Hello everyone,

I am reaching out today on behalf of my family. My boys mean the world to me, and as a parent, my absolute priority is ensuring they have a safe, stable, and protected environment to grow up in.

Recently, our lives have been turned completely upside down. We are currently navigating a deeply overwhelming family crisis that involves formal family legal proceedings and child advocacy systems. This situation has taken an immense emotional toll on my boys, and navigating these complex systems to protect their well-being is the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

We are at a critical crossroads. To ensure my boys' voices are heard, their safety is secured, and our family is fairly represented through these intense administrative and legal processes, we urgently need a dedicated family lawyer.

The financial barrier to securing proper legal representation is something I cannot overcome alone. Retainer fees and legal costs accumulate rapidly. Every dollar raised through this campaign will go directly toward:

Asking for help takes an immense amount of humility, but I am doing everything in my power to stand up for my children. If you are able to donate, no matter the amount, it will directly help us secure the professional legal protection we need. If you aren't able to donate, simply sharing this link would mean the world to us.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness, your prayers, and your support during the hardest chapter of our lives.

With gratitude,

Mama Bear 

More on the actual situation:

To Whom It May Concern,

 

Pursuant to Section 126(1) of the Alberta Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (CYFEA), I am writing as a legal guardian to explicitly request full disclosure and a complete, unredacted copy of my case file, as well as the case files of my minor children. I am also formally requesting an immediate review of these files, an urgent update on the current status of my two minor children, and documenting several severe systemic failures, historical biases, and breaches of signed agreements by Child and Family Services (CFS).

 

Case Identification Details:

• Mother: Terril-Lee Joyce Grant (DOB: October 25, 1988)
• Child 1: Kayden Matteo Grant (DOB: March 31, 2014)
• Child 2: Conner Jason Grant (DOB: September 27, 2015)
• Biological Father: Matthew Jason Scott (DOB: November 4, 1984)
• Step-Mother: Stephanie Alisha Baker
• Original File Jurisdiction: Calgary, Alberta
• Current Location of Mother: Lethbridge, Alberta
• Current Location of Boys: Calgary, Alberta
• Current Location of Matthew and Stephanie: Apprehended in Custody Awaiting Trial 

 

 

1. Historical Context, Systemic Bias, and Personal Resilience

• Ward of the Court History: I was in and out of care from the age of 6 months until I was 13 years old. Following my mother suffering debilitating strokes when I was 13, I then became a permanent Ward of the Court.

• Severe Vulnerability and Trauma in Care: While a youth in high school under the direct care of the court, I was subjected to sexual assault and a forced abortion, which has caused medical issues( I was told due to late abortion and abuse I cannot have children as it is too high risk for myself, and or the babies, despite this I refused to terminate both my children and thankfully we are all here).

• Placement Failure and Homelessness: In Grade 9, I was placed with a foster family that attempted to force an arranged marriage. Upon my refusal, the family locked me out. Despite being a homeless youth in Grade 9, I proactively secured safe lodging, which prompted CFS to initiate an Independent Living program.

• The Riley Saunders Case: During my youth, my assigned caseworker was Riley Saunders—the individual subsequently incarcerated for historic institutional fraud, siphoning funds from vulnerable children, and falsifying files.

• Demonstrated Resilience and Personal Achievement: Despite extreme systemic instability, I successfully graduated high school, volunteered actively at multiple community organizations in Kelowna, and completed my college education while working full-time as a single mother, maintaining sole custody of my sons in Calgary, AB.

• Absence of Criminal or Substance History: I maintained an entirely clean criminal record the entire period my children were in my care. My brief struggles with substance use occurred strictly after the traumatic apprehension of my children. I have achieved completely verified, continuous sobriety since August 14, 2025.

 

2. Documented History of Protective Parenting & CFS Overreach

• Domestic Violence Proactivity (2016): The biological father, Matthew Jason Scott, was a long-term addict. I successfully supported him through crack cocaine and alcohol rehabilitation. However, in 2016, he relapsed on methamphetamine. I immediately terminated the relationship and removed him from the home. When he returned and assaulted me while my children slept, I immediately contacted the police to ensure my children's safety and pressed criminal charges. Cfs tried to intervene however I stated that if they did the next mother who needed help would not call if they did.

• Sudden Bereavement Protocol (March 2017): In May 2017, my fiancé passed away. I immediately contacted emergency services for assistance. My children were not present in the home at the time. CFS attempted an unjustified intervention, which I successfully rebuffed by demonstrating that the event was entirely medical and that no children were exposed to harm as they weren’t even home when he passed away while I slept in the other room when he passed.

