'Like planting a tree': Sask. man talks 25 years of foster parenting

In Saskatchewan, the number of children in foster care continues to grow.

There has been a consistentdecline in the number of foster families throughout the years. However, thenumber of approved providers has gone up for the first time in five years, to 505 from 500, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Social Services.

Count CameronNordinand his wife Marian among the 505. They'vefostered children for 25 years, and won't stop until they're physically unable.

"It's all for them. It is not for us," CameronNordinsaid."They need help and we just felt that this is one way we could help out."

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TheNordinsare an exceptionina province that's struggled toretain and recruitfosterparents.

He estimates they've had 70 children come through their home. They liveon a farm near Oxbow, Sask., andhave four adult children of their own who flew the nest long ago.

In 2016, the Ministry of Social Services said that overthe previous fouryears, the number of foster homes in Saskatchewan haddecreased by 35 per cent.

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Otherjurisdictionsacross Canadahave experienced similar situations.

In the past, Saskatchewan's foster care system has been criticized.

In 2015, the former children's advocate Bob Pringle said that the foster care system had beenin a state of crisis for years, citing a loss of 250 families and that foster children had to stay in hotel roomsbecause there weren't other options. In 2009,Marvin Bernstein , the previous children's advocate,identified the system to be in crisis.

'Maybe we did make a difference'

Nordin said fostering youth is rewarding, andlikens it toplanting a tree.

"When you first put it in the ground and it's only six inches high you wonder if there'll ever result in anything."

Then you see them when they're older, he said.Theyoften keep in contact andsend notesand photos on the holidays.

"When they share memories of being at our place it makes you think, you know maybe we did make a difference in the lives of some children."

Recently, they saw someone they housed nearly two decades ago while inEstevan, Sask. They learned she's now attending post-secondary with young ones of her own.

"I'm still dad to her,"Nordinsaid, chuckling.

The couple isdriven bytheir Christian faith, but for them what matters the most is that the kids feelsecure and loved.

"Those two things are so necessary in the beginning life of a child."

Currently, the Nordins live with 10-year-oldtwins originally babies who were only supposed to be in the home for two weeks, stayed as foster children for four years and were then adopted into the family and an 18-month-old foster baby.

Nordinsaid the goodbyes are always unbearably hard, but it's positive to see a child go to a good home.

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Fostering isnot always an easy task, he said.

"It is a sacrifice of time, which we have and are still willing to give up."

He said the most challenging part of fostering has been the frustration brought on by paperwork and policy.

"That is enough to turn people off. Alot of people have a big heart, a big home and want to get at it, but the training..." he said.

"It's necessary because there's always one bad apple in every basket, but the training that we have to go through even though it does set us up for situations itis frustrating."