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From YouTube: FEB 14 2023 Statements Renee Merrifield
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
4th Session
42nd Parliament
A
Established
and
trusted
relationships,
their
families
have
spent
years
building
with
their
current
service
providers.
This
is
the
case
with
kelowna's
Starbright
children's
Development
Center,
which
has
served
the
Okanagan
for
57
years
when
the
Starbright
CDC
was
threatened
with
closure.
The
entire
Community
came
together
in
a
rally
of
support.
The
horns
were
honking,
the
signs
were
out
balloons
flying
and
really
hundreds
of
people,
parents,
grandparents,
service
providers
and
community
members
came
out
to
cheer
on
the
cause.
A
One
of
the
initiatives
led
by
the
organizers
was
a
feelings
Banner,
a
banner
that
the
participants
could
write
on
to
describe
how
they
were
feeling
that
day.
The
organizers
of
the
event
Amy
and
tia,
allowed
me
to
share
their
letter
about
this
banner
and
I
quote
each
little
thing.
Written
represents
so
much,
sometimes
an
entire
family
for
Generations,
sometimes
an
entire
organization
of
professionals
who
have
devoted
decades
and
especially
the
voices
of
children.
The
girl
who
kept
returning
to
the
table
to
underline
Starbright
helped
me
survive
the
little
boy
who
wrote
only
Irene.
A
This
is
for
Irene
the
visual
language
facilitator
at
Starbright.
He
was
so
excited
to
show
her.
He
saw
got
her
out,
so
she
came
to
see
she
was
so
proud
of
him,
so
he
was
proud
of
himself.
This
is
what
Starbright
does
for
children
as
families.
We
never
forget
those
moments,
no
matter
how
long
it's
been,
we
can't
describe
the
magnitude
of
the
difference
they've
made
in
our
lives.
We
can't
bear
to
imagine
where
life
would
have
gone
without
them.
We
have
deep
evidence
of
the
time.
Starbright
saved
us
from
utter
destruction.
A
We
are
permanently
indebted
to
Starbright.
That
is
why
we
rallied
today,
please
listen.
End
quote
today:
I
have
the
privilege
of
reading
their
words
and
also
carrying
the
banner
into
this
house
and
hand
delivering
it
to
the
premier.
They
wanted
the
premier
to
know
their
hearts
for
Starbright
and
the
desires
to
see
it
continue.
Thank
you
so
much
honorable
speaker.