Surviving Huronia: Action against the institutionalization of people with disabilities

The Disability and the Law Portfolio of the Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) will be hosting an event commemorating the survivors of the Huronia Regional Centre in Orillia, Ontario. Huronia was the oldest and largest institution for people with intellectual disabilities in Canada.

Originally known as the "Orillia Asylum for Idiots", Huronia was operated by the Government of Ontario from 1876 to 2009. In 2009, Huronia survivors filed a class action lawsuit against the government for systemic abuse and neglect. The parties reached an out-of-court settlement in 2013.

Les demandeurs principaux, Marie Slark et Pat Seth, accompagnés de leur tuteur à l’instance, Marilyn Dolmage, discuteront de leur expérience au centre Huronia. Ils aborderont aussi les défis qu'ils ont rencontrés en intentant une action juridique contre le gouvernement d’Ontario. Roberto Lattanzio, avocat pour les droits des personnes handicapées et directeur exécutif du ARCH Disability Law Center à Toronto, ainsi que Mélanie Bénard, co-fondatrice de Québec Accessible, présenteront et animeront la discussion. La conférence sera suivie d’une courte réception.

This event was made possible thanks to the generous financial support of the Rathlyn Foundation Student Activities Endowment Fund, ARCH Disability Law Centre and the SSMU Equity Fund.

La salle est accessible pour les personnes en chaise roulante.