 Hello, I'm Stephanie Cadu, BC's Minister of Children and Family Development. When families struggle, whether it's due to family conflicts, substance misuse, illness or because they require specialized care for a child with complex needs, it's comforting to know there are safe havens available for children and teens. Every day in British Columbia, more than 3,100 foster families open their hearts and their homes to some of society's most vulnerable young people. Foster families give stability in the midst of chaos. They provide a protected place in which to live, develop, grow and play. They offer an open door just when it seems that all other doors have closed. October is foster family month in BC, and there's no better time to consider what it means to be a foster parent. Foster parents come from all walks of life. They bring different experiences to their role, and they all share one very important thing in common. They are ordinary people engaged in extraordinary acts of kindness. Not everyone can be a foster parent. It takes someone special to do this work. And the reality is that there's always a need for families who are willing to take on this important responsibility, and to offer up their homes and hearts to those who need them most. I ask that you encourage anyone interested in foster parenting to call the Foster Line at 1-800-663-9999 for more information. To the thousands of foster families who make such a real and lasting difference in the lives of BC children and youth, thank you for your selflessness, your commitment and your determination to create a better future for our province. Thank you.