How Could You? Hall of Shame-Canada-Foster Son-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Alberta, Canada,”Tsuu T’ina First Nation police are investigating the death of a two-year-old boy who was a ward of the province when he died Sept. 25 at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Sources tell the Sun the child’s mother is the focus of the police probe, but hasn’t been charged.

The child may have suffered from some sort of assault said sources.

Lisa Shankaruk, with Alberta Human Services, confirmed the boy was under the care of the provincial agency when he died and are looking at whether a government investigation will follow.

“We can confirm a child who was two (years old) died in care in Calgary,” she said.

“At this stage we’re looking at whether there will be a full investigation.

“Human Services will be looking at the situation and we’ve committed to releasing the results of any investigation publicly.”

Four days after his death, the boy’s family applied for and was granted a Calgary provincial court publication ban on his name and that of his four young siblings.

Shankaruk couldn’t say who had custody of the child when he died, citing privacy legislation.

Tsuu T’ina spokesman Peter Manywounds, speaking on behalf of the nation’s police department, would not comment on the case Tuesday.

Early this year the province disclosed 741 children who’d had some involvement in child welfare had died between Jan. 1, 1999 and Sept. 30, 2013.

The shocking toll was made public after it was revealed 145 kids died over the same period while under provincial care, of which only 56 were ever publicly reported.

New legislation was drafted over the summer that lifts the long-standing publication ban on deaths of children who were wards of the province, allowing family members to talk about the tragedies publicly.

At the time, then-Human Services minister Manmeet Bhullar said acknowledging the deaths of children in care was the right thing to do.

“I believe we must empower those who are closest to these children to speak or not to speak,” Bhullar said in June.

“It is their right as human beings.

“If we do not have the right to speak up about justice as individuals then we have taken away too much.”

Under the same Bill 11, families with children in care can apply for a publication ban before the courts if they choose”

Young boy dies under provincial care in Calgary[Calgary Sun 10/07/14 by Shawn Logan]

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