Adrienne Montani - First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society

Executive Director

Adrienne has lived, worked and been a social justice activist in Vancouver since 1976. She joined First Call in 2000 and became the provincial coordinator in 2005. Prior to working with First Call, she served as the child and youth advocate for the City of Vancouver, and as the chairperson of the Vancouver School Board for three of her six years as an elected school trustee. Some of her earlier leadership positions included serving as the executive director of Surrey Delta Immigrant Services Society and of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.

Adrienne has a long-standing interest in the issues of cross-cultural awareness and racism, women’s rights and the impacts of social exclusion on children and youth in low-income families. Her academic background is in Asian studies and adult education.

Adrienne’s work for BC’s children and youth has been acknowledged by a number of organizations:

In the fall of 2022, Adrienne was the recipient of the Janusz Korczak Medal in Child Advocacy and the Annual Rosemary Brown Award, hosted by Simon Fraser University.
In 2019, Adrienne was awarded the British Columbia Medal of Good Citizenship which recognizes individuals for their exceptional long-term service, and contributions to their communities without expectation of remuneration or reward.
In 2018, Adrienne received the Bill McFarland Award for the Excellence in the Advancement of Child Welfare from the Parent Support Services Society of BC. The award is named after Bill McFarland, who was an advocate for children throughout his life and social work career.
In 2012, Adrienne received the Above and Beyond Award from the Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks. The Above and Beyond award is given to a supportive adult who has gone above and beyond to support and improve the lives of young people in and from government care in BC.
In 2010, Adrienne received the MOSAIC Human Rights Award, which is awarded based on an individual’s activities, altruism, personal risk and significant contribution in the field of human rights and ethnic relations.
In 2009, Adrienne received the United Way’s Excellence in Action for Early Childhood Development Award and was also nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the community-building category.
In 2008, Adrienne received an Award of Excellence from the Federation of Community Social Services.