“Children, Media, and the Right to Know: Exploring UNCRC Article 17 in Practice” – May 23, 2025
This webinar will explore the critical intersection of children’s media and information rights, digital citizenship, and the challenges faced by young people in today’s digital-educational landscape. Experts will discuss the implications of social media, online privacy, and digital safety in the lives of children, with a particular focus on Canada’s responsibilities and policies as outlined in Article 17 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Panelists will examine the impact of media bans in schools, the ethical considerations of children as content creators, and the role of education in fostering digital literacy and empowering youth to navigate online spaces responsibly. The webinar will engage in meaningful discussions about how to balance the protection of children from harmful content while supporting their access to beneficial media and opportunities for self-expression and ensuring their participation in all matters that concern them.
Join us as we delve into the evolving role of media and information in children’s lives and explore how we can work together (children, youth and adults) to create a safer, more inclusive, and empowering environment.
Date: May 23 at 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM EST. Location: Zoom
Please make sure to REGISTER HERE before May 21 at 11:59pm EST.
Co-moderated by: Jane Yu, Education student at McGill University and former intern at CCRC & Anamika Baijnath, CCRC Board Director
Panellists:
- Dr. Sara Grimes, Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy and Full Professor in the Department of Art History and Communication Studies at McGill University.
- Mr. Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts
- Dr. Michael Lipset, Faculty Lead for Critical Digital & Media Literacies, McGill University
Jane Yu is a student at McGill University majoring in Education in Global Contexts with a minor in International Development. As a former intern with the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC), she conducted an environmental scan of K–12 children’s rights education across Canadian provinces and territories. Her work focused on identifying gaps in curriculum integration of the UNCRC and proposing strategies to strengthen children’s rights education from stakeholders’ perspectives. Jane is particularly interested in the intersection of education policy and child advocacy, and continues to support initiatives that promote children’s participation, well-being, and access to rights-based learning.
Anamika Baijnath is the Director of Experiential Learning, Quality Assurance, and Strategic Initiatives for the Dean’s Office at the Faculty of Community Services, Toronto Metropolitan University. She previously served as Project Manager for Equity, Training, and Partnerships within the EL Hub at the Centre for Excellence, Learning, and Teaching, where she led projects focused on equity and inclusion, including the development of the open educational resource “Equity in Practice” for students, faculty, staff, and community partners. With extensive experience as a Child Rights Advocate for the Province and Senior Policy Advisor at OASW, Anamika contributed to policies and initiatives that promote access, prevent discrimination, and uphold rights. She is currently a board member of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of the Children, continuing her commitment to child advocacy, including efforts that led to the development of Katelynn’s Principle, a child-first approach to decision-making in child welfare.
Dr. Sara M. Grimes is the Wolfe Chair in Scientific and Technological Literacy, Director and Founder of the Kids Play Tech Lab, and a Full Professor in the Department of Art History and Communication Studies at McGill University. Her research is centered on children’s digital media culture(s), play and creativity, and children’s rights in the digital environment. She is the author of the award-winning book, Digital Playgrounds: The Hidden Politics of Children’s Online Play Spaces, Virtual Worlds, and Connected Games (2021). Her new book, Kidfluenced, under contract with the University of California Press, explores children’s rights and experiences as creators of digital games, media and other content. In 2019, Dr. Grimes co-led (with Leslie Regan Shade) Canada’s contribution to the global children’s consultation for the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child’s General Comment 25 on Children’s rights in the digital environment (GC25).
Matthew Johnson is the Director of Education for MediaSmarts, Canada’s centre for digital media literacy. He is a lead on the Young Canadians in a WirelessWorld research project and architect of Use, Understand, Engage: Digital Literacy Framework for Canadian K-12 Schools. As a member of the Canadian Pediatric Society’s Digital Health Task Force, he was involved in developing screen time recommendations for Canadian children and developed the “4 M” model for managing children’s screen use.