• Discriminatory Weaponization of Childhood History: In recent communications, CFS personnel have actively contradicted themselves, using my childhood history as a former Crown ward under a corrupt caseworker to claim I lack the capacity to parent my 2 autistic children, especially as a single mother at the time. This constitutes a severe, discriminatory systemic bias that penalizes a victim of historical provincial care failures.

 

3. Circumstances of the Unjustified Apprehension (Calgary, AB)

• Proactive Protective Measures: Following the passing of my fiancé, I briefly requested the biological father assist with childcare under my direct supervision. Upon recognizing escalating possessive and obsessive behaviors from him towards me, I immediately severed contact to protect my children.

• Proactive Relocation: To ensure a safe transition, I arranged for my two sons (both diagnosed with autism) to stay in a safe, sober environment with a trusted friend from my church community while I actively packed and moved our household via U-Haul I had rented and with friends to help.

• Premature CFS Intervention: Despite taking proper safety precautions and being in the middle of a secure relocation, CFS apprehended the children directly from this safe third-party location without justification while I was packing.

 

4. Contradictory Demands and Breaches of Protective Orders

• Coerced Contact: CFS personnel repeatedly stated that my progress was irrelevant unless the biological father complied with his case plan.

• EPO Breach Pressure: Caseworkers instructed me to contact the biological father to mandate his compliance. This directive explicitly pressured me to breach a legally binding Emergency Protection Order (EPO) and no-contact order, which I refused to do for our safety.

 

5. Retaliatory Actions and Extortion Claims

• Unsubstantiated Allegations: CFS unilaterally terminated my phone calls and visitation rights, categorizing my documented concerns regarding the father’s & stepmother’s sobriety and lifestyle as me being "jealous and spiteful."

• Uninvestigated Extortion: I formally reported to CFS that a relative was attempting to extort $40,000 (later reduced to $20,000) from me under the threat of reducing my access to my children. CFS failed to investigate this exploitation and instead completely suspended my visitation.

 

6. Breach of Signed Parenting Agreement and Resulting Severe Harm

• The Binding Agreement: I have never signed a Temporary Guardianship Order (TGO) or a Permanent Guardianship Order (PGO). I strictly signed a voluntary parenting agreement with CFS stipulating:

1. The children must never be separated.

2. The children would reside with their great-aunt until I was deemed fit.

3. I retained full parental rights regarding all medical, educational, and residency decisions.

• Bypassing the Agreement: CFS bypassed this signed agreement without court authority or my knowledge, granting full custody to the biological father after they cut off my communication.

• Severe Harm and Abuse Under CFS Supervision:

- Prior to this, the children were placed in a foster home where they were physically assaulted, resulting in the arrest and charging of the foster mother.

- Under the father's unauthorized care, my eldest son was separated and placed in a group home after the father falsely claimed behavioral issues and that he kept lashing out (in my eyes he was most likely just protecting himself and his baby brother from the abuse as I told them to always stand up to bullies for one another) and before doing so  Matthew told him that he was not his biological father. (This I believe forced my baby to believe his nightmares came true as previously he had told me he was having nightmares about his father taking his mommy away then taking his bother away)

- My youngest son suffered severe physical abuse, starvation, and multiple injuries requiring hospitalization at the hands of Matthew Scott and Stephanie Baker, who are now undergoing criminal prosecution/sentencing in Calgary.

- CFS failed to notify me of these critical incidents, medical emergencies, or police involvements. I discovered these severe welfare failures strictly through news articles that my family tagged me in.

 

7. Current Status and Demands

I have maintained verified sobriety for over one year and have relocated to Lethbridge to ensure a stable, supportive environment. Despite this, CFS continues to withhold all information regarding my children's current location, physical well-being, and legal status of the accused. As well as still keeping the children separated (briefly brought them together but then told me that my youngest son’s foster parents stated they do better with younger children. Even though they are only 1.5 years age difference).

 

Now I am in the process of seeking legal help for this all but I need help with getting the retainer fees and then after I would need the hourly fees and such. But anything would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and consideration and hope you all can have it in your hearts to help bring this to light and bring justice to my boys and bring my angels home. 

Before they were apprehended they were never abused, they never knew abuse. I took care of them and we were happy, they always had what they needed and even more. We went to church multiple times a week, and I hosted 2 separate bible studies a week. My boys just loved church so much I would brib them if they were good we would go to church. Now they do not believe in God. I want to make them believe again. With your help I believe we can.