Seven well-known Islanders will form Prince Edward Island's first Premier's Council on Healthy Child Development.
Premier Pat Binns introduced the council today during a planning workshop for PEI's new healthy child development strategy. Members include chair David Harper of Tignish, Libba Mobbs of Charlottetown, Alodie Gallant of Abram-Village, Jane Craswell of South Rustico, Cindy Shepard of Cardigan, Tracey Cutcliffe of West Royalty, and Dr. David Wong of Summerside (see backgrounder for biographies).
"I have every confidence in the ability of the council members," said Premier Binns. "With their depth of experience and interest in children, they are excellent representatives of the strong communities that have made PEI one of the best places in the world to raise children."
The role of the council is to advise the Premier on issues affecting children in Prince Edward Island and to monitor and report on the outcomes of the provincial healthy child development strategy. The Council will issue an annual report card on children in PEI, host an annual think tank on children's issues, and promote partnerships for children.
"The early years have a very significant impact on a child's lifelong development, and we want to maximize opportunities for Island children during this period," said Premier Binns. "The new strategy for children will provide a framework for governments and communities to work together to achieve our four stated outcomes for children: safety and security, good health, successful at learning, and social belonging and responsibility."
Council chair David Harper said the group is anxious to begin its mandate. "Each Council member has distinct strengths," said Mr. Harper. "Within the group we have a wealth of knowledge and experience which we hope can make a difference in the lives of Island children and families."
Government has established a Children's Secretariat to support the new provincial healthy child development strategy, coordinate policy development, and provide resource to the Premier's Council. The Secretariat includes representatives from the departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Community and Cultural Affairs, Development and Technology and the Office of the Attorney General.
Backgrounder: Premier's Council on Healthy Child Development:
David Harper, Chair: is a businessman in Tignish; he and his wife, Lois have 4 children and 9 grandchildren; is chair of the Tignish Co-op Health Centre, for the last 5 years; was chair of the PEI Credit Union League; was chair of the former Unit 1 School Board; was a director of the Western Hospital Foundation.
Libba Mobbs, RN: resident of Charlottetown; graduate of the PEI School of Nursing; dedicated her life to pediatric nursing, at the Charlottetown Hospital, and now the QEH; has been actively involved with the Association of Nurses of PEI; was involved with the Home and School Association for several years; was active in the Charlottetown Figure Skating Club; coached soccer for a number of years; facilitated a grief support group for parents who have lost children.
Alodie Gallant: resident of Abram-Village, PEI; was a primary grade educator for many years; was a volunteer with the Evangeline Tutoring Club; was a volunteer listener of children's reading in the primary grades; has a strong interest in the family resource centre "CAP-enfants" in the Evangeline region; likes to spend time with her 4-year-old granddaughter; is a strong believer in inter-generational activities and the value of early childhood experiences in preparing children for social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual life.
Jane Craswell: lives in South Rustico with husband, Brian and 2 children, aged 1 and 4; has been actively involved in the family business, Crasdale Farms; has a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from UPEI, as well as an early childhood education diploma from Holland College; her 4-year-old son was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at 14 months; Jane and her husband are actively involved with the needs of children with disabilities.
Cindy Shepard; lives in Cardigan with her husband, Daniel; they have 2 children, Jimmy and Jeannie Carita; graduate of the Early Childhood Education program at Holland College; works at the Little People's Center in Cardigan; has worked in the early childhood education field for 9 years; member of the Early Childhood Development Association and has served on various committees within the Association; the mother of a special needs child, she feels strongly that all children should have opportunities to reach their full potential.
Tracey Cutcliffe: lives in West Royalty with husband Phillip, and their 2 children, MacKenzie and Charley, aged 5 years and 11 months; has a Business Administration degree from the University College of Cape Breton and a law degree from Dalhousie University; began work as a Band government advisor with the Saint John River Valley Tribal Council in 1996; now provides advisory services primarily to the Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations; spends lots of time with their youngest child who has a relatively rare medical condition.
Dr. David Wong : has been caring for children for more than 25 years; has been a Summerside paediatrician for more than 15 years; graduated from the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Medicine in 1974, and received further pediatric training in the United States; was a professor of pediatrics at State University of New York at Buffalo; moved to Prince Edward Island in 1986; now a member of the Board of Canadian Pediatric Society, representing PEI and New Brunswick; now liaison for Canada at the American Academy of Pediatrics' Community Access to Child Health Program; regional representative on the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Advisory Committee; past president of the PEI Lung Association; founding member of the PEI Breastfeeding Coalition; writes a regular column on child health; has two grown children.