Wards of the Crown (Les enfants de la couronne)

DVD & Viewer Guide

Following the lives of four teenagers on their way out of the foster care system, the documentary explores the legacy of a childhood spent inside the Children's Aid Society.

42 minutes
French & english versions

Winner of the Best Socio-Political Documentary at the 2006 Golden Sheaf Awards - (Yorkton Film Festival), Wards of the Crown aired on CBC Newsworld - The Lens and Radio-Canada - Enjeux in 2006 - 07. One of the only Canadian documentaries filmed inside the child protection system, Wards of the Crown raised awareness of youth ageing out of care with little to no resources and no one at their side.

The filmmaker, the documentary and the youth participants have been featured on a cross-coutnry tour with the Child Welfare League of Canada offering profesional development on the issue of youth ageing out of care. Inspiring the first national paper on youth ageing out of care, Building a Future Together (Dudding, Reid) not only encouraged change within the child protection system, it also influenced the Australian Child Welfare system.

Today, Andrée Cazabon continues to offer professional workshops and keynote addresses on youth transitions from government care. Herself having spent time in youth institutions and group homes, Cazabon wants to make a difference for those living through it today.