Lozier Award 2010

The following are a list of nominations for the 2010 Fernand Lozier Award for Excellence in Father Involvement Practice.

Congratulations to this year's recipients!

Pierre Comire

Before the birth of his first child in1999 Pierre began pushing the boundaries of what involved fathering really means. Working in the automotive trade did not discourage his transparency to be actively involved, even when being ridiculed by co-workers. "When you can be a role model to others shows what it really means to be involved" and Pierre was always involved. He searched out ways to connect with the fathers at LaLeche League conferences, takes an active role within the birthing pools or breastfeeding support groups & naturally ended up being the"GO-TO-GUY" with fathers who have kids.

Pierre was searching to increase his commitment to supporting fathers & during the initial interview he revealed his desire to continue to learn and grow in this role. It was obvious that Pierre is driven by his passion as a father, his commitment to supporting positive parenting with other fathers, and for the love of growth within relationships (ebb & flow) and family life.

Program funding was secured for a 10 week pilot, Pierre co-created the program (designed for fathers withkids 0 - 12 years) and the location was set in a school on Mondays. November 27, 2008 was the first V.I.P. Dad's Program. Since then, the program has grown beyond its pilot, changed locations and is now thriving as a weekly program at the OCHC site in South Oshawa offering a variety of physical activities, guest speakers, outings, dinner and a great community for fathers & their children.

Nanaimo Men's Resource Centre 

The Nanaimo Men's Resource Centre offers their  "Dads Make a Difference" program.  This program involves young dads and older dads, meeting once a week over dinner to talk about the difficult job of fathering, sharing stories and experiences.  There are often speakers brought in that talk about aspects of fathering and parenting.  Dads end up with more confidence, less conflict, and a better overall relationship with the world.

As well, the Centre operates the Men's Counselling program.  This program links up trained, effective professional male counsellors with individuals who are having family struggles, often legal and multiple level complex struggles, involving years of court confrontations.  Hundreds of men and women have been supported in getting reconnected to their children, often after years of separation. 

Further, the Centre sponsors a Fathers Day event.  The event honors all types of fathering.   An amazing part of the event is all participants gathering in a circle and sharing about what being a father, or fathering meant to them. People talk about the father they have never known, their respect and appreciation for their father, about dead or absent fathers, or what it is like to be an" absent father" or being a father when a child is not yet born orconceived. All this, sometimes over a microphone, in a public park, withhundreds witnessing.

Beaver Creek Family Program 

In that healthy family relationships play a major role in the effectivere-integration of inmates, the mission of the Beaver Creek Institution Family Program is to strengthen the bond between inmate fathers and their children. Father/child relationships are enhanced in a welcoming, family-friendly area where children can play withtheir father and families can engage in fun activities together.

Representatives from staff, the inmate population, community agencies, and volunteers serve on a committee, working to-gether to provide resources, fathering programs andfamily events. Parenting information, displayed on a large Bulletin board, gives relevant information pertaining to family and community resources.  Workshops give fathers information on child development and ways to play and keep connected with their children.

     * Within the context of the minimum security environment of Beaver Creek Institution in Gravenhurst, Ontario, and when community volunteers who have been approved by the institution enter the prison to share their time, expertise and resources, incarcerated fathers become aware that the community cares about them and their families.  Fathers have expressed their appreciation when they have had the opportunity to talk privately with their wives during the visit, while the children playednearby with avolunteer.

     * Inmates become involved by providing their own funds to purchase toys and play materials and by advertising workshops and family events to the prison population.

     * The Program provides structure and fun in what sometimes can be an intimidating and emotional experience – i.e. coming into the institution, and leaving Dad behind. A duty correctional officer stated that parents become more involved and confident when using books, toys, games, creatives and outdoor play during family visits.

     * Comments from the fathers in workshop evaluations reinforce the importance of incarcerated fathers communicating with their children, showing the children they are okay and still love them, learning about discipline and teaching their child.

