REGINA – A Saskatchewan family has turned to social media in hopes of reconnecting with a child given up for adoption three decades ago.
Kyla Towsley posted details of her mother’s first child online. He was born on June 13, 1980 in Saskatoon. The child was originally named David Finlay Cameron, and was adopted by a Regina couple the same summer.
“My mom was 18 at the time and didn’t have the means to raise a child, so (she) was kind of forced I guess to place him up for adoption,” she said.
Towsley said she and her mother are also seeking more information through social services, but are learning it can be a very long process.
In Saskatchewan, when a birth parent hopes to reconnect with the child they gave up for adoption, or vice versa, the process falls under the government’s Post-Adoption Services.
But due to the volume of caseload, it can take up to three years to even get started, so Towsley said in the meantime she and her mother wanted to take matters into their own hands.
“It’s worth trying and if nothing happens nothing happens, but at least we can say we tried.”
There has been a significant shift since the early 1990’s in the province to help birth parents and adoptees have better access to identifying information.
Plus, the legislation is currently under review to make it easier for both parties to make a connection.
“Even to just have a conversation with him to see how his life is, what he looks like, I think that’s the goal,” said Towsley. “Anything more would be up to him.”
More details on changes to legislation aren’t expected until sometime in the new year.
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