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Every year on May 14, we honour Children and Youth in Care Day (CYICD) – a day dedicated to recognizing the strength, courage, and resilience of children and youth who are or have been part of the child welfare system in Ontario. It’s an important reminder of our responsibility to support these young people in their journeys and celebrate their successes, both big and small.
CYICD was proclaimed into law in 2014 through the Children and Youth in Care Day Act, arising from the urgent need to spotlight the voices of the more than 8,000 young people involved with child welfare agencies across Ontario. Over the past decade, the day has grown into a rallying call to action, urging communities, service providers and government officials to stand beside youth in care.
One of the most impactful initiatives in commemoration of CYICD was the 2022 #ForgetMeNot campaign by the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS), which amplified the lived experiences of children in care and emphasized the need for critical supports such as obtaining gainful employment, dealing with mental health challenges, and finding stable housing.
The Shared Stories Initiative: Art Meets Advocacy
This year’s CYICD commemoration introduced a unique and powerful new project: the Shared Stories Initiative – a youth-led play that combined performance, writing, photography and storytelling to share the personal journeys of youth in and from care.
Developed in collaboration with OACAS, Humber College, Young People’s Theatre, Urban Market Campaign Inc., and Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada (CAFC), this initiative provided a creative platform where youth voices are not only heard but truly felt.
The play was staged at Young People’s Theatre in Toronto on May 8, offering audiences a raw and inspiring look at the lived realities of care-experienced youth – from struggle to triumph, fear to hope.
In Their Own Words
“I love theatre and after connecting with other young people from care who shared that they wanted to get their story out there, I decided I wanted to support them in their reading of a stage play based on their own experiences,” said David Lewis-Peart, Youth Services Analyst, Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies and former youth in care. “These young people want to speak to their own communities – other youth from care, their peers, the organizations that work in the child welfare space. They really want to speak to their own story, not just from a place of difficulty and deficit, but also from a place of resilience and perseverance. That’s where the Shared Stories Initiative originated and we hope that people realize that the in-care experience is not a monolith.”
Aligned with this year’s CYICD theme of celebrating #LittleWins, the Shared Stories play focused on the little yet meaningful victories that shape the lives of youth in care. These moments, often overlooked, are stepping stones to healing, growth and empowerment.
“Little wins are things or little battles that you overcome throughout the years,” said Ezekial, former youth in care. “And it’s those wins and those victories that lead to bigger ones. And it’s all about just taking those into account and focusing on those. Because once you focus on those wins more than how many losses you take, you’ll realize that at the end of the day, you’re making progress and growing.”
A Chance to Listen, Learn and Support
This initiative presented a unique opportunity for community involvement. Select donors, allies and supporters were invited to the performance, offering a chance to engage directly with youth participants w firsthand.
The storytelling aspect of the project will continue to inspire and inform future campaigns and advocacy efforts, ensuring that these voices remain at the forefront of conversations around child welfare.
Together, we can ensure that these young people are not forgotten; by providing platforms for self-expression and community connection, we can help them take center stage not only in this production but in their own lives.
