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Re: Advocates 'outraged' at province's rejection of memorial plaque at Pine Ridge, Aug. 23, 2024.
Respect the wishes of former Pine Ridge residents and provide the statement and the plaque.
People labelled with developmental disabilities do not belong in institutions, large or small. The horrible abuses in Huronia, Rideau, Southwestern Regional Centres and other institutions came to an end in 2009 when then premier Kathleen Wynne made the public apology, after the abuses were finally publicized.
The institutions were closed and the residents moved. A class action law suit started by some of the remaining residents was settled by 2016. The $36 million went to the remaining survivors in all the institutions and did not include many residents who were non-verbal and could not prove they were abused.
The trauma and psychological effect of the abuses remain for the residents who still live among us, and some with remaining family members in our communities.
People labelled with disability have the same rights as other citizens. They must be given the opportunity to chose where and with whom they want to live. They have the power to decide, if needed with support from trusted family and circles of support. No to institutionalization and putting people with differences out of sight and out of mind, including our seniors.
The least our present government must do is to respect the wishes of the remaining traumatized survivors of Pine Ridge and provide the memorial plaque to show respect and to show that they do not support institutionalization that is bound to lead to abuse.
Susan Popper
Family Support Network, Newmarket Aurora
Newmarket
