Montréal, November 20, 2017 – In celebration of World Children’s Day, the Foundation of Greater Montréal (FGM) is holding the Forum for Children to reaffirm children’s right to be heard and encourage young people’s increased participation in finding sustainable solutions for our cities. On this occasion, the president and CEO of the Foundation of Greater Montréal, Yvan Gauthier, will submit to Mayor of Montréal Valérie Plante the report “Children’s Wishes for Montréal,” a compilation of comments by children 5–17 year old collected during the “Grande Tournée,” a tour of the boroughs as part of Montréal’s 375th celebrations. It will also share a report of the listening process used to identify the primary challenges children face in Greater Montréal, which are presented in its 2017 Vital Signs report.
“In reading these reports, we realize that young Montrealers are active citizens with brilliant ideas for improving the city that fall into categories as varied as education, mobility, democracy and greening. Many young people feel that Montréal is not designed with them in mind. Today, we are pleased to share their ideas with the mayor, so that children’s voices may be taken into account more extensively,” says Yvan Gauthier, president and CEO of the Foundation of Greater Montréal.
Children’s rights
Following on the launch of the 2017 Vital Signs of Greater Montréal’s Children on October 3, 2017, the FGM’s Forum for Children is held on the anniversary of the ratification of the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child. A pioneer in children’s rights in Canada, the Honourable Landon Pearson, senator and president of the Landon Pearson Resource Centre for the Study of Childhood & Children’s Rights, will be present to ask a series of questions. These seek to better identify children’s rights and their concrete applications. As many improvements remain to be made in both Montréal and Canada, Ms. Pearson will stress the need to pursue efforts so that the rights of children, who are full citizens, be enforced.
Make room for young people
Throughout the day, the young and old alike will speak about the priorities children shared during the research process of 2017 Vital Signs: belonging, education, mobility and mental health.
“This forum is intended as a gathering of innovative practices in children’s civic participation and as a means to make necessary progress on the most pressing issues in our society. Children need this kind of space to be heard and, when given real power to take action, they commit to problem solving with contagious energy. Without a doubt, their involvement is a key to creating “the future we want.” This is why we invite the community of Greater Montréal to consider children’s opinions more, providing them with opportunities to express themselves and to show us what, together, we must improve,” says Yvan Gauthier, president and CEO of the Foundation of Greater Montréal.
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About the Foundation of Greater Montréal
The Foundation of Greater Montréal (FGM) proposes a collective model for philanthropy by creating turnkey funds and foundations for individuals, organizations and businesses in Greater Montréal. Currently managing over 500 funds, it offers to advise and help fund creators get involved in the community. Since its creation in 1999, the FGM has become a philanthropic meeting place as well as a major investment lever that can support sustainable projects and initiatives in every sector of society.
Source
Foundation of Greater Montréal
Corinne Adelakoun
Director of Communications
Corinne.adelakoun@fgmtl.org
514.866-0808, ext. 109
Relations médias
Olivier Lapierre
COPTICOM
olapierre@copticom.ca
514-583-3868
