The inaugural Janusz Korczak Medal for Children’s Rights Advocacy was presented to Melanie Mark, MLA, by Jerry Nussbaum, President of the Janusz Korczak Association of Canada and Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, BC Representative for Children and Youth at the closing session of the “How to Love a Child” the Janusz Korczak Lecture Series at UBC, on April 6, 2016. The medal was commissioned by the Janusz Korczak Association of Canada to be created by a renowned Polish artist, Anna Wątróbska-Wdowiarska.
About the Janusz Korczak Medal:
We are proud to be announcing the inaugural recipient of the Janusz Korczak Association of Canada and the BC Representative for Children and Youth Medal for outstanding contributions to the promotion of the rights of children in ways that encourage love for children, listening to children, fostering healthy children’s lives, and building capacities in children, in the spirit of Dr. Korczak.
This is the first medal honoring Dr. Korczak awarded in North America.
About the Medal Recipient:
Born of Nisga’a, Gitxsan, Cree, and Ojibway ancestry, Melanie Mark was raised in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, in difficult circumstances. She credits her grandparents with helping her get through the early death of her father from an overdose, and dealing with her mother’s addiction to drugs.
Melanie has spent her life standing up for her community, volunteering for multiple community organizations like Big Sisters Youth Custody Centres, and the Urban Native Youth Association. She co-founded the Vancouver Aboriginal Community Policing Centre, worked with the Native Courtworkers Association, Covenant House Vancouver, and was the National Aboriginal Project Coordinator with Save the Children Canada’s Sacred Lives project. This groundbreaking study gave voice to sexually exploited young people across Canada.
After working as an advocate for a number of years in the Office of the Representative for Children and Youth speaking out for children in care, in 2013 she became Associate Deputy Representative of Advocacy and Indigenous Initiatives. In 2016 she became the first fully indigenous woman elected to the legislature of British Columbia.
