On January 17, 2017, Squamish Council endorsed the Squamish Children’s Charter, created by the children of Squamish, outlining their rights as children and citizens. The Children’s Charter is a call to the community and decision‐makers to support the well being and unique needs of children.
The Charter will be integrated within Squamish2040, the Official Community Plan update, to apply a child and family lens to municipal policies, programs and practices to ensure that decisions are made in best interests of children and youth, and that children have a voice in the decisions that are relevant and impact them.
- I have the right to survive.
- I have the right to a warm home, to food, to clothing and to sleep.
- I have the right to a clean environment, including fresh air and fresh water.
- I have the right to peace, to be free and to live in a safe world.
- I have the right to choice, to my own beliefs and be happy and to love who I want and to be loved.
- I have the right to play, to exercise and to recreation.
- I have the right to nature, to be outside, to explore, to imagine and to create.
- I have the right to be who I want and to be respected for it.
- I have the right to express myself, to have a voice, to speak out and to be included.
- I have the right to safety and to feel safe, to trust someone and the right to privacy.
- I have the right to an education.
- I have the right to health care.
- I have the right to have equal rights and to know that I have rights.
The Squamish Children’s Charter of Rights was created in the fall of 2016 with the help of hundreds of children. Several groups contributed to this effort: agencies working at the Sea to Sky Putting Children’s First planning table, including Sea to Sky Community Services Society, the Early Years Centre, Early Learning Centre, Child Care Resource and Referral, Vancouver Coastal Health, School District 48 and Squamish Nation. Funding support for the project was provided by Vancouver Coastal Health, as well as the United Way of the Lower Mainland.
Read the PlanH Community Story about how the District of Squamish brings a health focus into long-term planning and capacity building.
