FUNERAL ARRANGEMENT & THE HISTORY OF A GOOD MAN

Douglas Hewson Christie is survived by his wife Keltie Zubko and their children, Cadeyrn and Kalonica. He was a companion of joy to Keltie, loving giver of guidance and encouragement and support to his children, a kind and humorous man, and as a lawyer, the embodiment of the spirit of 'pro bono publico', and inspirational speaker for freedom. Prayers will be held at McCall’s Downtown, Johnson and Vancouver Streets at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 14th. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Andrews Cathedral, 10 a.m., Friday, March 15th, with private interment to follow. There will be a reception at the Laurel Point Inn, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. All those who wish to share their memories or who were moved by his life, are welcome. Condolences may be offered to the family below. 

(the following tribute is provided by his family.)

DOUG CHRISTIE, CTV NEWS TRIBUTE

You may appreciate this news item concerning the death of lawyer and Freedom of Speech Champion Doug Christie, and the manner by which it was presented as a tribute to this special man.

DOUG CHRISTIE, HUSBAND, FATHER, FRIEND & LAWYER - DEAD AT 66

He was a defender of Free Speech.

Christie is one of the most recognized and provocative lawyers in Canada.

Doug Christie died on Monday at Victoria's Royal Jubilee Hospital at the age of 66. “I am heart-broken to say that Doug passed away this afternoon in Victoria Hospice,” his wife Keltie Zubko announced in a public statement. She said that Doug’s family was with him and were “able to say all that was in our hearts to say before he let go of the pain and suffering to leave us with the immense gifts of his love for us and the lessons of his life.”

I had difficulty understanding why he defended the people he did. Then I met him, spoke with him, watched him within the context of his legal work done for Paul and Zabeth Bayne as they tried for four years to recover their children from the Ministry of Children and Family Development of British Columbia, and my appreciation for the man began to develop. He represented the Baynes pro bono and that benevolence spoke volumes to me. I am sure that some of his motivation derived from his Roman Catholic convictions. I liked him. I am saddened by his death. The Bayne family is together today in large part because of his dedicated assistance to their campaign for justice.

LIBERALS DECIDING ABOUT CLARK

Ministers left an emergency cabinet meeting at Canada Place on Sunday afternoon, showing support for Premier Christy Clark even though there are increasing calls for her resignation over the ethnic voter scandal. Hundreds of Liberal party members in Surrey met at Sikh temples around the city Sunday to discuss the scandal, which has precipitated four high-profile departures from Surrey riding associations. Viewed now as an extension of the Liberals’ strategy to woo ethnic voters in advance of the May election, a group of 89 predominantly Indo-Canadian members of the B.C. Liberals have taken issue with Ms. Clark’s decision to spend taxpayer dollars to bid for the Times of India Film Awards. In a Sunday news release they called for Clark’s resignation, saying she had made the ethnic vote a joke in B.C.

MULTICULTURAL OUTREACH SCANDAL & LIBERAL PARTY EMERGENCY

This is Sunday March 3, 2013 and B.C.’s Liberal Premier Christy Clark will either decide or be told what the near future holds for her as the party leader and provincial premier. Today at 4PM an emergency meeting of her Cabinet may offer her three options: 1) Clark steps down; 2) Clark stays but the cabinet distance themselves from her; 3) Cabinet manages all issues from now on.

RAY FERRIS' RESPONSE TO TURPEL-LAFOND's COLONIST ARTICLE

Photograph by: LYLE STAFFORD, Times Colonist

Today, the Times Colonist newspaper published Ray Ferris's most recent letter to the editor. He writes in reference to Sunday, February 24th's Colonist article entitled, "EVERY CHILD DESERVES A HOME," which was written by B.C.'s Representative of Children, Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond. Ray's letter was published with the subject heading, 'Provide foster parents with long-term guarantee'. Ray gave me permission to print it here in its entirety without alteration.

BETHANY IS A HIGHLAND DANCER

You will remember that this GPS blog posted daily stories about Bethany Bayne who at seven weeks of age was removed from her parents, Zabeth and Paul, following a diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome in September 2007. Her removal was accompanied by the apprehensions of both boys as well. For four years, the Baynes sought to prove their innocence and to recover their family. Finally in August 2011 the family was reunited but not until a lengthy court case and a long wait for the judge's decision and several more months of parents jumping through hoops.

