DOREY: CAS 85th Annual Meeting

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Friday, June 17, 2005 The Halifax Herald Limited

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VandenElsen supporters pose questions at aid society meeting

Officials refuse to talk details
By BARRY DOREY / Staff Reporter

Some supporters of Carline VandenElsen tried to make things uncomfortable for those attending the annual general meeting of the Children's Aid Society of Halifax on Thursday night.

Friends of the woman who was convicted last month on several charges stemming from a custody dispute that turned into a standoff with police in May 2004 peppered board members with questions.

Evangeline Godron asked whether thorough investigations precede every case in which the society seizes a child, alluding to allegations that Ms. VandenElsen's child was taken unjustly.

"We follow the protocol in all cases," acting CEO John Rowan told her.

He said the province sets out clear rules and guidelines that must be followed.

The society held its 85th annual general meeting at a Halifax hotel just blocks from the Shirley Street home that was the scene of the three-day standoff.

Ms. VandenElsen and her husband, Larry Finck, were found guilty last month of obstruction, abducting their baby in contravention of a child custody order and other charges.

The standoff began in earnest when a shot was fired over police officers' heads from inside the house and neighbours were evacuated.

The society issued a news release in anticipation of questions about the case, which it did not mention by name.

"The Children's Aid Society of Halifax is unable to comment on the specifics regarding any family it works with," the release said. "We appreciate that this allows unfounded allegations to go unanswered."

Ms. Godron also requested a breakdown of how much money or work that legal firms have contributed to the society or its charitable foundation.

The annual report states the society spent $571,412 on legal fees in the last fiscal year, roughly half of the overall administrative budget.

She said she wanted answers about community services practices in general.

"There are thousands of comparable cases, the VandenElsen case is just the best-known," Ms. Godron said in an interview.


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Copyright © 2005 The Halifax Herald Limited