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From YouTube: NOVEMBER 16 2021 Statements Janet Routledge
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
A
Member
for
burnley
north-
thank
you,
mr
speaker
november,
is
national
adoption
awareness
month.
So
today,
I'd
like
to
honor
my
parents,
I
wasn't
even
old
enough
to
go
to
school
when
they
sat
me
down
to
tell
me
my
story.
I
remember
them
describing
how
they
went
to
the
local
orphanage
to
adopt
a
baby.
A
A
Imagine
my
surprise
later
in
life,
when
I
discovered
that
my
parents
were
fairly
unique
in
the
belief
that
girl,
girls
were
just
as
good
as
boys,
but
it
was
their
unwavering
conviction
that
I
could
grow
up
to
be
anything.
I
wanted
to
be
that
set
me
on
a
path
that
led
me
here
today.
Speaking
to
you
from
my
seat
in
the
bc
legislature,
I
wish
they
were
still
alive
to
witness
the
success
of
their
parenting
skills.
A
Mr
speaker,
adoption
is
sometimes
called
a
soft
stigma.
It
comes
from
the
notion
that
adopted
children
are
unwanted
children,
but
I
was
always
secure
in
the
knowledge
that
I
was
wanted
and
cherished
both
my
parents
came
from
large,
extended
families
and
never
in
my
life
have
I
felt
less
than
fully
accepted
and
loved
by
them.
In
fact,
I
know
most
of
my
cousins
have
long
forgotten
that
I'm
the
adopted
one.
A
It
certainly
isn't
documented
on
the
family
tree
and
my
son,
my
stepson,
that
is,
is
also
recorded
there
and
his
wife
is
identified
by
her
chinese
name.
So
whether
you
were
raised
by
birth
parents,
adoptive
parents,
step
parents,
same-sex
parents,
foster
parents
or
any
other
kind
of
parent.
Here's
to
the
families
that
armor
us
with
the
protection
of
their
love
and
wisdom
and
send
us
out
to
make
our
way
in
the
world.
This
statement
has
been
authorized
by
my
grandchildren.
Thank
you.