The Honourable Derek Bennett, Speaker of the House of Assembly, welcomes Linda Clemens Spurrell to the position of Child and Youth Advocate. The appointment, effective October 25, 2022, was confirmed by resolution of the House of Assembly on October 11 as per Section 4 of the Child and Youth Advocate Act. She succeeds Jackie Lake-Kavanagh who retired on December 31, 2021.
The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate is responsible for promoting and protecting the rights of all children and youth in the province and provides public oversight of government programs and services. The Office can be reached at 1-877-753-3888 or office@ocya.nl.ca.
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“I extend my congratulations to Linda Clemens Spurrell on her appointment as the Child and Youth Advocate. Her varied experience within the public service will be an asset to that role and I wish her well as she takes on the work of that office. I extend my appreciation to the former Advocate, Jackie Lake-Kavanagh, for her contributions during the time she served in that role and wish her well in her retirement. I would also like to extend appreciation to Karen Grey, Director of Reviews, Investigations and Systemic Advocacy, who served as the acting Child and Youth Advocate in the interim.”
Honourable Derek Bennett, Speaker of the House of Assembly
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Learn more
Office of the Child and Youth Advocate website
Media contact
Bobbi Russell
Policy and Communications Officer
House of Assembly
|709-729-1178
bobbirussell@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Linda Clemens Spurrell began working as a public servant in 1993 as a front line social worker with the then Department of Social Services. Linda is a graduate of Memorial University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree in 1993 and a Master of Social Work in 2010. Through Linda’s 30 year career as a public servant she has worked in front line social work positions, policy and program development, training and quality management, front line supervision, and progressive senior management positions within the Department of Social Services, Eastern Regional Health Authority, Department of Health and Community Services, and the former Department of Child Youth and Family Services.
Prior to her appointment as the Child and Youth Advocate, Linda Clemens Spurrell served as Assistant Deputy Minister for the Child and Youth Services Branch of the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development, a position she held since 2019.
Linda’s entire career has focused on the needs of children and youth of this province and as a registered social worker, she believes in the importance of advocacy, collaboration, and mutual respect.