Brampton Caledon Community Living's President, Jan Nevins and Executive Director, Jim Triantafilou present a commemorative plaque to MPP Sylvia Jones recognizing her work and the work of her party over the years in support of community living and to mark the closure of the last three remaining institutions in Ontario for people with a developmental disability

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Celebrating The Closure of Institutions

On March 31st 2009, Community Living Associations across Ontario celebrated a historical moment in the province’s history: the final closures of Ontario’s last three institutions for people who have an intellectual disability, signifying the end of an era of systematic segregation that began in this province more than 160 years ago.

These closures hold important meaning for all people and citizens across Ontario.  The closures of Rideau Regional Centre, Huronia Regional Centre, and the Southwest Regional Centre signify the end of an era and a shift towards citizenship and full participation of people with an intellectual disability in their communities.

Just over a year ago Brampton Caledon Community Living had the opportunity to be involved in seeing two men in their 70’s move from Huronia Regional Centre to their new home in north Brampton.  They had been placed in Huronia when they were boys.

Although their move from Huronia Regional Centre to Brampton was just over a 100 kilometres it was the culmination of a journey that began in their childhood and in a time and place in this province when the institutionalization of people with an intellectual disability was commonplace. 

Bert collects teapots; Albert enjoys model trains and they have plenty of space in their new home for entertaining with friends, neighbours and family.  Albert and Bert are active members of their church senior group, attend local sport games, participant in a cake decorating class and try new and exciting things everyday.  Since their move, they have traveled by train to Montreal, received an invitation from their next-door neighbour to attend a wedding, and more recently had the opportunity to fly to Ottawa to be recognized for their art work at the Pan Canada Art Exhibition during the 50th Anniversary Conference of the Canadian Association for Community Living.  Bert and Albert also look forward to vacationing this summer with their friends at the cottage.

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