Remembering Brian

Alberta's Office of the Child and Youth Advocate (the "Advocate") is an independent office reporting directly to the Legislature of Alberta, deriving its authority from the Child and Youth Advocate Act. One role of the Advocate is to "investigate systemic issues arising from a serious injury to or the death of a child who was receiving a designated service at the time of the injury or death if, in the opinion of the Advocate, the investigation is warranted or in the public interest". In early summer 2012, Brian (not his real name), a 16 year-old youth, was found deceased in the basement of his kinship care placement. He had taken his own life. At the time of his death, Brian was the subject of a Permanent Guardianship Order. In October 2012, the Advocate advised the Minister of Human Services that an Investigative Review into the circumstances of Brian's death would be conducted.