BC Council for Families

According to University of Calgary sociology professor Gillian Ranson, family life in Canada is changing -- slowly. In her new book, Against the Grain: Couples, Gender, and the Reframing of Parenting, Ranson profiles families who are challenging conventional parenting notions, specifically the roles of mothers and fathers.

Blogger: David Sheftel
4 Communities, 600 km of Driving, and 10 Hours of Presentations -- that's what went into participating in the Navigating Childhood series of conferences in the East Kootenays region of BC this month. I was speaking on The Father Factor - the need to encourage and support fathers to be more involved in their children's and families' lives. Through research, best practice information, resources, and discussions, I strove to stimulate participants to open their minds and their practices to the importance of fathers.

Experimenting with alcohol is often seen as a normal part of Canadian adolescence. However, a study recently released from BC's McCreary Centre Society cautions that the timing of teens' first alcohol or drug use can affect their current and future health.

Just released last week by the group Citizens for Public Justice: Bearing the Brunt: How the 2008-2009 Recession Created Poverty for Canadian Families. The report details the rise in poverty and economic insecurity caused by the recession: