Velvet Martin is Mother of 5 and an advocate and spokesperson for Protecting Canadian Children and President of the Alberta Chapter. Advocating on behalf of all vulnerable persons: Children, youth as well as adults with diversity and our seniors. Velvet moved to Alberta in 1991 and is the founder of SAMANTHA'S LAW. You can read more about Samantha's Law at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samantha's_Law.

Samantha's Law is a Canadian child protection law. The life and circumstances surrounding Samantha Lauren Martin, born in 1993 with a rare chromosomedisorder, Tetrasomy 18p, led her mother, Velvet Martin, to challenge archaic laws inhibiting the rights of persons with disability and their families.Amendment to the Alberta Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act, retroactive to December 2006. Section 2-3, Manual Amendments: Policy and Procedures in Family Centred Supports and Services: "The Family Support for Children with Disabilities Program to have separate legislation from that of child protection services." Velvet's activity in the community has earned her the 2012 Mayor's Award for SAMANTHA'S LAW (http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/awards_certificates/city-of-edmonton-mayors-velvet.aspx) presented by Edmonton Mayor, Stephen Mandel. You will likely see Velvet in the news as she continues to fight to protect children and families.

-Velvet Martin and Moyra Lang