Dr. Michael Lipset is a scholar, author, educator, artist, creative producer and Hip-Hop head. His work sits at the intersections of critical arts pedagogies, education change, pushout re-engagement, teacher preparation, and social justice. He holds a Ph.D. in Education Studies with a focus on culturally sustaining school change from McGill University and an Ed.M. in the Arts in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His writing has been published by Phi Delta Kappan, the McGill Journal of Education, Forbes, Rowman & Littlefield, Montreal AI Ethics Institute, Urban Education, and more. He produced the Spotify Original podcast RecordEd Arts, which tells stories from the nexus of the recording arts and education. As a Doctoral Intern at the K12 Lab in Stanford University’s d.school, he produced Sound Practice alongside sam seidel, Jessica Brown and Louie Montoya. He is a Faculty Lead for Critical Digital & Media Literacies at McGill University where he teaches pre-service teachers and graduate students. He also serves as Director of 4 Learning, an international nonprofit working on school transformation through the recording arts and culturally sustaining pedagogies.
Child Rights Symposium – March 28, 2025
The Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC) would like to invite you to a 2-hour virtual symposium exploring the landscape of the parental rights movement and child rights in Canada. The first panel, Parent and Teacher Responsibilities, delves into the roles and responsibilities of parents and educators in shaping children’s well-being, while navigating the tensions created by recent legislative developments. The second panel, Child Rights Law and Advocacy, examines the legal framework surrounding children’s rights and the ongoing efforts to advocate for policies that protect and empower young people. Join us for two thought-provoking discussions, offering insights into the balance between parental and teacher authority, and child advocacy in Canadian law.
Date: March 28, 2025; time: 8:00-10:00am PDT; location: via zoom (registration is free but required)
Event registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YrLIDJMFTAeijuYEbCosCw
The event is organized and facilitated by Danielle Dionne, CCRC Director. Danielle is also a parent practitioner, advocate, mediator, and dedicated champion for children’s rights and well-being. With over two decades of experience, she is committed to safeguarding children from violence. As a Qualified Mediator (QMed) and Parent Management Training Specialist (PMT), Danielle supports families in navigating conflicts and promoting equity through rights-based parenting approaches. Danielle holds a Master’s in Justice Studies and a Graduate Certificate in Transforming Child Protection to Wellbeing. Her work focuses on the intersection of parenting practices, child rights and reconciliation, she strives to create environments where all children are empowered.
Panel 1 Parent & Teacher Responsibilities (8:00-9:00am PDT)
Dmitry Ciocea is an educator, intersex parent, and advocate for non-speaking students in Regina, Saskatchewan. Representing diverse family structures and child rights-based parenting.
Nick Day Teacher/Child rights advocate and Union Organizer from Regina, Saskatchewan. Nick brings an action-oriented perspective that prioritizes child rights and well-being in the classroom.
Sarah Niman is a parent to four blossoming rights advocates, a lawyer specializing in human rights, and an investigator at Barker Hutchinson. Previously, she served as Senior Director, Legal Services at the Native Women’s Association of Canada.
Dr. j wallace skelton is a parent and Assistant Professor of Queer Studies in Education at the University of Regina. J is interested in research with children as co-researchers and in using comics to make academia more accessible https://www.jwallaceskelton.com
Ian Bushfield is the Executive Director of the BC Humanist Association and co-hosts of the PolitiCoast and Cambie Report podcasts covering BC and Vancouver politics. https://ian.bushfield.ca/
Panel 2 Child Rights Law & Advocacy (9:00-10:00am PDT)
Samira Ahmed is a lawyer with Justice for Children and Youth (JFCY) and a long-standing member of the Children’s Rights Academic Network through the Landon Pearson Center for Childhood and Children’s Rights.
Celeste Trianon is a prominent figure in trans activism and trans law from Montreal, Quebec. https://celeste.lgbt/en/
Ron Ensom, co-founder of the Joint Statement on Physical Punishment of Children and Youth at the CHEO. Legendary activist, researcher and writer on banning corporal punishment in Canada. Ottawa, Ontario
Wilbur Turner is the visionary founder and President of Advocacy Canada, a nonprofit that amplifies the voices of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Wilbur brings a lifetime of dedication and passion to the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ equality. https://advocacy-canada.lgbt
Stephen Camp Stephen Camp retired as a staff sergeant after 30 years with the Edmonton Police Service (EPS). He co-created the EPS Hate Crimes Unit and the Chief’s Advisory Committee, investigating hate crimes and hate propaganda offences and was involved in long-term hate investigations involving specialized techniques.