Along with other organizations and people across the country, BGC Canada is commemorating the tenth year of Have a Heart Day. Created by our friends at the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, Have a Heart Day brings together all people in Canada to help ensure First Nations children have the opportunity to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are.<\/p>\n
Have a Heart Day reminds everyone that First Nations children on reserve receive less funding from the federal government for education, child welfare, and health services than other children receive from the provinces and territories.<\/p>\n
As a leading provider of quality child and youth programming, BGC Canada continues to support efforts to ensure First Nations children and youth do not encounter any barriers in accessing publicly funded health, social, and education programs, services, and supports. We demand that funding inequities be eliminated in alignment with Jordan\u2019s Principle to ensure that First Nations children can access all public services in a way that is reflective of their distinct cultural needs, takes full account of the historical disadvantages linked to colonization, and without experiencing any service denials, delays, or disruptions because they are First Nations.<\/p>\n
BGC Canada encourages all Canadians to send a Valentine\u2019s Day card or letter to your elected official voicing your support of First Nations children, hosting an in-person or virtual Have A Heart Day event to raise awareness, or celebrating with any of the other activities developed by the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.<\/p>\n