The Children’s Advocate for Alberta was created through Alberta’s Child Welfare Act. Bernd Walter became Alberta’s first Children’s Advocate.

John Lafrance was appointed Alberta’s second Children’s Advocate.

Robert Rechner was appointed as Alberta’s third Children’s Advocate.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) was endorsed by Alberta. The Children’s Advocate has continually referred to the UNCRC when advocating for children and youth. 1999 also marked the 10th anniversary of the Office of the Children’s Advocate (OCA).

John Mould was appointed as Alberta’s fourth Children’s Advocate.

The Children’s Advocate initiated a community grant funding program. This program provided seed funding to community organizations for developing a greater capacity for advocacy.

The Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (the Enhancement Act) came into effect. This legislation redefined the mandate of the office. This mandate included representing the rights, interests and viewpoints of children receiving services under the Enhancement Act as well as the Protection of Children Involved in Prostitution Act (PChIP).

The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate assumed responsibility for appointing and paying lawyers to represent children and youth in matters under the Enhancement Act and PSECA.

Marked the 20th anniversary of the OCYA.

Del Graff was appointed as Alberta’s fifth Child and Youth Advocate.

The Child and Youth Advocate Act was proclaimed. This Act established the Child and Youth Advocate as an independent officer that reports to the Alberta Legislature.

The OCYA released a special report on youth leaving care.

The OCYA released its first special report on systemic issues facing young people and released its first investigative review.

An amendment was made to the Child and Youth Advocate Act extending the age at which the Advocate could investigate systemic issues arising from the serious injury or death of a young person receiving a designated service from under 18 to under 22 years of age.

an amendment was made to the Child and Youth Advocate Act which allowed the Advocate to investigate systemic issues arising from the death of a young person who at any time during the two-year period immediately preceding the death had received a designated service.

Marked the 25th anniversary of the OCA/OCYA.

The Advocate appeared before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, to discuss and bring greater attention to the issues of Indigenous youth suicide and the over-representation of Indigenous young people in child welfare systems.

Amendments were made to the Child and Youth Advocate Act requiring the Advocate to conduct an investigative review and publicly report it within one year of the death of any young person under 18 years of age who had, at the time or within 2 years of their death, an agreement or order under Child Youth and Family Enhancement Act.

Released its first mandatory investigative review into the deaths of young people who had at the time or within years of their death an agreement or order under the Child Youth and Family Enhancement Act.

Marked the 30th anniversary of the OCYA.

Released its first statement of concern on matters relating to young people’s rights, interests and well-being.

Terri Pelton was appointed as Alberta’s sixth Child and Youth Advocate.