Connections Community Services Society
#110 - 5751 Cedarbridge Way V6X 2A8 Richmond, BC, Canada

This is Phyllis Webstad. I would like to publicly put out a statement in regard to people asking if we can change our slogan "Every Child Matters" because of ...what is happening in the world in regard to Black Lives Matter, All Children Matter and All Lives Matter. I just did this response to an email asking us to consider changing "Every Child Matters": Please no comments. September is a time to honour those children, now adults & elders, and their families; to remember those that didn't make it home, and it is a time to educate Canada on this history. "Thank you for your email and your thoughts on world happenings. Orange Shirt Day began in September of 2013, when the slogan "Every Child Matters" was chosen by a group here in Williams Lake, BC. Much discussion was had at that time by many people and the slogan was chosen after careful research that no one else in Canada was using it. Every Child Matters was selected for many reasons. One of which is how I felt when I spent that year at the St. Joseph Mission Indian Residential School in 1973. It felt like no one cared and I didn't matter to anyone. When it was discussed further, every child who ever attended those schools mattered, including those that never made it home. Then as time went on and more talk was being had around Reconciliation, we found that Every Child Matters pertained to all children no matter their nationality, and it also included those in the past, the present and the future. Every Child Matters has become to be known to be associated with Indian Residential Schools in Canada and I would not support entertaining a discussion to change it - not today, not tomorrow or any time in the future. From the very beginning this whole "Orange Shirt Movement" has been divinely guided, including the choosing of Every Child Matters, I will not mess with that. It was meant to be. All my relations, Phyllis"

Connections Community Services is partnering with local Indigenous artist Christine MacKenzie during the COVID-19 pandemic to create a community art piece. If you would like to participate, answer one or both of the following questions! What does Orange Shirt Day mean to you? What does reconciliation mean to you?... We will use your answer(s) and name to create an art piece. (Not necessary to use your name. If you don’t want to, let us know!) Please comment or email your answers to [email protected]

Join us and celebrate Orange Shirt Day on September 30th by ordering yourself an orange shirt! $17 each and all proceeds go to Reconciliation Canada and Orange Shirt Society. Email: [email protected] to order!

This is Phyllis Webstad. I would like to publicly put out a statement in regard to people asking if we can change our slogan "Every Child Matters" because of ...what is happening in the world in regard to Black Lives Matter, All Children Matter and All Lives Matter. I just did this response to an email asking us to consider changing "Every Child Matters": Please no comments. September is a time to honour those children, now adults & elders, and their families; to remember those that didn't make it home, and it is a time to educate Canada on this history. "Thank you for your email and your thoughts on world happenings. Orange Shirt Day began in September of 2013, when the slogan "Every Child Matters" was chosen by a group here in Williams Lake, BC. Much discussion was had at that time by many people and the slogan was chosen after careful research that no one else in Canada was using it. Every Child Matters was selected for many reasons. One of which is how I felt when I spent that year at the St. Joseph Mission Indian Residential School in 1973. It felt like no one cared and I didn't matter to anyone. When it was discussed further, every child who ever attended those schools mattered, including those that never made it home. Then as time went on and more talk was being had around Reconciliation, we found that Every Child Matters pertained to all children no matter their nationality, and it also included those in the past, the present and the future. Every Child Matters has become to be known to be associated with Indian Residential Schools in Canada and I would not support entertaining a discussion to change it - not today, not tomorrow or any time in the future. From the very beginning this whole "Orange Shirt Movement" has been divinely guided, including the choosing of Every Child Matters, I will not mess with that. It was meant to be. All my relations, Phyllis"

CANFAR has an exciting opportunity for youth! We are seeking a national youth advisory committee to help us develop and launch our new digital platform. For mor...e details and to apply, check out https://bit.ly/33vuBOw. The more you write, the stronger your application. We want to get to know you! EDIT: Deadline is Friday, August 14th at midnight EDT, so spread the word! Share this post and tag your friends who would be interested . #EndingHIVinCanada #sexualhealthawareness #youth #buildingstrongcommunities

Help us spread the word! For the first time, Vision Maker Media will be hosting an online, five-week-long celebration of American Indian, Alaska Native an...d worldwide Indigenous films from August 31 - October 5, 2020. Sign up for updates on films, Q&A's, prizes and more! http://ow.ly/ZqFD50AvlJi . . . Repost from @visionmakermedia #VMM #VMFFOnline #Indigenousmedia #Indigenous #Nativeamerican #Americanindian #Nativefilmfest #onlinefilmfestival #filmfest #filmfestival #filmfest #Nativefilm #documentary #storiesthatmatter #documentaryfilm #film See more