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At the age of nine, I became what is now referred to as a “child in extended society care.” For those unfamiliar with the jargon of the child welfare system, this essentially meant that the provincial government got a court order to be my legal guardian until I was 18. All in all, I lived in 16 different group homes and foster homes; often moving between homes with my belongings in garbage bags.
As my family’s case made its way through the Ontario Family Court system, I was represented by a lawyer named Stan Sherr. For the first time in my life, I remember I felt like somebody was truly looking out for me and that Stan was in my corner. Emotions often run high in Family Court but Stan exemplified everything that the justice system should stand for. His commitment to the children he represented was unwavering.
When I was 10, I had to testify against an immediate family member in Criminal Court. In preparation for my testimony, I got to visit the courthouse a few times to become acclimatized to the environment. I remember how fascinated I immediately became with the legal system as I got to sit in an empty courtroom, sit on the judge’s bench, try on the judge’s robes, and even got a behind-the-scenes tour of the courthouse.
My childhood dream was to become a journalist. After testifying in court, I knew that I wanted a career in reporting about high-profile and notable court proceedings. It would combine my two passions: working out of a courtroom and reporting on the proceedings. After completing two years of journalism school and a two-month college internship in a national newsroom, I realized that a full-time career in the media was not for me. I was crushed and didn’t know what was next.
In 2014, I enrolled in paralegal school and received scholarships from the Children’s Aid Foundation which allowed me to work part-time instead of full-time and focus on my studies without worrying about finances. In addition, the Foundation also helped me apply for a grant from the Ontario government.
My time in school wasn’t easy or without its challenges. There were many times when I wanted to drop out and give up. In addition to providing financial support, the Foundation provided me with moral support. Anytime I was feeling unsure, the staff at the Foundation were a phone call away. They specifically understood the challenges I faced as a former youth in care and put me in touch with staff at the Pape Adolescent Resource Centre (PARC) who were also able to assist me.
In 2015, at the age of 25, I graduated from paralegal school and passed the 7-hour licensing exam. As part of the licensing process, I was required to take an oath which would officially qualify me as a licensed paralegal by the Law Society of Ontario. To commemorate this milestone, I asked Stan (who is now a Family Court judge) to administer my oath. The very first legal professional I ever met 16 years earlier, officially admitted me as a legal professional myself.
My swearing-in ceremony was beyond emotional. I struggled to recite my oath because I couldn’t stop crying. It was a new beginning of sorts and a way of putting my childhood behind me and my future in front of me. For Stan, my ceremony was a reminder and real-life example of why he wanted to become a family court lawyer and judge – to make decisions that could help young people like myself get the support they need and find their potential.
After graduating, I struggled to secure a job in the legal field. I also became my biological mother’s full-time caregiver as she struggled with chronic health issues. In 2021, a couple of years after my mother’s death, I decided to move to Calgary in pursuit of a fresh start. I found a job that I enjoyed, although it was unrelated to my legal training, and was overall quite content with the way life was going when one day out of the blue, months after giving up on my dream of working in the legal system, I received an interview request as an Administrative Assistant in family law. It came as a surprise and I almost decided not to go for it. Thankfully, I did and ended up being offered the role. It was the realization of a long-held dream and I still sometimes pinch myself as I walk the halls of my office building. Going from being a child subject of family law proceedings to now working in family law is a bit surreal. It also shows the power of our potential – all of us have it within us to live the lives we have dreamed of. We just need to be supported in those dreams.
My academic journey has instilled confidence in me and allowed me to see firsthand what I’m capable of. It has also enabled me to turn my passion into a career. Having a college diploma is allowing me to contribute and give back to society along with helping others; the way others have helped me for much of my life.
It has also helped me break away from unstable and low-paying jobs and provided me with financial stability and an overall better quality of life. Although I’m not immune to the affordability challenges many people are facing, I am incredibly lucky that I no longer have to worry about how I’m going to pay my rent or afford food. This would not be possible without the financial support towards my education I had received from Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada.
I have also been so fortunate to have people like Stan Sherr in my life, who have been a continued source of support. There are others – Wendy Chan and other staff members from Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, professionals who worked with me in the child welfare system who I now consider to be members of my family, and of course, my cat Danika, who I can’t wait to come home to everyday and cuddle with while watching Wheel of Fortune.
With the right support, other youth in care can achieve their dreams; just the way that I’ve achieved mine.
