Sibling connection: Brother, sister share their story of growing up in care together 

Two former youth in care share their story, part of Tikinagan’s Kids Are Kids campaign – reminding us that children and youth in care are not alone, that their voices matter, and that every youth has their own story 

May 14, 2026, NORTHWESTERN ONTARTIO: When children come into care, the support of a sibling—and being placed in the same home—is one of the most important connections they can have.

For siblings Madison Gliddy and Dimitry Sturgeon, that connection made a lifelong difference.

“I’ve been in care for most of my life, it has its ups and downs,” said Dimitry, now 18, adding that his sister was been his biggest support and living with her while being I care helped him become who he is today.

“It helped me grow up more… she taught me a lot of stuff… like how to ride a bike,” he said. “She really made me feel like I was loved.”

At a young age, Madison and Dimitry were separated from their two older brothers when they moved from their home community in Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation to Thunder Bay. For the first few years—starting from when Dimitry was less than two months old—he lived apart from his siblings.

“After a year and a half, they (Tikinagan) realized that it wasn’t fair that my two older brothers got to live together and me and my younger brother were split,” said Madison. “Eventually, there came a time where I switched homes to be with my younger brother.”

Last fiscal year, nearly 60% of children who have siblings coming into care with Tikinagan were placed in the same home. This reflects Tikinagan’s commitment to keeping family connections strong whenever possible, which is part of the Mamow Obiki-ahwahsoowin service model, which means “everyone working together to raise our children.”

Throughout her life, Madison, now 24, has taken on the dual role of both big sister and guardian to Dimitry.

“Keeping siblings together I would say is the main priority,” said Maidson.

She added: “If you aren’t with your sibling, how are you supposed to know how to ‘life’? Having a sibling, they’re there for you, they listen and you laugh with them and talk with them every single day.

To this day, Madison remains one of Dimitry’s main supporters and is someone he can turn to when he’s having a good or bad day. They still text each other constantly, checking up one another.

Madison and Dimitry remain close despite living in different places in northwestern Ontario, both working toward their goals. In the coming year, Dimitry plans to move closer to his family after following in his big sister’s footsteps to earn his High School Diploma before pursuing post-secondary education.

“I’m looking forward to seeing my sister when I move back to Thunder Bay this summer,” said Dimitry.

Madison is currently working with seniors as an aide while preparing to graduate from the Early Childhood Educator program. She acknowledges that she will be the first person in her family to graduate from post-secondary education.

“I’ve gotten a lot of people saying in my community that they are proud of me and they’ve watched me since I was young to who I am now,” said Madison. “To…be able to do what I am doing today is probably one of my most biggest accomplishments of being in care,” said Madison.

Both Madison and Dimitry are members of Tikinagan’s youth team, Noodawishinaam Oshkiniigiwag (Hear Us Youth), where they advocate for better experiences for children and youth in care.

Madison and Dimitry’s experiences are just one of the many stories carried by children and youth in care through their everyday lives, and it’s important they are given opportunities to share them.

Every year on May 14, the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) recognizes Children and Youth in Care Day to uplift the voices of youth in care and celebrate them for who they are. In recognition of this day, Tikinagan celebrates the #KidsAreKids campaign throughout the month of May.

Through the #KidsAreKids campaign, Tikinagan is centering stories like Madison and Dimitry’s to remind communities that children and youth in care are not defined by systems or statistics. They are first and foremost children—kids who deserve to be heard, supported, and celebrated for who they are, and to know they are never alone.

Learn more about Kids Are Kids at www.tikinagan.org/kids