RE-READING DEREK'S JUNE 16 2011 APPEAL FOR HELP

When you read today’s blog, you will find it incomprehensible that Ayn has been away from her family for nineteen months. Today I dip back into history to bring out the

MISSING GIRL ALERT: On June 12, 2011 at 1:00 PM the Abbotsford Police were called by family members of a missing 9-year-old girl. The girl, Ayn Van Dyk is autistic and is non-communicative was last seen playing outside of the family residence in the 1800 block of Mt. Lehman Road at 12:30 pm. Ayn was reported as being 4 foot 5 inches tall, weighing 80 pounds and with short blond hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a brown long-sleeved shirt with grey shorts and white shoes. Search and rescue teams consisting of police patrol, canine and air units were activated.

DOUG CHRISTIE, LAWYER, GOOD MAN IS DYING

THE FINANCIAL POST for Monday, February 25, 2013 ran the article entitled, ‘It’s the end of everything’: Defender of hatemongers, free speech fighting terminal liver cancer,” written by Joseph Brean | Feb 24, 2013 11:30 PM ET

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/24/douglas-christie/

I will not copy Mr. Brean’s piece or portions of it since I do not have his permission. Please read the article. Mr. Brean has recently conducted a personal phone interview with Doug Christie who is dying of cancer, a terminal liver cancer. Mr. Brean is commendably fair-minded in his description of Doug Christie and he has given a worthy report of this lawyer’s exceptional concentration during his career. Mr. Christie has valued free speech so much that even those who utter what most citizens deem to be despicable, he feels deserve a defense that will affirm justice was done. He has defended some of Canada’s notorious so-called hate-mongers.

What I hurried to say in a couple of forums today, was that while the news media keys in one those cases that have hit the news periodically, Mr. Christie has also demonstrated a sympathy for others who needed his help but perhaps could not afford him. I am thinking specifically of the one case with which I am most familiar. Paul and Zabeth Bayne had their three children removed in 2007 when a medical diagnosis concluded that the youngest child was a victim of shaken baby syndrome. In defending themselves, Paul and Zabeth lost their home, her grand piano and their jobs, while attempting to pay for legal fees. They had to give up day-time employment to be free to see their children and to attend to tasks related to office hours of social workers. They took night employment. For four years they battled the Ministry of Children. Zabeth, an accomplished pianist, teamed with other musicians for fund-raising events to finance their defense. Mr. Christie came to their assistance in the last two years of their struggle. It is their own belief and that of others of us who witnessed Mr. Christie in court, that his service was a predominant reason the Ministry could not prove its case against the Baynes and also why their children were subsequently returned to them.

It is with great sadness that we have heard that Doug Christie is gravely ill. He is a fine gentleman, a Catholic and a fine follower of God.

A Wikipedia entry provides you with numerous links to information about Mr. Christie’s work.    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Christie_(lawyer)

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

None but Ayn Van Dyk’s parents, know the precise answer to the questions I will now raise, except. You will feel that you can guestimate an answer as I have. We, however, are limited by the extent of our knowledge of the care we believe Ayn received when in Derek’s care, and our lack of knowledge of the foster care she has received since her removal in June 2011.

Well, just think of that. From June 2011 until today February 23, 2013, Ayn has been absent from her family home where she shared life with her dad and two brothers and had access to and visits with her mother Amie. One would have to be convinced that the government’s plan/strategy when removing Ayn, has resulted in significant improvement of Ayn’s life, health, and wellbeing,  in order to justify her removal this sustained period of foster care.

So here’s what I want you to do. I will paste here paragraphs of the Ministry of Children and Family, and I will let you respond with your assessment. The following is found on this website page, http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/alternativestofostercare/index.htm

Alternatives to Foster Care

The ministry’s first priority is to keep families together, where possible. We also recognize that sometimes it’s necessary for a child to live outside the family home when their parents are temporarily unable to care for them. When that happens, there are a number of options and choices to be made. Was it possible for the Ministry to keep Ayn with her family in June 2011?

There may be circumstances where a child’s or youth’s needs are best met through foster care, and foster families play an important role in providing homes for vulnerable children. However, foster care is a temporary placement, usually with people who are strangers to the child.  Have Ayn’s needs been better met met through foster care than they could be in Derek’ home?

As an alternative to foster care, children may, in some circumstances, live with a relative or another significant person with whom the child is comfortable and connected. Current research recognizes the benefits for children and youth to be cared for by relatives and others with an established relationship with the child when they are not able to remain in their parents’ care. Extended family care helps maintain family ties and enhances children’s opportunities to stay connected to their own families and communities. Was this option ever presented to Derek and Amie?

There are a number of options available for relatives or others to care for children and youth, including:

•  The Extended Family Program.

•  Placement with a Person Other than the Parent – If a child is removed from a family home because of safety concerns, a judge may make an order for the child to live in the custody of someone other than the child’s parents. If you care for a child under this type of order, you may be able to receive financial assistance. Did safety concerns drive the Ministry response in June 2011?  Did the Ministry do due diligence in studying Derek’s home and care ability?