Prince George, B.C. – Today is International Grandparents Day and the Parent Support Services Society of BC is marking the occasion with family events across the province that celebrate all grandparents, particularly the more than 11,000 in BC who are caring for their grandchildren on a full-time basis.

“Not many people have heard of Grandparent’s Day – we thought the day was a great opportunity to acknowledge the often vital role that grandparents play in families”, says Carol Madsen, Executive Director of Parent Support Services Society of BC.

“With the high cost of childcare, and rising costs of living generally, many children – from all walks of life are spending many hours being cared by their grandparents while their parents are working or going to school, Madsen added.”

On top of this she says there are growing numbers of grandparents who are full time caregivers to children who do not live with their parents. “These children’s parents may have died, or have serious health issues.  There may have been violence in the home. These children would likely be in foster care, if the grandparents hadn’t stepped up to care for them, yet these grandparents receive little to no governmental support.”

Madsen says everyone is invited to take part in today’s events around the province.  Here in Prince George an awareness and fundraising raising stroll around Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park is taking place from 10:30 am to 12 noon.

There will be a door prize of two tickets to Ice Age at CN Centre and information booths will be set up in the park.  Find out more about the event and an online auction at http://grgstroll.ca