 

Other nominations were: 

Individuals:

Earl Silverman

 

When Earl discovered that the community lacked in services for men; he did what others have done: he created one. For the past 20 years Earl has operated a telephone crisis support services for men, fathers and children going through tough times when other main stream institutions have failed.

Earl created The Family of Men Support Society in 1992, but actually the name lacks, as it is open and available to men and women alike. Earl’s tireless efforts have spun off in numerous other support services in Alberta.

While the usual institutions try to accommodate people in need, they may be restricted by the limitations of the institutions mandate, while Earl shows the person that someone is actually listening to their needs and he guides them the best way he can using various methods as available (and he researches for more all the time) to assist them in reaching a successful conclusion to their problem.

Kris Titus

 

Kris has been a tireless advocate for father’s and children’s rights.  She has given her time, energy and freedom as a willing and relentless organizer. It is a rare occasion that Kris is doing anything but advocating or organizing others to do so on behalf of fathers and children.

She has been a guest at most federal and many provincial politicians’ offices. She has traveled the country on a shoestring budget. She has driven for weeks at a time in a worn out but well coloured van. She has climbed tall buildings and flown banners from cranes. Her internet presence is voluminous, and her regular newsletters are applauded by the most well written national columnists. She is a regularly quoted media guest.

But these are the incidental accomplishments of this relentless advocate.

She has been the head of Fathers-4-Justice Canada, giving significant prominence to fathers' issues, and Canadian EqualParenting Council.

All the while she has lived the change she wants to see in the world.  She is fulltime mom, for her blended family and shares her responsibilities to her children with their fathers. 

Jennifer Hudgins

 

Jennifer has been instrumental in starting up a “Dad’s” group at our Ontario Early Years Centrein the east end of Hamilton. The group has changed names to be more inspiringand inclusive to “MENtoring”. Jennifer meets with the men (dad’s, granddads,uncles, male friends, etc) and their children the first Wednesday evening ofeach month from Sept-June. When the group first started Jennifer had one to twodads attending. This past month Jennifer had 32 male participants withchildren! It’s not the numbers that we are overwhelmed with but theconnections, interactions and relationship building that is happening betweenthe men and the children they bring. It’s truly magical to enter the room andsee men with their children building planter boxes with real hammers and nails,sitting on the carpet reading stories, building in the block area, makingpictures at the art table. Each month Jennifer plans and prepares all thematerials that will be needed so that there are a variety of hand’s on activitystations. Based on the participants feedback, pizza and juice is available foreach participant upon arrival so that no one goes hungry!

Jenniferpassionately shares her ideas and successes with staff at our monthly staffmeetings as well as when she attends our local Fathering Coalition meetings.Jennifer is a real encourager to both the men in her group as well as thechildren and her coworkers! We are very proud of the work that she is doing inmaking Hamilton the best place for men to raise their children!  

 Agencies: 

Muskoka Family Focus & Children's Place

 

MFF is a not-for-profit charitable organization which serves families with children aged 0 to 12 in the District of Muskoka. Their programming includes:

· Licensed childcare centres and After School Care Programs
· Ontario Early Years Programs 
· Parent education support workshops

After observing that its Early Years programming attracts more mothers than fathers, MFF invited FII-ON to speak to a group of community agencies. This indicated a need for more father-centric and father-friendly programming in Muskoka. MFF took a leadership role and formed the Muskoka Fathering Coalition (MFC).

The MFC met and discussed ways in which all of their programming could be altered so that it meets the needs of, and attracts, fathers. This resulted in a Father’s Week in February of each year, a Dads ‘n Kids Dinner Program facilitated by men, a Dads ‘n Kids Swim day, and specific Fathering Activities during Early Years Saturday Programs. The programming is scheduled during non-traditional programming hours, such as evenings and weekends, to enable working dads to participate.

The Dads ‘n Kids Dinner Program was immediately well-received and the majority of sessions were full to capacity, something that has never occurred in a typical dinner program. A participant satisfaction survey indicates overwhelming support for the programming.

In a time of recession and cutbacks MFF continues to push for the expansion of this programming and considers it a priority.

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