure comes 20 years after the ombudsman first flagged forced abandonment as a concern — but systemic issues persist.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
The symptom of the illness - unlicensed placements like hotels- lingers untreated by the Minister for years now, while the illness - the crisis size need for fundamental change is not even acknowledged let alone cured. www.thestar.com/news/investi...
thestar.com
Since Jade’s death while under the care of Children’s Aid, the agency has housed another nine kids in hotels
The Children’s Aid Society of London & Middlesex said it still relies on hotels because it has no other options, the result of “chronic underfunding."
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
A harrowing story to read and I imagine an unbearable life to have lived. Jade’s death and suffering of those who cared for her, the moral injury of those who tried to serve her are the responsibility of Minister @MichaelParsa Not hyperbole. Fact www.thestar.com/news/investi...
thestar.com
She spent a year living in hotels while in the care of Children’s Aid. It was the last of her young life. This is Jade’s story
Over four years, children’s aid societies have housed hundreds of kids with mental health conditions and high-risk behaviours in unlicensed settings.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
We can move to create a fundamentally new system that meets the needs and desires of children and families looks like. You have something to add! Refuse to despair Join us in Toronto the Wednesday RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
eventbrite.ca
Building A NorthStar system for children and families
A bold, hopeful conversation about what a fundamentally different system that provides for the needs and desires of children and families
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
These new powers proposed by the Ontario government will not educate one student. They will not protect one child. Let’s not fool ourselves. www.thestar.com/politics/pro...
thestar.com
Doug Ford accused of ‘Trump-style politics’ with legislation that allows sweeping new powers over the education sector
Critics are calling the Ford government's sweeping new legislation a "power grab."
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
With the news that every 65 hrs a child connected to a CAS in Ont dies… If in T.O, join us for gathering to begin visioning a North Star system for Ont’s children and families and setting a course towards it. Wednesday June 11 7 pm at TMU RSVP here www.eventbrite.ca/e/building-a...
eventbrite.ca
Building A NorthStar system for children and families
A bold, hopeful conversation about what a fundamentally different system that provides for the needs and desires of children and families
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Shout out to StepStones and Never Too Late for their focus on belonging in supporting youth leaving care www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Ontario youth aging out of foster care say they need more support. These groups are stepping in | CBC News
Youth who've aged out of the child welfare system in Ontario say they feel alone after losing access to supports, but these two organizations are working to change that.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
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...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
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...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
“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...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
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...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
Every 60 hours, in Ontario, of every week a child connected to the system meant to protect them dies. Sit with that for a minute. It’s a record high. It’s a scandal. It’s terrifying. Fundamental change is needed now. globalnews.ca/news/1119062...
globalnews.ca
Number of kids who died under Ontario’s care network reaches new high | Globalnews.ca
Internal government data tracks the number of children who died in care, with an open social work file or a case that had closed within a single year.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 20/05/2025
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
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
On Monday Quebec’s Commissioner started “Children in Quebec now have a voice. Someone who will ensure they know their rights and who will ensure their rights are protected,” Leaving Ontario alone in Canada without such a position
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 15/05/2025
One in four children have difficulty making friends; ranking 28th Despite progress, Canada maintains a high rate of adolescent suicide; ranking 33rd Canada ranks in the top 10 countries in only one area: academic skills; …. Unacceptable www.unicef.ca/en/press-rel...
unicef.ca
Canada barely getting a passing grade in UNICEF’s latest Report Card on child well-being
UNICEF Report Card 19 reveals troubling mental health trends for children and young people across Canada.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
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...
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
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.
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
Youth in Care Day is not Childrens Aid Society Day no matter how tempting that is for the system. Its not just a symbolic day. It is a demand for action — a clarion call to recognize, reflect, and radically transform how we care for children and youth in this province. theelman.com/index.php/20...
theelman.com
Youth In Care Day; A Call for Ontario to Rethink its “Child Welfare” System – TheElman.com
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Irwin Elman @irwinelman.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Tomorrow is Youth in Care Day in Ontario !
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