The Huronia Regional Centre survivors who lead the advocacy group Remember Every Name reflect on the day (March 31) that Ontario's largest and oldest institution for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities closed its doors. They also discuss their annual Mother's Day Memorial and Procession and invite you to attend.
From a bare branch 7 blue forget-me-not flowers grow, honouring the lives lost that must never be forgotten. They also bloom like the strength and beauty of those who survived. The branch is without a trunk, or roots representing survivors who were broken off from their families who disappeared, as many children who were taken to live at Huronia Regional Centre lost touch with their family who were often discouraged from visiting. Survivors hung on and grew despite horrible conditions and abuse, but so many died or were murdered.
The 2 black crows are witnesses sitting on the branch, like those that have often joined and carefully watched while people gather at the HRC Cemetery. Crows have long memories and remind us we are not alone in caring for this place and the people buried there. They call out and encourage us to speak and demand the truth, that survivor’s stories are told so that history will not repeat itself.
A yellow butterfly floats above the branch, representing the freedom and achievements of survivors. These colours remind us of the pain and hope of survivors who are now free, who can never forget; and for our dream and struggle for an end to all institutions everywhere where people are not free.
We wish to acknowledge that this website was created thanks to a grant from the Investing in Justice fund. This fund existed because there was money left over from the Huronia Regional Centre class action settlement.
InvestIng in Justice projects enable survivors to tell the world what really happened in Ontario's government-run institutions and what it takes to instead have a good life at home and in their own communities. This fund also enabled the creation of the survivors cemetery monument at the HRC cemetery, and supported "Lost but not Forgotten" Mothers Day memorial gatherings there. Please see our Resource page for information about some of the other projects that benefited from this funding.
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