MP Jake Sawatzky Visits New West Family Place—And Why You Should Reach Out to Yours

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming our new local Member of Parliament, MP Jake Sawatzky, to New Westminster Family Place for a brief visit and conversation about the role of early years programming in supporting families and building strong, connected communities.

Jake, who brings a background in neuroscience and counselling as well as his experience as a new parent, toured our Quayside location and took time to learn about the unique supports Family Place offers families with young children. His visit provided an opportunity to share how our relationship-based, culturally grounded programs are helping to reduce isolation, support positive parenting, and create protective factors that last a lifetime.

We spoke about the importance of upstream, community-based work—programs that begin in the earliest years and that align closely with what public health research tells us about how to buffer stress, build resilience, and promote long-term mental wellness. These include play-based drop-ins, newcomer supports, parenting education, inclusive spaces for children with extra support needs, and culturally specific groups like our Tigrinya-language programming delivered in collaboration with the Eritrean community.

Jake showed a genuine interest in learning about the needs and strengths of local families, and we appreciated his curiosity and his commitment to listening. Strong public policy starts with real conversations—and it means so much to have an MP who’s taking time to connect directly with organizations like ours and the families we serve. We’re grateful for the opportunity to introduce Jake to the work happening here at Family Place and look forward to continuing the conversation about how federal policy can support early childhood development, newcomer integration, and the well-being of all families. A bonus was our chance to introduce our two Canada Summer Jobs interns, Christina and Malika and share the value of this federal program in the work we do.

When to Connect with Your Local MP

Your Member of Parliament represents you in Ottawa and can offer support in a number of areas, including:

  • Immigration and citizenship applications
  • Canada Child Benefit or parental leave issues
  • Accessing federal programs and benefits
  • Concerns or feedback you want passed on to government
  • Sharing your story as a parent or community member

If you’re unsure where to start, your MP’s constituency office can help guide you or connect you with the right services. It’s always okay to reach out—they are there to listen and advocate on your behalf.