Series 2022.0035/4 - Quesnel child apprehension issue records

• Textual record

11.5 cm of textual records

Series contains records related to a child apprehension crisis which occurred in Quesnel from December 1997 to January 1998. During this crisis, the B.C. Ministry for Children and Families conducted an audit of the Quesnel social services office, which lead to a removal of an unprecedented number of children from their families. Records in this series were created or received during Trotter’s involvement in the Quesnel Child, Youth, and Family Network as well as her participation in a research project conducted to support affected mothers. This project was led by the B.C. Steering Committee of the National Action Committee on the Status of Women in association with the Quesnel Women’s Resource Centre.

Records created or received through the Quesnel Child, Youth, and Family Network include meeting minutes, newsletters, correspondence with government officials, annual reports, job postings, and the results of a family counselling needs survey conducted by the Network. Files also contain meeting minutes and correspondence related to the establishment of a Quesnel Family Resource Centre.

Records related to the child apprehension crisis itself include a report titled "Quesnel Community Gathering: Proceedings of May 19 and 20, 1998, and Open Space Event"; correspondence with government officials; press releases; special investigation reports and findings; handwritten notes; draft articles and write-ups; and contact lists. Newspaper clippings from the Cariboo Observer, the Province, Perspectives, the Vancouver Sun, the Globe and Mail, the Daily Courier, and the Radical which document the child apprehension crisis are interspersed between records. Several Provincial government reports are also included, such as a copy of Bill 47: Child, Youth and Family Advocacy Amendment Act (1995); a copy of The Risk Assessment Model for Child Protection in British Columbia, Ministry for Children and Families (1996); a copy of BC's Risk Reduction Service Plan Instruction (1996); and a Gove Inquiry Report Implementation Forum facilitation booklet (1996) with associated handwritten notes.

Records created or received through the NAC-BC Child Welfare Research Project include a research proposal, photocopied journal articles, Provincial government reports, literature reviews, correspondence with government officials, correspondence with academics, meeting minutes, newsletters, pamphlets, and Quesnel Community Development reports.