Support programs and peer networking help dads to become better fathers and stay in their kids’ lives
At the age of 24, Brandon Hay discovered he was about to become a dad for the first time. He’d been raised by a single mother without the presence of a consistent father figure and was filled with anxiety about his own ability to be a good father. Brandon knew that he wanted to be great father but he wasn’t quite sure how.
Brandon Hay went on to establish the Black Daddies Club in Toronto, an ongoing support system for Black fathers to share their challenges and or experiences. He has also organized parenting workshops, some in barbershops, a popular gathering place for black men.
On Vancouver Island, the Cowichan Men’s Resource Centre offers a program called Dads Make a Difference, supporting fathers in developing and sustaining a positive relationship with their children. The program also provides a support system among fathers.
We speak with Brandon Hay of the Black Daddies Club, and with C.M. Justice, of the Cowichan Men’s Resource Centre.
